New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-06
HANNIS ASSAIL/NTS DISCHARGED.
THE CoRoNERs JURY THOUGHT THE EviDENcE
TOO WEAK AGAINST THEM

THE CoRoNERs JURY THOUGHT THE EVIDENCE
Too WEAK AGAINST THEM.
The manner in which William J. Hanna, the ship
ping clerk, who helped to his honc No. 4o3 West
Twenty second ST., New Years night, met his death
appears to be now longer in doubt, although tho
young men who, by their own confession, were I'M
piIcated werc acquitted yesterday by tho coroners
fury Five Of them were locked up at Police Head
quarters on Wednesday night, charged with having
caused his death. Al of them live In Greenwich
ave. at the numbers given Charles weyrich at NO..
55 George Merkent at No. 60; Theodore Fergus at
No. 90, and Charles Ertz at No. &c. Hanna was walk
ing along Greenwich ave. whom they met him ana
was drunk at the time they allege They had been
making New-Year's calls, and two OF their NUMBER
were bumorousy jostllng each other On tho SIDEWALK
when Hanna approached and said: DO you fciiows
want the whole sldewalkl' accompanied as they say,
by tho demand to "clear OUT
Then wcyrIch led the attack by knocking tho
drunken man down and falling on top OF him. AS
they rolled each other Ertz went to Weyrichs
help. Fergus said no nterferod after Hanna had been
soundly thrashed, and Hanna was then told to go
homo There no attempt at robbery.
When Hanna gained his feet he started In the dircc-
ton OF Eleventh-st and one hour later was found In
a dazed condition in front Of tho Grapevine liquor
store by German butcher, who helped him inside
After resting a little there he started to go homo
without having spoken of the assault When Ertz
reached home found the butcher there before him
telling Mrs. Ertz what he had seen, whereupon he
told the butcher all he knew Of the case. Tho lat
ter's subse luent talk gave cew to Detective Ser
geants Crowley, Mcguire and McGinnis, whom lnspec
tor Byrnes had already detailed to investigate the
matter
The coroner's Office filed yesterday afternoon
at O'Clock with friends Of the prisoners when they
were arragned before Coroner Messemer The de-
te,tves told the facts that had led to the arrest OF
tho prisoners. The evidence of Fergus showed that
on Monday evening he heard noise outside his window
and ON going he the prisoners In a row with
Hanna. Merkent sat on bootblack stand drunk
They were all shouting IIsnna's nUuth was bleed
Ing Ono of The boys made pass at Hanna to strike
him. The witness led Hanna along the avenne, a'd
then Eltz conducted him along Sixth ave-, which was
all the witness knew about II. Charles and Edwin
Brewer both brothers, who brought Hanna home
said he Is Ing a track at GreenwchaVe
and Eleventhst.. and asked them to take him homc
although he appeared at first unconscious they saw
marks OF violence HIS face and spots of blood on
his coat and collar.
The Jury found however. that Hanna had been
killed at the hands Of unknown persons, ana dismissed
the prisoners 49,
Mrs Elizabeth Hanna. the mother of young Hanna.
died suddenly Of heart disease yesterday afternoon at
her home. No. 1.541 Broadway. She was reading an
account Of her sons death to her daughter when she
fell from her chair. Death was caused Dy Iaiuro
OF the hearts action