The New York herald., 1879-12-28

Held by the COrOnerS Jury to Have Caused
John Slattery's Death.
AN VI NLUC CKY LOW.
Varying Testimony of the Defendant
and Bystanders.

ana OyStdnOerS.
Coroner woitman yesterday held an inquest on the
body of John Slattery who died at Chambers
Street Hospital ON the 21st inst from fracture Of
the skull Policeman John Mohr. Of tho Seventh
precinct was arraigned on charge of having as
Sauted deceased and inflicted such injuries led to
his death. Johanna Slattery. wife of deceased. de-
posed that she resides at No. 1O1 Madison street:
her husband loft homo at four p. M Friday. the
10th inst. the next time she him on SUM-
day, the 21st, ut Chambers Street Hospital; he
then dead; she had been informed that her husband
had been arrested and sent to the Island for ten days
on a charge Of intoxication he not drinking
man.
James Il. Fuller. sergeant Of the Seventh pre-
cilct. deposed that he not acquainted with how
Slattery had received his injuries; between twenty
and thirty minutes past nino O'Clock in the evening
Policeman John Mohr brought deceased in a hand
cart to tho station house, he was then alive but un-
conscioua the prisoner appeared to be intoxicated;
there was a wound in the back of his head; he was
breathing heavily and an ambulance was sent for;
It was ascertaned that he suffering from frac
tured skull. The sergeant did not examine to If
the wounded man was in liquor Mohr has always
been considered very efficient and worthy officer
and sober man.
witness. He testified that he is acquainted with the
defendant. and also with son of deceased; he met
the former about nine minutes after nine on the
evening in question; the policeman then
the street was man holding on to post on the
Sidewalk he was swaying to and fro; the officer re-
marked that the post could not stand up without
being held in positions this said in the hearing
Of the intoxicated man; the latter replied "It
is none of your damned business;" the police
man repeated his remark and theI slapped deceased
In the face with his glove; at that time deceased
standing; he suddenly lurched backward and fell;
Mohr was facing him; witness sat the injured man
the sidewalk while Officer Mohr went in search of
handcart witness did not know Mr.. Slattery; he
assisted in taking the wounded man to tho station
house; there marks OF violence his face
with the exception of blood his mustache; he did
not hear slattery speak after he struck by Mor
no blood was discernible on the face of Sattery be-
fore he was struck by the officer; officer Mohr could
not have struck Satery without witness having
it; the policemans club in his belt and his
glove was in his hand.
D1rFERxNr VERSION.
John Kelly of No. 157 Madison street, gave testi-
mony, after which George p. Gee. residing at No 80
Madison street. who is in the tea business, deposed
the 10th inst, he was coming through Madison
street. when he heard some say. "If you do not
tell me your name will punch all the teeth down
your throat" he stepped back q few feet and was
about three yards from the party when he first
them, he was on the west side of the street; he
. policeman and man standing against posts
there were two others present at the time the
policeman asked the man four or five times where
he lived; the latter appeared to be stupid; the
question was repeated and the man replied.
''Around here:" the policeman asked again for
the number Of the mans residence, and. receiv-
ing answer. hit him the right side
Of the head; the man reeled and his hat fell off;
the policeman asked him again where he lived. and
1T tho time hit him the left side of the head
telling him to the ground; thereupon the police
man asked where he could get handcart; the in
thing that looked like blood the back Of his
head; the policeman placed deceased on handcart
and took him to the station house; could
have struck deceased at that time except the poce
man without the witness seeing IT.: when deceased
fell the bystanders cried "Shamel witness asked OF
those present the policeman number, but no one
could. tell him. He failed to identify Mohr at the
DR.. 4. @. Webb. resident at Wards Island and q
graduate of Albany College, at present attached TO
Wards Island Hospital stated that the deceased John
Slattery had been i'll the above institution, where
he had been removed from the Workhouse. He
committed by Justice Wandell tor intoxication. He
was discharged from hospital the 10th inst. At the
time he was suffering from wound the right
side OF the back OF the head. The officials placed
tho point of delrium tremens. At the timc
OF leaving his condition was but slightly improved
Witness did not diagnose fracture of the skull he
did not examine for it.
IN HIS OWN BEHALF
Police Officer John Mohr testified in his own be-
about nine p. NJ. ON tho 10Th inst. he was going
down Madison street and met the man Sattery in
front OF No. Ill the latter then staggering
along; subsequently, witness met deceased In front
OF No. 139 Madison street; he was leaning against
,snpost a IN front Of gn9r store. swayns back
witness. asked him where he lived he replied that
1t was none of my business then told him IL he did
not tell where he lived that l would
rest him; he then stared Mt with his
eyes wide open; my left hand glove in my right
hand and slightly touched him in the face with my
gloves as did so both OF his feet went from under
him and he fell to the curb; the flag he stand
Ing on Is OF white marble, two feet long and
serves to hold the post in position; the snow and
frost made tho flag slippery; as he was falling
Tried to catch him; have never had any complaint
OF assault preferred against me; by orders OF Cap
tain Petty was arrested ut five minutes of six
O'Clock p. n. the 21st inst, since which
time have been out on bail reached the
station house with deceased about half-past nine
p. NJ; my post is on Madison street. from Pike to
Catharine, and Birmingham. from Henry to Madi-
SON never saw the deceased before that night;
slapped him in the face because thought he
looked at me; Slattery did not fall when 1 struck
him with my glove. but he attempted to move of.
and In doing 80 he fell
Deputy Coroner Cushman deposod that he made
an autopsy and found among other marks OF
violence clot of blood over the brain the right
stde there was also laccraon OF the brain tissue in
right hemisphere, and fracture OF tho skull
skull; the other organs were found to be in nor
mai condition. Doath, in the opinion of DIR. Cush-
man. was caused by compression of the brain from.
fracture OF the skull, due to violence.
After brief deliberaton the jury returned with the
following erdict:--'That the said John Slattcry
came to his death by injuries received from fall.
said fall being caused by blow at the hands of
Ofhcer John Mohr in front of No. 139 Madison
street. on the night of December 49,"
Coroner Flanagan placed the bail at 81. .5O0 and
upon that amount being furnished tho prisoner
released from custody pending tho action Of the
Grand Jury.
mr.