New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-13
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
TRIAL OF DENNIS RIVER FOR MURDER.
THE EVIDENCE CLOSED YESTERDAY AND THE SUM
MING UP TO BEGIN TODAY.

TEAL OF DENNIS RIVER FOR MURDER
THE EVIDENCE CLOSED YESTERDAY AND HE so"-
MING UP TO BEGIN TODAY
The trial of Dennis Ryer for killing his fel-
low-watchman. Patrick Taft at the Long Island Kroau
depot Hunters Point In November last, was eonuh"ca
Yesterday morning Mt North Hempstead The nuihper III
attendance was much less than at the McConoche tia
Rvcrs wife snt by hts with his sister who bears
strong family resemblance to him. Both women iookeu
detected and frequently shed tears. The opening "u
dress by District Attorney Downing was devoteu MAINLY
10 recitation OF the facts made famiIar 10 'he PuDo w
the proceedings before the Coroner He oon.eh1eu ''
the shooting was a deliberate act-a foul murder
rr.s,ick W. WHITAKER receiving clerk at tho railroad
freight depot testified 10 the position OF Taits pody
when found and the blood stains on the moor
Deleyan NJ Carter wasthe first TO discover Tafts
body testified that went to the freight ONCE niue
after o'clock to sweep 1t our but couo NOV opoh INC
door "A Taft was in the way. He supposed Tart was
ssoep and went away; returning soon and hndng Taft
stI in the same position told Whitaker. tie previous
witness that he thought Taft must bo dead The two
went into tho Office together and found the body.
Nothing WAS disturbed before the Coroner came
Lewis H. wormel, proprietor of the hotel where Rycr
and Taft were drinking together Sunday night testi-
fed that Ryer drank whisky eight times TN all tart
drank whisky also, though not as often as Ryer They
were friendly and had drank together before. Lewis
Smith the Coroners clerk called to testify 10 occur
rences at the inquest lie pspduced Ryers sworn STATE
lnent the inquest when the Dstrict-Altuho! PiV-
posed 10 have read, but objection made by MT Bus
teed who based his objection the statute wnch ae
cares that statement should not be mae on oaI
Judge Barnard ruled that The statement Should oe au-
gniiSd i'm evidence The DistrctAttolney read II as
published at the time Of the inquest
pr DenpIer who made postmOrtem examination on
the next evening, described the wounds on TaCs hody.
one shot pen trated the brain. and the other entering
ahOye the left nipple lodged near the spinal column
After receiving the shot in the breast man might s"s
Gle bu NOT after the in the head. .
Cant Wood OF the Long Island City police Sald tnat
Ryan came him the morning after the shouting ana
iye M the pistol produced in evidence lie was not c
ernpauicd by an officer lie admitted the sbooiinE ana
said it was accidental The prosecution mere rested
judge Bustoed in his opening for the defense c9te9e
that tie prosecution rad utterly failed 10 cStabsh te
proposition that tn killing OF TAFT was murder; that IL
was intentional in any or that 1t was even oohe "
the prisoner at the bar. ~, vi,
Andrew Patchen dealer in firearms ia NoT-fork
testified that II Colts revolver were 0d, or out oil or
der or Improperly loaded several oiianoefs nigh ek
pOde at once. He thought such an accident might occur
with The shown in court. number OK witnesses
Ryan's previous eOOd character ana
That he and TAFT were intimate friends.
Mr. BusJccd endcavOred 10 got an Adjournment OF tie
nca that Mrs Rycr of his Witnesses was seH Judge
barnard refused TO order the delay and dec de me case
closed. The summing up VIII begin at OcloeK uiiS
morning.