The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-20
MORRIS O'BRIEN'S CRIME.
THE CORONER BEGINS THE IN
TES1IGAIIoN OF THE CASE.


Did Timothy O'Brien Attack His Brother
after a Heated Discussion of Family
Affairs?-The story which Mrs O'Brien
Told to Detective Clark.
At the Court House, last evening, Cor
oner Brackner began an inquest into the
death of Timothy O'Brien, who died in
the City Hospital, Friday night, from a
wound received at the hands of his bro
ther Morris. Norris was represented by
William D. Daily, and his wife, who was
present, frequently indulged in deep
drawn sighs and groans, which could be
heard in the furthest corner of the room.
The police told the story of the discov-
cry of the crime as The JERSEY CITY
NEWS published it at the time. Timothy
O'Brien was found by Roundsman Flan-
nelly sitting in chair, in his home.
O'Brien was unconscious. The floor was
covered with blood.
Flannelly took a knife from Morris
O'Brien's hand. Morris admitted that he
had done the cutting, but said that it was
Timothy's fault. Policeman Barry testi
ned to similar admission made to him
by Morris.
THE DOCTORS STORY.
DR.. Peter Hoffman testified that he saw
the injured man about twenty-five min
utes past nine o'clock on the evening
when he was hurt. He was sitting on a
chair in Miles o. Brien's room unconscious.
One of the policemen was holding up his
left arm, which had q bandage around it.
The doctor had the stabbed man placed
upon a sofa, and attempted to staunch the
blood by twisting bandage around the
rm above the elbow joint.
He then unbound the wound and found
puncture, cut clean to the bone, on the
outside of the hand and also found that
a large artery had been severed. After
examining the wound he rebandaged it.
Detective Michael F. Clark, of the
Grove street station, said that he was at
his station house on the night of the
came in. He detailed the circumstances
of the case as given by the other police
men.
AS MRS. o'BRIEN SAW IT.
The next day Clark went to O'Brien' 3
house and met Mrs. O'Brien.
He asked her if she knew anything
about the cutting. She said finally that
the house under the influence of liquor.
He shook hands with her and her hus-
band, and they had several pints of beer.
Then the two men began talking about
family matters Tim O'Brien got arguing
with his brother, and declared that he
was a better man than either Jack or
Morris. Then the men got up and caught
hold of each other and Tim threw Morris
to the floor
Then Mrs. O'Brien said she'd stop it,
and started out for policeman. When
she came back the floor of the place was
covered with blood.
SHE HEARD NO QUARREL.
There was no other testimony of real
Importance, except possibly that of Mrs.
Margaret Hammond, who lived in tene-
ment over the O'Briens. On the night in
question she was in her room, sitting by
the door, when she heard some one ex-
claim -" Mercyl Is there no Christian in
this house?"
She looked over the bannister, and saw
Timothy O'Brien standing on the stairs,
with blood running from the ends of his
fingers.
She then ran down stairs and called the
police. The particularly interesting point
of her testimony was that she heard no
quarrel, for the defence will undoubtedly
claim that Morris was attacked and
roughly handled by his brother. Mrs.
Hammond's statement brought out an
angry question from Mrs. Morris O'Brlen,
and the two women were beginning a
controversy when Coroner Brackner ad-
journed that and the inquest at the same
time. The latter will not be resumed
until half past seven O'Clock on Monday,
but the former was no doubt continued at
the first favorable opportunity,