The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-17
WAS 1T IN sELF-DEFENCE?

THE MURDER OF THOMAS o'CoNNELL AT NY
TRIAL BEGUN AND coNcLUDED-wAITINo
FOR THE VERDICT.
The trial of Patrick Nichols. alias ''Pat the Lug.
for the murder OF Thomas O'Connell. on the night
of the Sd Of July last begun and concluded yes
terday before Judge Calvin Z. Pratt in the Rockland
County Court House, New City. The tragedy
caused considerable excitement vt the time In
Nyack. where it occurred and where both men re-
sided. Soon after the occurrence some forty wit
nesses were summoned before the Grand Jury and
an indictment for murder in the first degree was
found against Nichols. Since that time he has been
confined in the County Jail. The victim of the
tragedy was q married man of some means
and lived saloon called the Above. on
Franklin street in a house which he owned. He was
a mason by trade. but seldom worked himself He
is moreover said to have been overbearing in man
ner and easily provoked into q quarrel. Nichols.
who is only twenty-six years old and mar
ried is a laborer. and worked at different
times for the whose life he took. He is
smooth faced frowsy headed and boyish looking,
and although his appearance does not indicate it, is
said to be of q pugnacious disposition. his
fighting proclivities having won for him the
alias of "the Lug" He lives on Bird street.
the '.Alcove." where the quarrel with OCon-
nell began Both men frequented the saloon and
on the night of the tragedy met there under the
following circumstances: -Nich ols and two other
men named Fritz and Crane discussing
the number Of bricks one workman could
lay in a day. and they could not settle
the question Crane appealed to O'Connell.
This was in front OF the saloon, and O'Connell
instead of answering the question said as is stated
such man (meaning Nichols; let go and have
drink" The three men entered the saloon. leaving
Nichols alone on the sidewalk.
GETTING UGLY
While they were drinking Nichols followed them
in, and taking o'Connel by the lapel of the coat
asked him to drink. Three times he made the
request but O'Connen only responded. II
am getting ugly now. ana at the same
ts sone a nd snd
his friends went shortly after. The correct
of the story of the tragedy up to this point
there are two versions. Nichols claims that he
followed by OConnell and assaulted and
knocked down: smarting under the pain , o.
and got large knife. with which he returned to the
scene of the assault. O'Connell was still there and
scuffie ensued. during which. Nichols alleges.
OConnell grasped him by the throat so that he was
in selt-defence compelled to use his knife.
1t claimed for the prosecution tina. O'Connell
prisoner, but that the latter sought the
meeting and provoked the assault which
home some distance away, and procured the knife,
and he was heard to say he wanted that weapon ito
kill the OConnell."
THE TRIAL
great many witnesses were examined. but their
testimony only varied minor matters
During the trial the prisoner the
most composed looking person in the court
room. and when Mr.. Charles Winfield, coun-
sci for the prosecution, was making his most
telling points the prisoner placed his hand behind
his head and leaned il he thought
OF taking q nap. After briefly reviewing the
evidence and defining murder in the first and
second degrees and granddaughter in the third
degree, and the different phases Of the
case to which they would apply, Judge Pratt gave
the to the jury at five O'Clock. When they
to retire the prisoners wife, who sat quietly in the
audience broke ints tears and looked anxously into
her husband eyes bat she found response in them
He was led out Of court wearing stupefed look of
indifference to the fearful position he occupied The
widow Of the murdered man stepped down to the
front Of the Court House and nervously paced the
sidewalk, waiting to learn the fate of the man who
had taken her protector from her.
At late hour last night the jury had not agreed
a verdict