The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-16
NQUEsT.
IaE MURDER or
E BEl.sON.
/Eliclted and the .pury's
Verdict,


In r. Marley last evening con.
inquest In the killing OF Philo1ene
John zophi. which occurred on the
day Of January. at the corner Of Bor'
x and Tchoupitoulas streets.
Tho following Ia tho testimony elected. TO-
gether with the verdict Of the coroners Jury.
MISS ELLEN MILLER.
On Sunday. the twelfth instant. was In Mrs.
Zopbis Kitchen heard some very loud talking
| coming from the poker-ro and remarked TO
Mrs. zophi's Sister in law that there was going
to BIO u fuss.
left the Kitchen and took n position In the
room 80 that could ace through the bar room
20 the bsnqnette. saw John Zophi running
from tho billiard room out to the banGuette, |
then ran through the bar. room and stood In
,he bar- , door; Az ! stood there John
the middle Of tho b inauette. IA he lzopbi)
blew his whiatle for the third time. Belson ran
through the billiardsroom and uttered an oath,
Then he took his rev liver. from bis behind
pocket and pointing 4 ut John Zophi shot at
him Theshot took eject in zophia left finger.
As Iophi received the shot he staggered.
z2phi then came through the bar-r9om door
E who as was
Ing In front Of mo. and went In. remained In
The bar room. z2phl Mt that time was going TO
hts bar. Then tho ace nd shot was fired by
Belson. tho bullet passing over my shoulders
zophi got behind the bar. aud. taking his pistol
seid: i don't want to shoot As he came from
behind the bar the third shot was fired at him
iron, Belsons pistol. who then was standing on
the bauquette.
= AZ tho bird shot came in Of him. he tzophD
room. When Iophi 1red took tho little girl
han and went into the back rsom and shut tho
door. Witness identified the pistol lzophi's) as
being one Himilar to tho weapon Ipphi had.
There was nobody In tho bar room but Xophi
myself and tho little girl.
Il. 1IvAupAIs.
On Sunday. tho twelfth instant WINS playing
game OF Heven-up in tho billiard room ut
John Iophfs house, when Belaob came In, cay
Ing whoever owed him, any money had better
Psy him , before they played Imme
left because wanted to quit.
when left the following persons were in The
Keenan,. Hughey Gallagher aud one Valerie.
PATRICK MEEHAN
stated, In substance. That on sunday he WINS I'm
Iopht's saloon. That Zophi came into the bill
ii a. room aud said thu, he would be Id u
this. BeisQp was in the room. He then went
out on the banauete and blew whistle. Bel
Mr. Archie Mitehell's testimony was the same
ms that published in the DEMOCRAT on tho morn |
Ing following tho shooting.
Mr.. JOHN o'nRrEs.
Last Sunday, about "a o'clock / was standing
nutstde OF John Iopbi's coffee house. ! cav |
Iophi come out and blow his whistle. Their |
MI, Bels on came out Of the billiard room door
l!elson said. You s-n of a b-h, you are blowing |
hat whistle fer me-" Then he jumped back ana |
said. You've got n knife" / Haw tho knife In |
sophia hand the blade was about twelve inches
ong He had the whistle In one hand and tho |
,nife ~ the other. Belson then drew his pistol
,ohn hophi then ran inside and got pistol
He then ran outside with the pistol In his
lpnd. Iopbf came out Of the Bordeaux street
loor: Belson was on Tehoupitouas street
Then they both began firing. cannot say who
lted hrst. did not see Iopbi's hand bleeding
whom he went In for the pistol. was citing on
be- bench outside when they first came out.
When | saw them come together | ran
cross the street and atood there. When
he fuas started Belsons son remained with
no. | don't know how many shots were fred
On the above testimony the coroners isry re-
urned verdict that tho deceased came to his
eath from gunshot wounds. the weapon being
n the hands Of John Iophf. now In custody.
Coroner Markev will max an affidavit to day
efore Justice Falls. charging the accused
nth murder