Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-27
THE CORONER'S REPORT.
THE UNION CITY MURDERER COM ING TO HIS SENSES.

He Claims He Acted in Self-Defense,
 But Will Probably Be Held for
 Murder in the First Degree-Thfrd
 Murder Naugatuck Has Had In Ten
 Years.
 The excitement over the murder of Tom Cleary by Terrence McKiernan at
 Union City yesterday morning has some what abated and Naugatuck is again as- suming her quiet demeanor. When the extra DEMOCRATS reached Naugatuck at 5 p. m. yesterday they were eagerly bought up and Newsdealer Stapleton found it necessary to order several hun dred extra copies in order to supply the demand. It was the first newspaper to arrive in Naugatuck and the only one to give full and correct re- port of the affair.
 Terry Mckiernan, the unfortunate murderer, spent yesterday in his cell at the lookup in the Town hall building, while the remains of his victim lay on a temporary dissecting table in a room above until late in the afternoon when they were taken to the home of the Misses Coleman, personal friends of Cleary's parents, where they will remain until the funeral. The face bore peace ful expression and the eyes were tightly closed in death. During the greater part of yesterday afternoon Drs Futile and Fitzgerald were engaged in making a post-mortem examination. They found that the ball had lodged in the Death was due to internal hemorrhage and resulted instantansously.
 Monday evening Cleary entered the house of Mrs Arthur keefe where he be arded and talked and joked with one of Mrs keefes daughters. He had re- ceived letter from his mother that evening, but did not open it, saying he would be in shortly and then he would do so. He never did, for this letter lays on the table in his room. MT and Mrs Cleary, parents of the murdered man, arrived last evening and were hastily driven to the house of the Colemans on was a very sorrowful scene as the par ents gazed at the body of their dead son. They loved him with all the devotion of a parents love and had written him at Christmas requesting him to return to Woonsocket where he could work at his trade of rubber shoe making. Cleary wrote that he liked Naugatuck and it was his wish to remain there as he had made many friends.
 When DEMOCRAT reporter called at the lookup last evening he was admitted to tilS CcH. MChleTudu Do- gan to realize his awful crime, but still expresses his determination to tell noth- ing until under oath. He, e,however, does not deny doing the shooting. He told several of his friends who called to see him that Cleary made move as if reaching for revolver in his hip pocket. He therefore got a drop on his victim and fired the fatal shot.
 Coroner Mix finished his investigation late yesterday afternoon, but would say nothing for publication. It was, how ever, learned that the coroner had found that Mckiernan was the direct cause of Cleary's death and would charge him with murder in the first degree. A re- porter called at the Mckernan home stead in Union City yesterday afternoon and found the house deserted. He met Daniel McKiernan the murderer's father on the road to Naugatuck. He is a man of 79 years al d one of the towns most re- spected citizens. He admits that Terry was wayward son, but that he did not think that his boy was entirely to blame for the shooting. He burst into tears as the reporter was about to depart. It was pitiful sight to see the poor old man so moved at the doings of his wayward son.
 Mckiernan was given a hearing before Justice Peck this afternoon and held to await the action of the grand jury.
 This makes the third murder in Naug- atuck in less than ten years. One night during the month of August, 1879, Rol- ins Bunnell, teamster, was fatally stabbed by his father-in-law, Luther Riggs. Riggs was tried in the following year and sent to prison for life. He d.ed at Wetherstield two years later.
 On the morning of May 10, 1887, the town was again thrown into excitement oy another murder Mar in Phinney a dissolute fellow, had quarrel with Lydia Phinney, his bride of less than a few months. He met her on the street that morning and she refusing to give him any money for drink, he stabbed her in the left breast, causing fatal wound. Phinney was tired shortly after and was sent to Weatherfeld for life.
 The body of the murdered man was brought to this city this morning and taken on the one o'clock train over the New England road to Woonsocket, where the funeral will be held at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. Under taker F. A. McKenna was in charge. The Young Mems Catholic Institute of of which the deceased was a attended the remains to the de- pot III NdlSdtuCh, tlle 1olloWIuS uleu- bers acting as pallbearers: John Con- nors, James Petit, Rudolph Lenners and Peter Ford. A handsome floral pill low was contributed by the association and number of Cleary's lady friends also presented flowers. Rev Father Pagan sent letter to Rev F. A. McCabe na, pastor of St Charles church, Woon- socket, in which he says good word for the unfortunate young man.