Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-05-03
coRoxxR MIX 1svEsr,aArEs.

Body OF Michael McDermott-Hol
was Fairly RiddlsA with Bullets
Tho Murderer Singing In His Cell.
The remains of Michael McDermott
who was shot down in cold blood by
Patrick d. Flanagan, in John Russelfs
saloon on Bishop street, were removed
shortly after his death yesterday after
noon to Bergin's undertaking rooms.
The body was nailed up in an ordinary
box after which no one was allowed to
view the remains.
Coroner Mix came up on the S:4S train
this morning and in company with
Medical Examiner North and DIR Ak
| telle, proceeded to BerYin's undertaking
| rooms where q post norton examine
ton was conducted. The only one pres
ent besides the doctors were Undertaken
Bergin and his son and a medical stu
dent named Stoddard who came up
from New Haven with Coroner Mix.
The examination occupied three hours
would say nothing and Drs North and
| Axtelle also maintained the most pro-
found secrecy. 1t was given out, how
| ever, that one Of the bullets pierced the
left lung while the others lodged in the
face and neck. The coroner gave q per-
NIT for the burial Of the body and left
ON the o'clock tram.
Flanagan slept but little during the
night. At times he paced the narrow
confines of his cell whistlink or singing
snatches of songs. Early in the evening
his brother called upon him and at the
meeting showed more agitation then the
murderer. When asked what motive
he could possibly have for the crime he
said: "You are my brother and you
would have done the same had you been
in my place" He would make no clearer
IL L.
that he did not realize the enormity of
his crime.
To reporter Thomas g. Flanagan
said that his brother has not worked
since Monday Of last week. Since then
he had been drinking. While under the
influence of liquor he is without reason.
Some time ago while on a spree he called
at police headquarters and said that he
had Just murdered his father. Officer
gate and learned that Flannagan's father
died in Ireland seven years before. On
a recent occasion while intoxicated he
was discovered mixing a dose of paris
green. The poison was taken from him.
Usually he was good natured when in
his cups and was not known to carry q
weapon. Mrs Flanagan corroborated
her husbands story and added that
on Thursday night her brother-in law
acted strangely. Several times during
the night he got up saying he could not
sleep. In the morning he removed his
his clean shirt and put on one that was
soiled. At II o'clock he left the house
saying he might be back ats O'Clock.
He did not return.
William Leggett, under wnom Elan
nagan worked at the Waterbury Manu-
| who saw him about the factory, said he
| was quiet and at times a good worker.
Occasionally he would absent himself
from the shop few days or week.
The corridors Of City hall Were crowd
ed with an anxious body of spectators
| this morning, long before the opening
of court. Judge Bradstreet issued an
| enter the court room % fill the
seats. Flanagan was not brought into
court until the last moment. He is
| low sized and not over stout man and ap-
pears not more than 80 years of age. There
| was a worried look on his face. He eyed
the judge and prosecuting attorney anx-
iously. Prosecuting Attorney Burpee call
| ed Patrick D. Flanagan and Immediately
he arose in the box and replied, Yes
sir" You are charged with the killing
| of Michael NJ, Dermott, are you guilty
or not guilty ?" The question had to be
repeated and then the prisoner in q
cl ar and nrn tone said Guilty" This
was IL surprise to all present. Attorney
O'Neil, who had been engaged to defend
| Flanagan, here entered the court room
| and hearing the state of affairs asked to
| have the plea changed to not guilty and
the hearing adjourned until Monday
Judge Bradstreet granted the request.
Flanagan in the meantime watched hi,
attorney and that same anxious look re-
| manned on his countenance. As he
stepped from the box to return to the
cell he addressed few words to his
| brother, who was standing near, and
then turned to the officer who was es-
corting him out and without a word
| more passed from the room.
Attorney O'Neil in his remarks to
have the plea changed, said that he had
every reason to believe that the man
was not Of right mind and that he vas
entitled to hearing. The defense will
| work on the ground of insanity.
The body Of McDermott was removed
to his mothers residence late this after
noon. The funeral will take place to
the church Of the Immaculate Concep-
| ton at $3.50 tomorrow afternoon.
Chief Egan had another talk with the
prisoner, to-day. He realized his po-
| sition but expressed no contrition,
| saying that he knew his reasons for the
murder and was willing to suffer the
| consequences.
This afternoon John Russell, the bar
tender in whose saloon the murder oc-
| Cured gave the reporter some further
facts as follows Yesterday forenoon
Flanagan went into the saloon and
ca lied McDermott away from a party of
| men who were present. The two held a
| short conversation and drank together,
| after which Flanagan went out. In
the afternoon Flanagan returned and
saluted McDermott, who was standing
near the bar reading a newspaper.
McDermott replied to Flanagan, say
ing: Halo, were you down there 7"
Flanagan replied, 'yes." Flanagan
then invited McDermott to drink and
the latter called for whiskey.
Flanagan asked for the short
est beer in the house. While Rus
sell was waiting on him two shots were
fired in rapid succession. McDermott
STAGGERED around the nool table followed