The morning call., 1890-07-31
THE KILLING OF COGAN
Further Hearing of the Case OF
James w. Kerr.
One Witness States That Crowd Pursued
Two Men to the Foundry. and An
other Testifes to the Reverse.

The examination of James W. Kerr of the
firm of Steiger & Kerr, proprietor OF the
Occidental Foundry, at 137 First street,
charged with the murder of Edward Cogan,
on June Goth last, was resumed yesterday
afternoon before Police Judge LAWYER. The
usual array of legal talent employed by
both sides and large number OF interested
spectators were present at the proceedings
The first witness called was a well-dressed
good looking young woman, who gave her
testimony in such a low tone of voice that
the lawyers examining her had TO sit quite
close to her to hear single syllable. She
went on the stand in most meek state of
temper, but under the very close question:
ing of Lawyer Koran for the prosecution
she left in a perfect blaze of indignation.
She gave her name as Matte johnson, and
in reply to the questions put to her stated:
MISS JoHNsoN's TESTIMONY.
AZ live at 1922 Polk street. On June Goth
last about 6:45 o'clock in the morning, l
was in a stceet-car on First street, between
Mission and Howard. Saw crowd of men
chasing two men who had their hats off.
Tie larger of tie two was covered with
blood. The crowd was abusing the two
men. One of them tried to get into door
on First street. but could not do so. He
turned around and fired pistol into the
crowd. | got out of the car and ran away.
| was sitting on the left side OF the car
going toward Market street. The crowd
was on the right-hand side OF the street
going toward Market. Was about forty
feet away from the man who was shot"
The witness could not identify Kerr
either as the man who fired the pistol or as
one of the two pursued, but resumlng she
said: " Was much excited at the shooting.
and though heard some shouting on the
street don't remember what ii was" Gross
examined-"I am not married now. Was
going in the car to the ferry to cross the
bay" The witness was then questioned at
length as to why she was in the car at that
time and her previous movements.
TEN MEN IN THE CROWD.
Further examined the witness testified:
Have been tor six months at 1872 LarKln
street, but am not familiar with the city.
When l left the car L told some people a
murder had been committed. Have fire.
guently told different people all l knew
about the case. One OF the men running
away wore a light suit Of clothes. Do not
know which of the two reached the door
first The crowd closed in on them at the
door. When one Of the two tried to open
the door the crowd was quite close to them
and trying to strike them.
The attacking party was only few feet
away. There were perhaps ten men in the
crowd. Am positive that the crowd chasing
the men followed them to the door and was
quite close to them, within striking dis
lance. Saw the man who was shot lying on
the street. 1t was about forty feet from
where the shot was fired to where | saw the
wounded man lying" A great number
of questions were put to the witness
regarding her antecedents and lrrltated her
extremely. She swung cut of the chair
and into the witness-room very much eX-
cited.
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER.
The next witness was Conrad Schwinder-
lauf, young German, who gave his testi-
mony through an Interpreter. He stated:
IL live in Oakland, and am employed as
backsmith's helper at Bauer's shop. 100
First street. About $40 o'clock on the
morning Of June Goth 1 was sitting outside
of the shop. l saw four men attack one
other man. He was a heavy-set man in a
blue coat. Some other men came up and
helped the others TO beat the one man. He
ran away to the door of foundry, out OF
which the boss came and fired pistol. One
of the crowd ran after the man with the
blue coat and attacked him again. Loud
words were exchanged. The crowd beat
the man with their fists. The shop TO which
the men attacked ran is on the same side of
the street as my shop.
Saw the man who fred the pistol come
out OF the shop door and fire across the
street toward Minna. He had his piSt oil in
his hand when he came out, and he fired ii
at once. | did not say that the shooter
aimed al the man Who was chasing the
man who was beaten, and not at the man
who was shot" The witness was tangled
up in number OF questions, which seemed
to assume that he knew what the inten-
tons were of the man who fired tue pistol.
Resumlng, he was understood TO say, and
it went on record: The man who was
shot was the man who was chasing the at
tackled man to the door OF the foundry"
NOT WITNESS AT THE INQUEST.
On cross-examination he further testified ::
"Have worked at 109 First street for four
months. Was not witness at the Coro-
ner's inquest Have been seen by a man
who took down in writing all | knew about
the affair. The man who came out of the
foundry was about 100 feet away from me.
The original fight took place in front Of the
next shop to mine. The first crowd of men
was together in front of this store, and
then four OF them attacked one. When the
boss came out with the pistol. the crowd
stood there while at the place where the
fight took place; it was about 800 feet
away. When the boss came out the crowd
was that distance away.
''When the boss came out of the door
there was no one there but the man who
had been first beaten. Saw no one else
there, only he and the boss. The beaten
man was at the foundry door when the
pistol was fired. After the shot others
came up, but there was no one there but the
two men. the boss and the beaten man,
when the pistol was discharged"
The hearing will be resumed this after
noon.