The New York herald., 1879-07-31
THE STATLN ISLAND SHOOTING.

CoRoNER's JURY FINDS THAT RICHARD roll
Lesson ''DID FELoNIoUsLY KILL AND MUIR
DER THE SAID GEORGE sIsK." OF ToMp-
KINsvILLE.
The inquest in the case Of George Sisk. who was
shot dead at Castleton Tompkinsve). s. l.. on the
Fourth OF July by Richard b. Rolleson. which had
been postponed for some time in consequence of the
sudden illness of Coroner Gaifney. resumed yos
terday morning in the Edgewater Village Hall at
Stapleton. The room crowded to its utmost
capacity, and tho spectators evinced unusual
interest in the proceedings. The prisoner. who
appeared to DO thoroughly broken down
both in mind and spirit, sat behind his
counsel. Officer Fitzpatrick sitting alongside
his chair. District Attorney Croak present and
conducted the examination Of witnesses. After read
ing the testimony of those who had been exam
ined during the first session Of the inquest and after
their signatures to that testimony had been obtained
Coroner Gaffney called Joshua Taxter. He testified
that he the neighborhood of the tragedy when
1t occurred but did not the shooting; went up
to where the alleged scuie took place between Sisk
and Rolleson and found pistol presumably Sisk's.
in the gutter; he gave the weapon to Officer Fitz-
patrick, who took it apart and found all the
chambers empty. Officer Fitzpatrick. on being
sworn, testified that he was in Tompkinsville. a
short distance from the scene Of the murder. at tho
time of its occurrence; he was handed pistol by
Taxter and he identified the pistol produced by tho
Coroner the he had received. Frank Green
that the night of the murder he stand
ing at Tully's corner. about one hundred and fifty
yards from Sisks house. talking with the prisoners
landlord, named Taylor Sisk up to
them and talked in very angry way about Roleson,
and shortly afterward went toward his own house.
meeting the prisoner his (ssksl door, he heard
Sisk say to Rolleson, "io homes; the next thing
he q
hand, and Sisk fell into the gutter.
RoLLEsoN's DEFENCE.
Ro!lcson himself then examined. Although
much agitated he made very clear and
concise statement He testified in substance as fol-
lows He is thirty years OF age and the jantor Of
the Staten Island Boat Club; he left the club house
about half past ten the evening preceding tho
Fourth OF July and purchased two American flags,
intending to bring them homo; he stopped in q
friends saloon to show the flags and after time
when he got opposite the house the other side Of
the street saw the flash OF pistol which appeared
to have been directed at one OF his windows he did
not know who it was that discharged the pistol. and
called out to the people the other side of the
that that was not the proper time to be firing and
they had better wait until morning; somebody
the street answered back that he had better go and
live under kings and queens; he then went into the
house and partially undressed himself when ne re-
nlembered that he had forgotten to bring home his
flags he dressed again and left the house;
the roadway was undergoing REPAIRS and he crossed
to the other side of the street, passed Sisk's
house, he said TO Mr.. Murray, who was sitting
the stoop. my remarks did not call for any in
made the remarks; AS he was walking away man
came down the street and said, what is the mat
ter?" He recognized the man Sisk; he said
him, ''There is nothing the matter" Sisk turned
around and suddenly put his hand in his pocket
and then threw it behind his back; the wit
ness then said to him. George, what did
you put behind your back?" lie said.
'Nothing;" u moment had scarcely elapsed
before he struck Rolleson blow in the face and
knocked him staggering into the street; Sisk fol-
lowed up the blow and threw his other arm forward,
in which he held something the nature Of which tho
prisoner unable to describe; the prisoner drew
his pistol with the intention of warning Sisk OF,
but when he threw it forward it exploded. shooting
the oeceased he had entoI tained very friendly fee
ings toward Ssk during his lifetime and did not in
tend to Kill him; in fact he very sorry for the
occurrence and said that the explosion Of the pistol
purely accidental. although he felt that he would
have been justified in the shooting the ground of
sef-defence.
After celebrating for nearly two hours tho jury
brought in the following verdict:-
Richard Is. Rolleson Of tho of Castclon in the
county of Richmond the morning OF the 18th Of July
1870 about half o'clock tho said VI
Casteton and of Richnond and Of malice afore
said George Sisk. then and there present. and with
certain pistol known revolver thor and there loaded
with gunpowdcr and lead did, with premedatcd design
to effect tho death Of the said Ssk, inct mortal
wound the said Sisk OF which he there then
died and SO the jurors that the said Richard B Roll
Lesson did then aud there olonously kill aud murder the
again the of the people OF York
and their dignity and against the Of the In
such made and provided.
Rolieson, at the conclusion of the inquest was i'm
mediately taken back to the county Jail ut Rich
moLd.