The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-13
THE TAFT SHOOTING.
THE EVIDENCE ALL IS-THH CASE FoR AND
AGAINST RYER.

Waterman, Patrick Taft at the Long Island kaiiroad
depot Hunters Point, In November last, continued
yesterday morning At the Old Queens County Court
House. North Hampstead. Ryer's wife sa, BY his side.
with his sister, who strong FAMILY resemblance
TO him.
The opening address BY District Attorney Downing
was devoted mainly recitation OF the facts mado
familiar to the public by tho proceedings before the
Coroner. He contcndcd that the shooting was a do
Iioerate act-a foul murder oy reconciliation
WITNESSES FOR PROSECUTION.
Frederick W. Whitaker, receiving clerk q the
railroad freight depot, testified 10 tho Of
Gnding Tatts body and It's position. The dead mans
knee against tho door, that Il could al rst
be opened he aftcrward went In, with others, and
blood the floor; there bullet hole at the
jamb OF the door, which showed that she shot had
been in nearly . perpendicular direct,on3 the dead
mans clothing was bloody; witness subsequently,
pointed ou' 70 tho engineer, who made drawing Of
the scene, tho position Of the chair which Tait's
head was resting, and tho blood stains
Cross examined-The witness described the loca-
ton Of the blood STAN; It was not pool OF blood; Il
about foot from tho front OF the eastcrly desk;
the bullc. hole in the door jamb pointed TO
him BY another person; tho whole back Of Taft's
coat was dirty and 'roughed up" and there .
blood stain the len shoulder, what witness sup-
posed 10 Do that
II appeared that the witness before the Coroner
tilted that he did examine Tait's clothing.
Delavan n. Carter, who tho nrst to discover
Tai's body, testified that he to the freight once
little alter O'Clock sweep out, but could
not open the door to get TAN In the
way; he supposed TAFT asleep and went away, but
went back again. and finding Taft still in tho
position informed Whitaker, tho previous Witness
that no thought Taft dead; the went into
the Office together and found the body other things
as already descrocd nothing was disturbed before the
Tbe witness, upon his cross-examination, said that
In his judgment, whom be went TO the freight Office
door II could not be opened moro than nine inches
there was blood stain upon the floor but no pool
the diagram OF the premises shown TO tho witness,
anu no described the position Of tbs body he said tho
blood stain about a from the chair II ap.
peared that at the Coroners inquest said there was
pool Of blood. and that u was farther away
William Waddel, employed foreman Ia the rail.
road yard, was questioned as TO an alleged difficulty
between Ryer ana Taft, but objection TO the line OF
the position OF the body; the side was toward tho
door,
Upon Cross examination tho witness said that tho
R Rs produced in court was similar to one no gave
rnx MIN FRIENDLY rxKxa
Lewis H. Wormel proprietor Of tho hotel where
Ryer and TAFT were drinking together on Sunday
night, testified that Ryer drank whiskcy at different
tmes--eight times In ALL
the witness said that TAFT also drank
whskcy, though not 10 many times as Kycr; they
were friendly and had drank together before.
LOWS Smith, tho Coroncr's CLERK was called TO tos-
tfy as 10 occurrences at tho inquest Dir
Busted objected to any testimony In regard
tho objection was overruled. The witness went
on to say that Ryer desired to make u state
ment, though tho Coroner regarded unnecessary
the statement made and signed by Rycr; this
statement was produced In court aud Identified the
District Attorney proposed read, bu, obIec-
ton was made by Sir Busted, who, by direction OF
the Court proceeded to his points OF objection
n meps was by S Hye state
that such statement should not be made on
oath; this Mr. Bustccd regarded error
I'm TN IN nttsn hn nd
authorities TO sustain this view; he contendcd Also
that the statement could not be- regarded voluntary
OF the lawyer, who was then acting rs Ryer's counse
In any event. the fact that II was sworn TO by Kyer
should have the effect Of excludngit
District Attorney Dow nng cited no authorities in
answer but thought that under the circumstances the
statement suoald be admitted Judge Barnard tn ought
SO 100, and SO decdad, an exception being taken.
DOCTORS TESTIMONY.
DR.. Deunler, who saw TAFT body after IL was found,
destined ms TO It's condition. no made pos-mortem
examination on the next evening" shot penetrated
the BRAIN aud the other above the left nipple
lodged near tho spinal column tho shot In the head
signify upward and kward, the other slightly
dow inward and backward; after receiving the shot in
tho breast u might struggle some, but not after
in the head the doctor also saw the mark OF
the bulletin the door Of the freight Office Tho bullet
which tho breast and was lou nd near the sne
was produced and identified by the witness
The witness in his examination SAID The spot
or pool" OF blood on the floor OF the office was about
as large rs witness hand; corresponded with blood
stain on the back Of Tats coat which also had dirt
Guilty that occurred between Ryer and TAFT, but only
from hearsay.
SHOOTING ADMITTED
Captain Wood, Of the Long Island City Police, said
that Ryer him morning alter the snoot-
ing anu gave up the pistol produced In evidence; he
WAS not accompanied by Ofcer Minnock; the Captain
went TO tho freight Office and the bullet hole in tho
door and the linden in The floor ouslde Coroner
Davrcn showed him the bullet picked up there; four
chambers OF the revolver wore discharged.
Cross-examined-rhc Captain said there were three
apparently UNEMPLOYED caps upon tho pistol which
there were two charges left unexploded; Ryer
dercd himself 10 the witness between eight and nne
O'Clock IN he morning, admitted the shooting and
SAID ~ was accidental
The District Attorney, although he still had num-
Der oil witnesses not Called concluded to rest the
Tor the prosecution here
THE DEFENCE.
Judge Busted, IN HE opening Tor the defence,
tended that the prosecution had utterly failed esab
lish the proposition that the killing Taft was muir
der; that was Intentional IN any sense, that
ever done by prisoner at the bar He proposed TO
prove that Rycr had always borne good char acter;
that he and TAFT were on excellent terms that he
had a sunstrOko, from The effects OF which he
recovered that tho whskey he drank The night OF
the shooting had tho effect OF exciting him uuduly;
that he voluntarily surrendered himself after consnlta
ton with his VIE; that tho pistol with which tho
shooting was done was Tait's originally, and that Ryer
a mental condition which rendered II iinpossi-
Bile for him 10 have premcditated the crime alleged.
DANGERs OF FIREARMS.
The first witness the defence Andrew Patchen
dealer in firearms IN New York Hc testified tbat il
Colts revolver old OF order or improperly
loaded several chambcfs might explode at once. This
might proceed from several causes. The witness
ahmed the pistol IN court and thought such acct
dent might with IL
In answer to the District Attorney aud after cxami-
nation, the witness thought the bullet found IN de-
fcndanps body might have been nrcd through tho
barrel. and u the otner bullets fitted as closely tho
chances OF explode ing the charges IN the other cham
bcrs wero lesscned. The other bullet produced was
somewhat nattcned, and there Indications
that IL had been nrcd through the barrel
number Of witnesses called TO prove Rycr's
previous good character that no and TAFT were on
terms OF friendship.
james wchle testified that he had once fred Colts
pistol and that the charges several chambers were
exploded
THE CASE CLOSED.
Mr.. Busted hero announced that Mrs Rycr whom
he proposed TO call ms witness was too III go
the stand, and other material witnesses had not vet
appeared, though attachments had issued against
them, nc desired an adjournment
Judge Barnard refused to the delay asked for
unless upon aidavits establishing the materially Of
the testimony expected from the absent witnesses.