New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-12
THE SHOOTING OF PATRICK REAGAN.
A HEARING BEFORE THE CORONER.

OFFICER JOHN W. SMITH DECLINES TO MAKE A
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF EYE-w1TNRSSEs.
Officer John w. Smith, of the East Twenty
second Street Police who shot and killed Patrick Rea-
gam the proprietor OF liquor shop at No 4O4 Madson
It,, at 1890 p. IN. Sunday. made statement at
Police Headquarters yesterday morning In the presence
of Superintendent waling Inspector Murray and Cap
tain Leary justlfyng his act In sof-deenee smith
said that Reagan upon him and that others
In the room acke the door and cried out, XIII Nuns
knock him out" that he believed his Jfe III DANGER
smith was taken from Headquarters to the Esse1 Mar
ket Court aud was then handed 70 Coroner Levy
who made preliminary examination at the Coroner
office smith, who IL twenty-sx years old, has served
in the United states Navy for six years He was
styishy dressed his hair parted In the middle
After consultation with Superintendent Waing smith
decided TO make no statement to the Coroner George
W. Smith, OF the East Iwenty-sec sITeet ioi'0e'
testified:
"oficer John w. Smith and myself weredetaied tolooE
for yioators Of the Excise laws At D. M We reached
No Ac4 MadisOn-st We saw lights inside aud heard
billiard pool balls rafting. aud heard loud taking.
We tried TO get in man came out In his shirt sleeves
and told that they were DONG no business we went
away, but we saw people going In and coming out with
cans and pitchers We returned NJ 1880 and John W.
Smith WAS let In. waited for about eight minutes and
then went over, but found the door bolted heard
Smiths voice say: stand back The first man that
puts hand me, I'll shoot him. tried to push down
the door / kicked az the panels and some one inside
pu led the bolt Jumped In and raw three men stand
ing between Smith aud the stormdoor saw tne de-
ceased nan standing Dcuind the bar with drawn sabre
in his hand. Smith Ia front OF the bar.
The deceased man made thrust at
Smith with the sword and AZ he same
moment heard the report OF pistol. saw areyOYer
in Smiths hand Reagan put his hand over his breast
dropped the sabre and said I'm shot! lie tan TO
the cnd OF the counter aud said You -----, III
kill your Then James Longnu and Reagans wife
caught hold OF him and set him down on beerkeg'
When the witness said that he saw his brother officer
mo Captain Leary, hterrupung, said You mean you
heard the report OF psto-shoL You didn't SEQ him
lire ."
"Thnta about it, hastily added the witness; II only
heard a report"
Oh the shooting ia not denedT said superintendent
waTns "You saw a revolver IN bis hand, didn't your
YES" answered the witness
James Longsn. who Ia the liquor shop, testified
oacgr smith called for glass OF soda water aud got
IT, lie then said 20 Reagan Have you got license
Reagan SAID what do you want 10 know
what 1 have or haven't forP onicer Smith said
he va. an Officer and pulled something out Of his pocket
and passed into Keagans hand aud SAID: i am An
officer Reagan threw u at smlte wao SanEh1 "
smitb said: Il want you TO come with me. Ihon kea
gen said 70 tho Officer and Us an You had s 9ettet
get sur OF here Officer smith repeated: want you;
I'm officer Reagan rau up The bar ald TOOK ss3e
that wAs standing ~ Tue eornes ana tr r U1 %
did not see him draw the sabre Ihen smltu came
from door to tho middle OF the noor ana hiea Al hi
When ReagaG threw down the sahfe nc bhu' lou
--- get out q herel Reagan was tnrco oF -FOUR our
feet from tho snd OF the bar lie was sober IN the
afternoon and about the same in the evening ban
glass OF beer aud some Nfnskey there thlnk laAt
Reagan drew the sabre a little" 90
ETaucis Lsughlin, OF Lcwsrt, employed Win "a SILK
weaver la Union square, tesined:
vi sitting ut the table when a man came ~ and
up tue bar. lie got sarsaparilla AfeTward ne
said 10 ar. Reagan: Have you got Ioenscp Reagan
SAID: What authority have you 10 ak me II have IL
cense q Rehga9 asked this twice. Then smith TOOK
something from his pocket aut placed 10 IN kcagans
hand aud said: Il officer Before he drew the
/ m sail
Tnen Reagan asked Where II your authority Z Ihen
Smith placed something IN keagans hand Reagan
threw Il back ~ HIM and aid: 3ou are
| sueak1ng tinei,' something like that, and
everybody in the place. Reagan had taken some liquor,
smith put hs hands IN HE uonscTs pocket, back, aud
Reagan ran behind tue bar. lis vie ana caught
hiu. broke away fsum U.s. rhu behind tue DSf,
grabbed tie SABRE and half drew u. when smith nred
tue hot Reagan dropped tie sabre, came rom behind
The tr ana his wife caught him. lie slightly recovered
| ana SAID 10 smith: III XII you, you - - AS
.oo as smith fred the GhOt he 20 the door ana let
Onicee HeorEe ". smith aud changed hat and coat
with hin Two other officers followed. Onlcer smith
ala not revolver when he shot, but hred rom
Ills waist" -. 49,, a., IL,
thai be- and Iaugln tired To hold ReagubDut could not
The witness begged smith " for GDd5 sake" not ~
shoof as they could pacfy Reagan. But smith shot az
Smith, tne witness said exchanged hats and coats
| a,terWard No one except Reagan attempted % In
rrsre with Officer john W. Smitn. Tie Coroner handed
tue prisoner 10 tue care OF ActingCapaln McCu-
Dollcs official high ia authority said that lac sat
lated that Smiths life not In danger when he nred
Cnpaiu Ieary praised Suiits character. and said he
considered the shooting 1u5tbDIe ihc DOuJ OF heasd
Will bo buried tomorrow afternoon Attending Pbysi-
elan DOnn found that the ball passed through the Oody
aud came out between tho eleventh and Twelfth rDs.