The Evening critic., 1882-09-06
MURDER IN BALTIMORE.
How and why william w. McC0mas
Killed Lncnh Zimm ei.mnu.

Jacob Zimmerman, O bricklayer, died at tho
University Hospital, Baltimore, yesterday
from the effects Of n blow inflicted by William
W. McComas, Monday night In the northern
section OF that city. Acoroner's Jury rendered
u verdict which caused the commitment OF
McComas for the action OF the grand jury.
According TO the prisoners confession 1t ap.
pears that he had difficulty with zlmmer-
man at 3 $50 p. M at the corner of Maryland
avenue md Oliver street, and had struck him
on the head with paint brush. He claimed
In Justification OF his act that Zimmerman,
who, he said, had served n term In Moyamen-
sing prison, Pennsylvania, for theft, had
taught his children to steal, aiicnated tho Of
fections OF his wife and broke up his home.
Yesterday morning he made the same state
nicnt to Captain Earhart. Upon tho receipt OF
the news OF 2lmme4aans death the Captain,
accompanied by Justice W. Campbell Hamil-
ton, Lieutenant watkins and Sergeant Scott,
proceeded to McOomas' cell, and, after being
Informed OF tho fatal termination OF the alter
cation, he reanlrmed the truth OF his state
mont previously mnde, repeating tho reasons
which had actuatod him.
When first found Zimmerman was locked up
at the northwestern police station on the sup
position that he was drunk Later III the
evening Mrs. Mary McComas came to the sta.
ton and Inquired for zimmerman, stating
that he had been hurt. Captain Earhart thon
examined tho Unconscious man, but found no
wounds. He sent for Drs. Frank j. Flannery
and Silas Baldwin, who gave the opinion that
Zimmerman was sunerlng from conclusion OF
blow on the head, though no wounds were WIS.,
iblc. Captain Earhart had previously sent for
the hospital ambulance, and the man was
taken 10 the University Hospital, whore he
died about o'clock.
From the testimony at tho inquest, II ap-
pears that both tho prisoner and his victim
were hard cases. Witnesses said that they
had frequently heard NcComas threaten 10
Kill Zimmerman. The formers wife testified
that she had been thirty.two years married to
McComas and that she had been Obliged to
separate from him, owing TO ill-treatment. She
and her family had occupied the same house
for four years, during which her husband and
Zimmerman had been on bad terms. John
McComas, son OF the prisoner, testified to fire.
quent fights between his father and thinner
man.
DR.. Walker, who made tho post-mortem OK
animation, said that there were no signs OF
violence on the person except n cut quarter
OF an Inch long OH tho left side OF the head,
two Inches above the ear and two and a-half
the skull he found large clot of blood weigh
ing i've ounces between the bone and the mem
brane covering the brain. The clot covered a
space OF three inches in diameter, and com.
pressed the brain. There was also blood on
the brain at the forehead, and another clot on
the right side OF the head. The large clot was
the cause OF death. II was produced by an OK
tcrnal blow, rupturing the middle meningeal
artery. The clot In the right side was also
sufficient TO cause death. The brush with
which the blow was struck was here xhiblted.
II was of large size and soaked with varnish,
Weighing fully pound. The bleeding from
tho ruptured artery was very gradual, and
continued until death.