The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-11
HALEY CLEARED.
Not a Particle of Evidence
to Show That He Injured
Robert Smith.

The charge of murder preferred against
Luke Haley, proprietor of saloon at
Eighth and Henderson streets, accused of
numbering Robert Smith, of No. 1853
Provost street, by beating him Friday
morning last with brass knuckles, was
dismissed by Justice Stilsing after a
hearing, which took place at eleven
O'Clock this morning
County Physician Converse held an au-
topsy on the dead mans body at Boylan's IS
morgue, at three O'Clock yesterday after
noon, and reported that Smiths death re-
suited from natural causes. Drs. Gray,
Broderick and Hoffman assisted in the
autopsy. DR.. Converse corroborated the
statement made by DIR. Gray in an inter-
yesterday afternoon, to wit:-that death
could not have resulted from the bruises
which he found upon Smiths nose aud
beneath his eyes. AS result
OF the autopsy DR.. Converse says
that he found a scab upon Smiths nose.
beneath which suppuratiOn had taken
place, indicating that tho wound had
been inflicted longer period than that
required between the date OF the visit of
Smith to Haley's saloon and that of his
death. On Smiths lungs he found
tubercles scattered. plentifully on the
Elgub Ou0 anu leSS pi6aIllully Un ln0 lelO-
An extensive hemorrhaga had taken
place from the lungs, issuing from the
mouth. This happens to people under
any circumstances whose lungs are af-
fected. The liver was found diseased by
alcohol. 1t was impossible to connect
the injuries found on Smiths face with
the hemorrhage that had taken place
from the lungs.
AS stared yesterday DR.. Gray was called
in to attend Smith merely for protracted
spree, and treated him as he would any
ordinary man on the verge of delirium
tremens. His .attention had not been
called to any other bruises on Smiths
body.
THE WIDOWS STORY.
Mrs Smith, the relict of the dead man,
again testified in court this morning that
her husband before his death remarked
that he was dying and that Luke Haley
had killed him by beating him with brass
knuckles. Referring to his statement
County Physician Converse, after Court
adjourned, incidentally remarked that
while re-bandaging the alleged murderer
Commits hands yesterday, Conniff sud
denly started with the exclamation
There; Athat's herl Bridget "- as
though he was startled by sudden ap-
partition Commits condition, as a re-
suit OF rum,' remarked the Doctor, sis
something similar to that of Smiths be-
fore the latter died. There is no account
ing for the strange thoughts that fit
through a mans mind in this condi-
tion."
IMPORTANT EVIDENCE.
BY far the most important witness
placed upon the stand this morning was
Andrew Mahoney, of No. 476 Henderson
street Mahoney testified that he saw
Smith in front of Haley's saloon looking
for his hat between one aud two O'Clock
Friday morning. He (Mahoney) had just
y, 1..o L ,kol
Smith in the search for his hat, found it
aud handed it to him. Smith thanked
him, placed it upon his head, babe Ma
honey good night and walked off in the
direction of his home without mentioning
word concerning any assault. He was
not in the least excited.
Haley was again placed upon the stand.
He said he had known Smith for num-
ber of years. He had nothing against
him. Smith entered his saloon and
asked for glass of beer, stating that he
had no money. He treated him to a
glass Of weiss beer or lager, he had for
gotten which Smith left him, stagger-
ing out of the door.
After he was discharged Haley told a
JERSEY CITY NEWS reporter that during
his incarceration he had no fear whatever
that ne would have to stand trial for the
murder of Smith. He knew no such as
sault had taken place. de and Smith
ndU HlWdyS UeoA Oh bu6 lFl6uulle5G terms.
He felt convinced that an autopsy would
settle the matter completely. Haley is
not drinking man, though he has been
in the liquor business for the past twenty
years.
Among the friends who shook hands
with him as he stepped from the prison
pen were j. O'Sullivan, Michael King,
John Scanlan, and Tully Gallagher. Mrs.
Haley, rather stout, dignified and pre-
possessing woman in black, stood with a
friend in the back ground, her eyes suf-
fused with tears of joy.