National Republican., 1877-10-20
THE DEITH or CH.iRLES DRIEG ER.
The Coroner's Inqucst Ycstcr,lay-Fitz, alias
Fitzgerald, Still ut Large

Coroner Patterson held an ingucst ycster-
day afternoon over the body of Charles Draeger,
who died day night from the effects ofa blow
with d four-p0umd weight. inflicted by Thomas
Fitzgerald, alias fitk on the llth instant. The In.
quest was held at the house corner Of Second and
u streets northeast, where the assault was com
mittcd
The following jury was summoned: George J.
koeh,or, Joseph Nnlley, y. ,. Higgins. jacob FL
Waimandt, Michael Fitzgerald. Thomas Nolan, A.
u. floccklcr. James Werscmia, and Charles A.
Barnes.
The first witness examined was
ROBERT BECKER,
living at No TOl second street northwest. who
heard loud talking In the store of the Dracycr's on
the evening Of the assault and rushed in and found
two two men T thSTt =, cTeatng SiN disturbance George
came IN aud asked Fitz to go out aud Fitz
refused Charley then lcd Fitz to the door and Fit2
catching hold of Charlcys coat pulled him out
upon the sidewalk. Charley tried to get away
when filz showed and struck him with the
weight
GEORGE DRAEGER,
brother Of the deceased testified to Thomas Fitz
aud Morris Conners coming to the store, asking for
whisky, and becoming very abusive when they
were refused Charley came out when witness
| called, and tried ,oget FZ 10 go out. He led him
| tD the door when Fitz struck him with the weight
| and knocked him down. Witness saw the blow
struck. Witness struck Fiz after the latter struck
| his brother. FiH and Conncrs were under the In.
/
away once or twice, and said, Come on lCt us %
| out" and FiN replied, Cd d-n 1t, don't back
any from them" Tho weight was an ordinary
! platform scale weight, and after the blow was
struck 1t found outside of the store on the side.
walk. Fitz threw the weight when lie struck the
| deceased.
DIR. HARTIGAN
testified that he had examined the head of the de
ceased and found u wound on the left side of the
forehead about an inch and half long commune
made by the removal Of portions Of bone extending
about Two square inches, and q large clot was
! found weighing about two grains pressing OH the
| brain. The dura mater was ruptured, aud this
caused congestion of the brain and death. The in.
| jury caused the death. The surgical interference
| probably prolonged life The cause of death was
| plain.
| 4 question arose about Ftz's proper name The
| witness said he had known him since he was boy
under the name of Tom Fitz. Some of tho Jury,
men said tnat his name was Fitzgerald, and that
| FitZ was u nickname.
The witness continued that Conners made no as
| sault, his orcnsc being simply profanity. AftcI
the men got out Of the store ConnerS tried To find
stone, when witness made for him; then both mel
ran away,
There were number of other persons who wit
messed whole or part Of the affair but the jury
| thought II unnecessary to call them.
DIR. wM. NJ HUDSON
testified that he was sent for few minutes aftc
the blow wus struck and found Drucger with
fracture Of the skull. The autopsy had devclope,
the fact that he had died from the effects Of the In
Jury received. Witness saw q man whom he Pre-
sumed was Fitzgerald afterwards. He came to hi
Office after the alfay that night. lie had two lttl
cuts on the head.
} No other testimony was taken. The jury immc
diatcly agreed in
| THE VERDICT
that Charles Dracger came to his death from fraC
turc of the skull inflicted with a weight thrown b
[ Thomas Fitzgerald alias FiH.
FitZ has not yet been arrested. 1t Is stated thf
after the trouble ut Draegers on the night of IN
lgIh instant, he was attacked by crowd of boy
after he len the store, and thus received the Ii
jurcs on his head, on account of which he went /
Dr. liudsOn's office. Dracgcr's funeral will tax
place from the house at o clock tomorrow aftei
noon.