The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-09
Ills LIFE FOR A DRINK
Robert Smiths Tragic
Thirst for a SWig
of Rum.
sALOONKEEPER HALEY ARRESTED
He Gave His Friend a Drink With
out the Price, and Then
Beat Him Mercilessly.

Luke Haley, proprietor of a Liquor
store at Eighth and Henderson streets.
accused of the murder of Robert Smith,
a rigger, who lived at No. 1853 Provost
street. is the fourth man arrested upon
that charge since July 26
Between one and Two o'clock on FRI
day morning last, Robert Smith staggered
into Haley's saloon and asked for drink
without money He went to his name
sometime afterward, cut and bleed
ing profusely about the head
and face. To his wife he
Haley in his saloon with pair Of brass
knuckles because he had asked for a
drink without money and refused to leave
when ordered out. Saturday he did not
seem to be much affected by the beating
he had received, but Sunday he was at
tackled by hemorrages, and began cough
ing up and splitting great quantities OF
blood.
ACCUSING HALEY.
He died at nine o'clock last night Be
fore he died, according to his wife's story
he said:-I am dying, wife, and Luke
Haley is the man who killed me-"
DR.. Gray attended the case.
The Second precinct police officials
were Immediately notified of Haley's
death and of the statements he made be-
fore dying Detective CLARK was put
upon the case. He found Haley in his
| saloon and placed him under arrest for
the murder of Smith.
HALEY'S ADMISSIONS.
At the station house he was told he was
not obliged to make any statement that
would incriminate himself, but he ad~
mitted that Smith came into his saloon
on Friday morning at the hour named.
He asked for a free drink and was re-
| fused. But Haley says he did not assault
him. No one else was present. He
merely showed Smith the door and put
him out His face and head were bleed
ing when he entered the saloon.
Haley was arraigned in Justice Still
sings court this morning. He is d man
of medium statue, probably beyond forty
years of age His features, though de-
termined in character, show marks OK
dissipation. He has dark, drooDing
mustache. He was remanded until
counsel could be procured.
Ex-Judge GarretsOn soon afterward
strolled into court to represent him.
Prosecuting Attorney Charles H. Win
field was also present looking after the
Commit murder case. After consulta-
ton it was decided TO postpone the hear
ing until tomorrow at one O'Clock.
A short while ago Chief of Police Muir
| ply was congratulating himself that NOT
a single homicide had as yet occurred
during the present year. The city geners
black, Tora, set the bali rolling by the
murder of Peter Kehoe, in quarrel over
| @ nickel on July s6. This was followed
on August 9th by the murder of Veretta
by William Fimanella, at Bayonne-
| William Commit, who is supposed to have
murdered his wife early Sunday morning
! by throwing a lamp at and burning her,
| is third in the list, and Haley makes the
| fourth charged with this terrible crime.
| MRS. SMITHS STORY.
saw Mrs: Smith this morning at her
residence, No. 1853 Provost street She
| said that last Thursday, about twelve
O'Clock at night har husband left
| the houee saying that he had no
! money, but he was going to Luke Haley's
TO get drink. He and Haley were very
| intimate.
81 awaited my husbands return she
| continued, "and when l heard him out on
the stoop opened the door and helped
him in. He said he was sore and feeling
badly.
He had asked Haley. who was alone in
the saloon, for a drink and told him he
had no money. He got the drink and was
leaving the saloon when Haley called
him back and struck him between the
two eyes, knocking him down. and
then kicked him in the back and
struck him in the face, driving two teeth
down his throat. My husband thought
Haley must have worn steel knuckles.
for the blow stunned him. Haley after
ward dragged him out into the street by
the heels.
.I bathed my husbands head with
arnica and | found large lump and a
| cut between his eyes. He kept his bed
till ne died last night about
| eight O'Clock. 1 think DIR. Gray,
who attended him, treated him.
for drinking too much instead of for
the injuries he received from Haley My
husband told Father Kelly that Haley
was the cause of his approaching death,
just before he died."