The morning call., 1890-06-14
IT WAS MURDER.
The COrOner's Jury Charges La
Rue With This Crime.
I1quest He'd on the Body Of Harry Mcbride,
Who Was Killed in the Brutal Fight in
the Golden Gate Athletic Club.

Coroner Eaton held an inquest yesterday after
noon on the body of Henry Mcbride, who was
killed on last Monday night by Frank La Rue
during fight in the Golden Care Athletic Club.
The Morgue was crowded with persons inter-
ested In slogging and also professional prize
fighters, who watched the proceedings with an
interest which al times approached anxiety.
A. Andrews was the first witness sworn. he
testified that last Monday night he was ats meet
ing Of the California Athletic Cub, and after the
meeting was asked by gentleman 10 go TO the
Golden Gate Club TO a 'seI-to." The Colonel re-
Piled that he did not care 10 witness such an
affair but would not mind seeing a regular fight
by scientific boxers. he went, however, and
was not impressed iavOraby with the general ar
Tangements, as the fight struck him as "a farce
by unscieutlhe men,"
He did not know either of the men, but could
see that Mcbride was not skillful enough TO
ward of his opponents blows. Witness thought
that the fight should have been stopped, yet lie
had no idea that anything serious would happen.
He paid more attention 10 The ludicrous antics
of MeBrlde's seconds than TO the fight. 81 think
that man La Rue was drunk" added The VIII
ness. "He certainly did not act as man OF good
sense"
DIRECTOR FERGUSON TEsTIFIEs.
John Ferguson, a Director OF The California
Athletic OINU anu piOlllSAul VI thS u II y "a
loon on heaIny street, deposed that lie went
from his club 10 The scene of the fatal fight ana
witnessed tie affair. In his opinion, La Rue
seemed 10 be under the influence OF liquor.
About half OF The blows aimed al Mcbride 10y
La Rue struck home. Both men showed signs
Of exhaustion as lie fight progressed, aud mole
particularly Mcbride.
freely II struck on the nose than 4 man IN good
condition p, asked Coroner Eaton.
In reply to a Jurors question the witness said
that McBide bled freely from the nose after tile
first round, as La Rue had struck him on the
"Isit the custom of your club (the California;
TO allow amateurs 10 engage III prlze-hghts ~
mo. sir; no. do not think IL at all proper,
aud the club would not allow i'll
{. IL. Meyers, bartender on Geary street,
stated 10 The jury that lie saw the IA al fight 10
finish He did not believe that Mcbride received
any severe blows, although the blow that broke
the deceased'S nose must have been hard one.
He saw Mcbride fail heavily against tile floor,
and strike LeaFhy on one side Oi MS heau. 4he
cOmbaiants showed no signs OF eXnaustO u, on
the contrary they "eame up smiling In every
round"
No HEAVY BLOWS WE'RE STRUCK.
John Whalen testified that he went TO the
Golden GAZE club alter Tie light and saw the
dying man lying IN eomatose state He was
then and there told by several witnesses OF Inc
fight that 10 heavy blows had been struck, nor
had anything been done 10 cause death:
j. j. JamlsOn, Secretary of The Golden Gate
Athletic Club, WHO is out on bail OF $4,000 ON u
charge of murder In connection VII the affair,
stated tbat II about 4 clock on the day OF the
fatal fight La Rue and Mcbride called at The
club aud asked him II they could have the use Of
The rooms and gloves for That evening lie told
them they might
Of your cub?" asked the Coroner.
"YeS. sir. l am Secretary Of the club and
keep my minutes"
When contestants sign for a fight they 90 In
for trophy, put in this particular case jam
son did mol know that these men were nghtiEg
for gf4FA . - frTh
which Mcbride lost his life, but only part OF IT,
He could mol say thai the men were III proper
condition TO fight. The Golden Gate Club does
mol usually sanction such lights but IN this case
there was no regular ring up ana there were di-
lecloTs present 10 attend 10 lie affair. de was
Et The door.
sELIG SAW NO HARD BLOWS.
Louis Seig OF 20 Mission street was sworn
and testified that lie had seen several fights IN
tine club aud believed mat II must take hard
blow 10 break d mans nose, 4et he Hdu MOI seen
any hard blows struck IN the hight in question.
Frank a. Miller, ba'-keeper at tergusons
saloon on kearny street, was present at the
light and testified that, judging from his expert
ence, There were no really hard blows delivered
IN tie Eight between La Rue ana McBiide. He
had seen Hight blows break man ; arm on pre-
YiouS occasions.
negative character that lie ala mol see any piOMs
had enough TO kuOck out an ordinary mau.N
He saw McBide fall aud sJIlke The noor on his
Johu Ivan, proprietor OF a coalyard, was
present at the night Of The fight. He said lie is
not a member OF tie club, bur on the night II
question LIE happened 10 uass the door, saw It
opeu and walked III. There were no lchets
taken. For want of science Mcbride was unable
10 ward oil blows that were struck at him.
Gustave NIdeau, the officer who arrested La
Rue, swore that while escorting his prisoner to
the City Prison La Rue said:
"Thls is all a piece of - foolishness; 1t was
all about GIL"
W Johnston, who lives on Mason and Eddy
streets and has been acquainted with La Rue
and Mcbride for three years, swore that ne saw
kNrHA Fut1 In ala In md Ia had
never seen fight before, but felt certain That no
heavy blows were given IN the fight.
PASSING THE GLOVES AROUND.
At this juncture the gloves worn By La Rue
jurors. They were nye-ounce gloves, red with
blood. The witness contlnued mat he believed
that La Rae was under the Influence OF liquor
wien fighting with Mcbride.
When Johnston had given his statement 10 the
jury, Coroner Eaton asked La Rue II he wished
to make a sIatem ent which would be used
matter Of record. La Rue declined. He would
Say nothing until on trial.
Dr.. Rogers, who attended Mcbride on the night
of tile fatal fight. stated that he found the patient
UNCONSCIOUS. From the general appearance OF
The mau before death, the doctor said lie was ill.,
feriOr to antagonist, because two Of his fingers
were gone, which alone would place hlm at a de
elded disadvantage. Before the autopsy there
WAS conclusion OF The brain, accompanied With
considerable eXtrayasation Of blood. Deceased
had also been a sufferer from BrghPs disease OF
tile kidneys. Tie doctor believed that the III
juries 10 AIcBride's head could have been Caused
Was not able 10 say positively.
A LEVEL-HEADED JURY.
DR.. NJ. NJ. Estes, who made The autopsy, stated
that he had found abTaslOns OF the knee and
arms. couIusions Of the breast, arms and face,
vessels Of tie brain cOugested. heart aud kidneys
enlarged Cause of death was conclusion and
confusion Of brain from Injuries.
The witness further stated that he had fou nd
marks OF Commissions on The right side of the head.
Tn; confusion on The left side could not lave
been caused by fall on the opposite side.
The jury then retired, and after brief delibe-
TallOu returned the following verdict:
We the jury fad that Henry Mcbride. deceased,
aged u years native Of Scotland, came TO MS death
June 10th from blows inflicted by Mr.. La Rue, III
the rooms OF the Golden Gate Athletic Cub: and
hereby charge the said Mr. La Rue with the crime Of
murder.
The Jury comprised the following named:
Il. A SchlOb, 206 Post street; j. Shute, PSI
Montgomery street; w. b. Hindle, % MOntgOm-
cry street; Il. Hansen, $40 Washington street;
A. Lewald, sos Washington street; w. L.
MeagheT, Ill Geary street; VI. Burghardt, $40
Washington street, John Hagman, la Mont
gomeTy street, j. f. Smith, 1876 Montgomery
street, and T. ". Strange, 100 Montgomery street.