Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-23
BLOODY WORK AT TIE WEST
END.
A Man Eearf0Ily beaten and His
Body Found In the River.

Body Found In the River.
Yesterday morning, the body of Thos. Fitz-
gerald, laborer In the gas house Oh "a street,
was found In the river at the foot OF that street
with his skull fractured. and word was passed
about the streets that he had been murdered
by some one and thrown into the river. This
raised great excitement, and many repaired
to the wharf at that point to ascertain the
facts II was soon learned that Fitzgerald and
low-laDOrer named John Murphy had had
fight about II O'Clock the night before. both
being under the influence OF liquor. The Of
f1cers OF the fourth precinct station, as soon as
the discovery was made, set themselves to
work, and tracing blood marks from Murphy's
house, On F. between 25th and 2sth streets, to
the river. arrested him. The body OF Fitzgerald
was taken to the statton-house and the coro-
ner notified to proceed to hold an inquest yes
terday afternoon, which lasted for several
tending the fight were brought out The ju-
rors-J. s. Mccoy, w. c. Callow, Arson s.
Taylor, Thoa. Lucas Jas. M. York, George N.
West-were sworn.
TIE TESTIMONY.
The first witness was Murphy, who testified
that he was In West market Saturday night,
when MIR. Seaman called him to go 20 his
{seanlan's) house TO witness an agreement
sale Of a let. He met Fitzgerald and Seaman,
and they went to Scanlan5 house; Scanlan
drew an agreement and paid Fitzgerald ten
drank, and Fitzgerald said that ten dollars was
stin due him. Murphy said, "Why, saw him
pay you ten dollars In hand awhile ago." Fitz-
gerald replied, WHATS that your business p
and accompanied the reply with a blow. A
rough. and-tun.ble tussle followed, and Fitz
gerald, getting up, threw bowl and struck
Murphy. Witness then went home, laid down
On his bed and fell asleep. Shortly afterwards
he was awakened by noise below, and, going
down, found that Fitzgerald had come into The
house. and that Mrs. Murphy was trying to
put him out. He (Murphy) took chair, struck
him and drove him out A rolltng-pin shown
with blood upon i'll Murphy said he picked
up that rolliDg-pin from the floor, and that
He Went back to bed again, and was Out. no
more that night. It was about IL O'Clock when
he drove Fitzgerald from bis house.
John Seaman, living at us 26th street testl-
fed that Fitzgerald and Murphy Quarre,ed
while ne was engaged In writing the agreement
at bis house for the sale Of the lot; that Muir
ply struck Fitzgerald first, knocking him down;
ply out; that Murphy made threats that he
would fix Fitzgerald and somebody else after
him; that Murphy remained outside sometime,
and not long after wards Fitzgerald left. soon
after that witness children came up saying
that Mr.. Fitzgerald was at Murphy's house beg
giDg Murphy not to kill him.
Mary Moran living at 1928 street. next door
to Murphy's house, testified that about ~ or
o'clock Saturday night she saw Fitzgerald go
to Murphys house and knock at the door; SAW
him go In and then come out: when he went to
the door she heard woman inside say, WHO'S
she SAID, what do you Want?" but he repeated
"Let me H." The door was then opened, and
she heard great fuss going on and q heavy
fall; and soon afterwards she saw the man who
went In come out again, and in going down the
steps he said, Murphy, you're done" but
she did not hear the rest. Murphy and his wife
how the fuss with Fitzgerald began. When
Fitzgerald left Murphys house he walked Off
bTIskly In the direction Of the river, but he
walked as II he had been drinking; rather I'M
steadily.
Margaret Higgins. living in Murphy5 house,
SAID she was asleep that night and did not
hear any disturbance. She saw the blood on
the floor when VIII n she came cam down, and Mrs Muir
Susie Carr, a girl about sixteen years old,
living at 25S5 street. next door to Murphy's,
testified that about l o'clock Saturday night
she heard some one knock at Murphy's door;
that alter some talking the man outside said:
at is me, friend;,h that the door was opened
and the man went III; that Mrs Murphy asked
to see you After other words Mrs. Murphy
said: "Get out OF my house, or I'll burst you
open. He said: "Sit down, don't mean to
harm you; I'm in Jack Murphy's house. She
some one fell to the floor, and she heard the
sound of blows and groans. She heard voice
say: murphy, for Gods sake don XIII me-"
70 XII you Then there were more russ s' and
blows, and after that witness heard q voice
outside gTOan1ng. She afterwards saw Mr..
murphy IN the DacK yaIQ WIN Canule, ana he
said he wanted an axe TO Kill the man, talking
to himself apparently. About ten minutes
afterwards saw Murphy coming up g street
towards his own house rrom the river. Wit
LESS accused Murphy OF killing the man, and
he said he lad killed the Ola, ano
would give witness the same II she did not
Keep Ter mouth. He said as he went up the
stepa that he had two buckets OF blood to wipe
Up, and he thought he had finished him.
The jury then made an inspection OF the
preln.ses where the quarrel occurred, after
which the testimony OF Dr.. j. f. Harttgan was
taken to the effect that the wounds Ia the
head were sufficient to produce dea b, though
Lot necessarily fatal. There vas 10 indie .diUn
that the dect ased shrugged after ne was IN
the water.
John Moran testified to seeing man leave
Murpby'a LCuSe and go towards the river.
TIE VERDICT.
The jury after elaboration returned YER
dit that the deceased came to his daatl by
drowning while Intoxicated and In condition
ef shock from a fracture OF the skull caused by
q blow by John Murphy
Murphy was thereupon committed to jail to
await the action Of the grand jury.