The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-11
BURGLAR CASEY'S DEATH.
MIR. JOHN p. w. RICHARDS TELLING THE
STORY or THE SHOOTING.
Fearing fpr my Life wen Ne for my Prop
erty, Z Determined to have the First Chance
The CorOner's Jury Justly the Killing


Two o'clock yesterday afternoon was tho
time appointed for opening the inquest into tho
circumstances attending the death OF Timothy
Casey. tho burglar who on Sunday night. was
shot dead by Mr.. John F. NJ Richards who de-
tectcd him in tho act OF robbing his house. At
that hour. however Mr.. Richards was not pres
ent in the Coroner's office. and an officer was
sent for him. II was 3 o'clock when the Jury
WINS impanelled and Coroner Ellinger began
the investigation.
Denis Dargon. who. with Casey was found in
Mr.. Richards's house. and escaped his asso-
clatc's fate by throwing up his hands and cry
ing / give in" when tho pistol was pointed at
his breast. was led inside the rail by police
officer. and placed standing with his back to tho
wall. Handouts were upon his wrists. but he
did not look to bc very formidable fellow. He
has boysh appoarance although he IS said 10
be % years OF age and has no hair on his face.
His features are sharp and regular. and tho
expression Of his. c9untcnance would probably.
tell against him II he were charged with sneak
robbery, He listened intcntlv to the testimony.
md evidently formed an Intelligent estimate OF
the force with which it bore upon him.
Coroner Eilinger, in giving the facts TO tho
Jury said; Two or three burglars entered Mr..
Richarls's house on Sunday night but he proved
himself very good match for those gentle
MIR Richards was the first witness called. Ho
stepped quickly upon the stand. showing not
the slightest agitation or embarrassment and
told tho story Of the shooting very serious v.
but in an easy sclf-possessed way. He is
young man. apparently but little moro than 80
years Of age. but his face is set and stern. and
seems to indicate nature not easily softened
or inclined 70 be yielding. He wears a heavy
moustache but no beard or whskcrs. There
We're dark marks under his eyes; and his
countenance bore Othor indications that h o had
recently passed through atrying ordeal but
his nerves were steady and his voice was clear.
Il live. ." he said, after tho oath had been adj
minislered, and speaking in tone which.
though not loud. was distinctly audible to tho
Coroner. tho Jury. and the reporters, ut 305
East Eighty-siNth street. Last night Mt about 3
o'clock was sitting in the second story front
room. reading newspaper. My wife was with
me. and she said she heard noise down stairs.
listened hut at first could hear nothing. and
/ supposed II must have been n servant moving
about But my wife was alarmed, and IA
listened again | thought | heard IL myself.
went into the hall at the top Of the stairs, and
then distinctly heard the noise and / felt a
cold current o, wind blowing upon mo, know
that the hall door must be open but rs | re-
mcmbsred having shut 1t when came home,
thought there must be something wrong. and,
going quietly into TIE hcdroOm' got my pistol
The pistol. heavy. effective weapon. was
SHOWN by the coroner 70 Mr.. richards and
after he had Identified 1t rs the one ho had
used. he went on:
-" went down the stairs and when was near
the bottom saw two men upon the parlor floor
Ny house is rather peculiarly built. 1t has no
hall. but in coming in one passes directly from
the Vrsuoule INTO me reception room. Then
door and to the rear OF the house. The two
mon were standing in the reception room close
20 the sliding doors opening into the pRrlor At
the foot OF the stairs there Was small closet in
which kept oyercoats. Tho door OF this closet
was open and saw that the coats had been re-
moved. They were lying on the floor of the
reception room, near the hall door. The men
saw me the instant stepped into the reception
another. ran past me through the sliding doors
and into the parlor. had never seen him be-
| fore. and | had no doubt he was n burglar
knew that he could not escape by the way he
| had gone. and followed him. He was near the
| window when raised my pistol and fired but
| think missed him. fired three shots without
| hitting him. SO far NJ | could see. After the
| third shot had been fired At him he threw him
self against the window az the end Of the parlor
| and burst II open. but could not get out He
| then turned and ran toward me, and as fired
Cor me fourth time he staggered and fell,
| brought him down with the fourth about five
seconds elapsed. TWAS all done very, quickly
spoken by either of the burglars or by myself
Did he threaten you. or attempt to strike
S9rns S or az sn inner time
No sir" replied the witness. dryly. 81
didn't give MIN chance for that"
who was killed" continued Mr. Richards. "
| had no idea what the other one was doing. A,
| more harm. and left him there and ran into
the reception room, where the prisoner wa,
standing. | levelled my pistol nj him, but h.
! throw up his arms. begged me not TO fire. anC
| said he gave himself w. / took him by TIN
collar, and held him until the officers came"
the jury what his state Of mind was when h,
| fired AT Casey The Coroner told him 10 PRO
coed. and he said: had heard that burglars
| when they broke into a house were usually
| armed, and prepared to resist any attempt e
CAPTURE them. | mad no doubt that these mel
carried pistols. and. fearing for my life as wei
as for my property determined 10 have th'
This morning" tho witness continued. &"
found a bunch OF false keys on the floor neal
where the men were standing when first sHv
them. None Of these keys. however. fitted tn,
catch. and chains. II was omen when | can't
down stairs. though when | entered at half
past SIX o'clock l closed the sprinl
eaten. though l did not put up the chains
aftcrward pulled the door. and satisfied mysol
that it was closed last. SO far as know there
were only two men in the house when cam,
down stairs. ! saw no other confederate; bu
two. ! thought, were bad enough. | folt n
without much trouble. but / didn't like havinl
one before and another behind mo-"
Dargon's handouts We're removed while h'
was giving his testimony. He was nervous
and spoke in a tone SO low that the jury coulC
hear HIM with difficulty. Coroner Ellinge
bent forward. put questions, and then repeatr,
the answers IN louder voice. The prisoner
said he was n brickayer. t'ut had not been en-
ployed for some time. On sunday morning he
accompanied 10y Casey aud man whom h'
only knew rs Sullivan. started ont to 81 end tn,
day pleasantly They took their first drink II
Martins saloon IN Srycnty-soycnth street
going n nv side door ms the saloon was no
open on Sunday. Al about 10 o'clock they wen
t. "a lager beer saloon and drank again. Wit
looms they had visited but they went tO a grca
many during the day, and NJ oclock in th
evening he said they were all very drunk. Sui
Ivan was perhaps, the most sober Of the three
At all events he took the best care Of himself
Tor when a proposal WAS made to enter Mr
Richards > house he ran away.
&c suppose" said Dargon. that we had SOM
| object ia going into Mr. RlchNrds'S house. hut
WAS too drunk 10 know what il wis. We di,
not hrenk in. for the door WIS open. Nethe
OF us had any arms. and don remember steal
ing coats or anything else. We had only beer
ian hal from "a mi Inn HHlla
Richards came down and began firing at Casey
! altogether and then Casey fell dead. All tina
time stood I'm the front room without saving
word. ! did not Interfere aud was 50 drum
that / did not know whnt To DO; but when MI
Richards turned around and pointed the pistc
give in Then Mr.. Richards took hold of m
and held me until the police officers came IN.
Can't Robbins Of the Eighty street 10
lice testified To- the arrest OF nargon and the con
Voyauoo of Gasey's deHd body TO the police sta
tion. Both Of the burglars he said. had bee
arrested before, and Durgon had served n tern
said that when he entered MIR. Rchnrdss hous
his coat. surrendered. Capt. Robbins evince
adeslre TO TESTIFY as 10 other similar shootn
ARRAYS that had como under his experience, bu
the Coroner stopped him.
The Jury consulted for few minutes withou
leaving their seats. but being unable 10 agree q
once they retired In ton minutes they returned
NIa tori nm ia