The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-06
SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD.

DEATH OF SOLDIER WHO WAS SHOT MysTERI-
oUsLY ON TIE EAST sIDE-suspEcTkD MUIR
DER AND EopBIRY.
Coroner hughes, Of Yonkers, was called on Tuesday
last, to hold inquest at Fort Schuyler, Throgsf
Mock, 'Wostcncstor county, the body OF janet
Ahcrn aged forty years. private In Battery g. OF ths
Third Unilod States artillery, who died the military
post named under very mysterious circumstances.
Toward the cioso OF tho month OF July received his
pay, and the 9th OF that month he was granted
leave OF absence and cnmo to Now York 10
civilians dress. with $3.50 In cash IN his pockets
Tho next known OF his whereabouts by tho officers as
Fort Schuyler was that hc inmate oil 81. Vim
cents Hospital where he under treatment for an
injury hts head, supposed to be a bullet wound.
The patient most earnestly asserted hts ignorance OF
the nature OF his injury. There external
evidence OF such an injury, except pcrforation o
the tympanum OF the right car. bullet sup
posed 70 be lodged Ia tbs BRAIN but u could not be
probcd for 1t was stated that Anern hal
been picked by the poles on tho sidewalk, the
East side OF this city, tho evening Of the Gay
which he lett Fort Schuyler or the morning OF the
following day, III state Of Inconsistencies, and
taken TO the hospital from which he was discharged
August 10. when ns conveyed TO Fort Schuyler.
Gu recovering his while In the hospital
and on beng In formed that he had been shot he
declared HIS entire Ignorance OF such fact
mud VIXEN Vt intmatcd to him that he
had snot himself with intent 70 commit
suicide no denied In tho most positive
any Intention Of doing 90, that no lad mother owned
nor carried pistol. Ho frankly conceded that ha
had been on sprco AMI that no unable to no
count for his inJury, oss vi money aud other vau.
abes which were missing from his person when he
was found by tho police Ia tho street. On his return
10 Fort Schuyler, August TO- no was placed irnmo.
diatey unGer the oi DR.. Is. H. Pope, the physi-
clan OF tho military post, attended Ahcrn uutn
he died, and then made post norton examination
by direction OF Coroner Hughes.
rnE DOCTORS EviDEScR
DIR. Pope testified tnA when AuePn placed
under hts charge the latter suffering IRON . ps.
tol shot wound. and appeared to have no knowledge
as TO how lac hsd received 1t; that about o week be-
oro no diod no became worse, milan nAtion OF the
brain having sot In he became scious, and
tnucd Tor i've days. that pistol bullet which had
been split IN entering the hsad found within the
skull; fragment OF about ono-thIrd OF the bullet
was discovdred Embedded at tho base Of The skull.
the brain greatly iuilamod and a largo absceas
had formed over piece OF tho bullet, that
inflammation and absccss caused by tho presence OF
the bullet fragment produced death. rho jury ron.
caused by inflammation aud abscess resulting IRON
pistol shot wound In tho head by some unknow
person
Richard Ahcrn, brother Of Tho deceased, residing
At TompkinsviIie, T. l., took charge OF the remains
Tor iBtermoni The comrades OF tho deceased, coing
ignorant oil the law Ia regard to the holIins OF In.
quests IN such casos, had laid the corpse uni-
form aud white gloves prior to the Coroncr's arrival
Tho deceased boro good namo hia les.
who also said that he WAS hot dissipatod baS
only occasionally got on spree IL Is strongly
pccted al tho tort that Ahcrn was shot by ono
whiIc no was drunk robbed and lett Tor doad