The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-29
TlIEMURDER ED W.ATCHMAN
UHdTDENNISR YERHfD TOS4T TOR
uiNSELF YESTERDAY.

Asserting that the shooting WINS Accidental
Two Bullets In tue BODY showing Very
Clearly that Nust have been Intentional
Neglect Of Uuty aud Rum Drtuhing.
The cause Of the shooting OF Patrick
Taft, a Waterman Of the Long lsl,nd ilroad,
bybis fellow wathcman, Dennis Hcr,in Hunters
Point on Monday morning, remains mystery.
tiers account Of Whit he cilIs the ace dent II
generally disirusted rs being ntcasOnable lie
says the pistol accidentally exploded while he
and Taft were struggling for the possession OF
N, but the dead man has a bulle In MS BRAIN
aud another una cfneath bis heart. and Coroner
u ,vern thinks that the bullet picked up on the
floor came from third shot, which missed its
mark RIVER was yesterday confined In the As
toria police station. Ho IL 80 wears old. and
weighs over 2Oo pounds. Iis open and rather
GOOD ua,nred countcnancs ia fringed with
white whiskcrs, and his cose-cropped hair Is
iron rray He Is intelligent, and speaks In good
English. lie does not look ike murde rer. and
his eyes are red. as though from weeping. He
seems uncertain what to say. He said to a san
reporter:
4" had rather not say ANYTHING more than
have already said until consult my counsel.
There Is no use In getting so many stories start
ed which may not agree II I'm wrong. I'm 20
Ing TO abide by It. can say that | was not
guilty Of any wilful negligence. had no inIen-
ton Of shooting him."
was Taft killed with your pistol7'
He was shot with pistol IN my possession,
but 1t was not Intentional
"You had no fight with him, or spite against
we were always warm fiiead.. and had been
70 ever since we became acquainted"
won't YOU tell me how It happened that you
shot him, them
Ia rather not say ANYTHING more about II.
The papers this morning have oil " mt 10 say
abou. !, now. AT tue examination will tell
Ryer is allowed to stay 10y the Ore in the front
room Of the polio station, and he stands much
lie is W etched iva policeman. hut not otherwise
guarded. Capt. Woods. chief VI the Long Island
INV police seems Ia put faith In Rivers story.
which IL. IN substance. tina according to his GUS
tom. he went about . O'Clock on Monday morn
Where T IN" Watched. hts i'S own G place bsos
at the pier several hundred feet away, To-
have chat Tat sat on hlen stool
ana RIVER chair near by Ryer laid his re-
volver on he desk. After talking III friendly
way for over An hour. Ryer says that he said
something That gave gre offence To Itl, who
GIutCned at tue r.NolNer, txcldiming, that's
my pistol" RIVER saws he WAS alarmed Oy rafts
angry aud excited manner, and tried to prevent
his getting the pistol fearing aft would shoot
him. A 1erce struggle ensued during which
and II exploded again. lhis line aft rolled
over on tie door. ltlcr partially picked HIN up
not TO leave him, when he ~ RED to get lhysi.
cian, and saying that he forg,ve him for wnat
he had done. when Ry,r saw ne was de4d, he
BAYS Ia picked up his lantern and ana went home
anu told Ms VIE. who adyi- 81 hm to give him
The pistol which Rier surrendered to Capt.
Woods II an old fashioned Colrs pix shooter.
There are EXPLODED caps on two OF tue chaul-
bets, thru Is empty and the Others are luaued.
Iyer says he always left one chatnuer empty.
Coroner Day.rn saws he does not bclieVe
Ryer's STORY. II, THINKS three snOts we're fired.
lie has a bittereu bullet that was found on the
door in the freight Office. IL had ssed through
tue sili OF the door 10 the inner once, Ia which
the tragedy took ulace. lhis shot must have
been hred almost perpendis uary dOwnward,
and nearly over tue spot where Iafts body was
found. Inc Coroner says ne knew hyer many
years ago, and that he then Consurted with
rough fellows who we're ALWAYS rea.y Tor Il II. ht.
lie ,x.ects 10 show 1t the Inquest that Ryer has
made threats Of shooting person with whom
ne had quarrel.
Guy Hotel, where Ryer TT, ana otheis were
carousng the light before the shooting. saws
that the quarIeiling between Ryer ana smith,
The Waterman from Per ~, North river, who
came to sec Kyer. and VINO Is now held AZ
took no p'rt In u except at one time be seemed
10 sustain Ryer's statement. rney talk
Ing .bout Tweed, VINO. Rycr sud. belonged to
Ing SIX engine company. ami hC NycD to Zen
COMPANY. Smi.h's remark that en was no
puod, made RIVER Violently nsry,and he wanted
~ ash'. At In 4. N. Warin~nn put the quar-
Ielieis out, ana saw tucm 10 more.
Rodney locke, the yadmrster Of the Long
leland Railroad, s.ys that both Ryer aud ait
were IeacIatle aud trusty men, ana apparently
" good temper nee lecture, because the men
Were, IrOoabh, both drunk, aud Ryer had left
The men employed IN the yard generally dis
trust kyet's story. At the same time, they say
that RIVER and aft were the best Of fnenus, and
they think some sudden quarrel must nave led
TO the shOouLg. one OF tue men says that RYer
used to carry his revolver about the yard. and
declsred thai he would shoot any nan on sight
found among the cars at night kyer. the same
says. has tire tened to let daylight
though an enemy against wnom he bad a
grudge.
all WAS only 20 years old, and leaves a wife
anu child. The Iistol with winch ne was shot
belonged 10 ntni. out he gave u to Ryer about
year ago, saying that he dldn'- want to carry 1t.
ILe Inquest Is " be held to night.