Telegram-herald., 1891-04-08
STRUCK BY O'CONNOR
he KNOCKED HIN DOWS TO DEATH
AID Then Jumped on HE frestrate
ferm-The story 81 the X iiiisg In Ais
own Wsrds-EAg ans Mother Csa-
yuised With Tears.

proceeded with the Eagan trial. yester-
day, and had the biggest crowd yet.
The close of the trial is nearing and
| every blt of evidence IS watched care
fully TO see what effect It has on the
jury or what It's tendency may be to-
ward making the crime the first degree
| or otherwise. The defendent looked
better today, a days relief having done
him good.
DR.. Locher was the first witness of
| the day, and he identified his own testl-
| mony AS taken At the coroner's inquest.
| He stated that he and the foreman OF
| the jury did the questioning o. the wit
nesses at that time. Minnie Dyer was
called TO the stand again. She was
asked questions concerning her testi-
mony before the coroner, and said to
the best OF her recollection she said that
after she and Eagan returned from the
BODY. Eagan told her that If she got
another chance TO walk with O'Conner
again she might take 1t.
Minnie Under Mental strain.
She said why" and he replied "I'll
tell you Why" The witness stated
that though she testified that O'Connor
said, 81 Knocked O'Connor down to-
night, have killed him." that she was
mistaken owing TO her being under
mental strain at the time. HIS words
were in reality. MY God! have killed
hlm?" She made similar explanation
about other less material points. In
regard 10 the Parker dance her former
testimony was that Eagan told ner that
| he had upbraided O'Connor for having
taken his girl home from the Parker
dance and dancing with his girl first
on that night at Glblin's dance. She
| denied this statement in part, but ad-
mitted that Eagan had said that he
and Pat had mad fight.
| She did not remember that Eagan
even told her that he had killed Pat, or
] that it was because OConnor had sup
| planted him with some girl at the occa-
| sion of these dances.
/ The witness said that she would not
| deny the testimony as read, hut that
she would explain that at the time she
was in state of great confusion, as she
had never been in such place before.
She thought that her testimony taken
at this trial was correct rather than the
testimony on the examination. She
testified that she went to the jail to see
Eagan shortly after his arrest, with Mr..
| Halton. The witness then left the
stand.
Patrick Gallagher was sworn, and
testified as 70 the Giblin dance. He
never saw any trouble between Eagau
and OConnor. The attorneys for the
people rested their case at noon and
court adjourned.
Theory of the Defense.
In anticipation of hearing what
Eagan had to say and to hear the plan
of defense outlined, every available
inch of space was crowded with patient,
suffering humanity in the afternoon.
Women occupied all the chairs. and
stood up by the score. l.. X. Sauls-
bury, for the defense, arose TO outline
| the defense. He stated that they ex-
pected to prove that Eagan did not fol-
low O'Connor; that he stood on the
front steps when O'Connor came out:
they spoke in friendly way; that the
quarrel arose from OConnor, who
struck first; that when Eagan returned
the blow he fell; the injuries from the
fall. the lntoXlcatlon, etc, rendered 1t
| impossible to tell the exact cause of
death; that Eagan expressed sorrow,
tried to revive the man; in short, that
the deceased came TO his death by an
accidentally fatal blow given in self
defense, and that death resulted par
TALLY from intoxicatIon, the chill,
and that it was justiiiable, acci-
dental and excusable homicide.
The crowd l;sten.d with intense inter-
est as the testimony for the defense
began. VIM. Anderson was the first
witness called by the defense. tie said
that Eagan's reputation was good. On
cross-examination he said that he never
heard anybody say anything about II.
| VIM. Wilcox also gave Eagan a good
character, but SAID that he had heard
of his quarrellng, or interfering IN an
others quarrel. 81 was the man that
was at the killing of Sinclair and shot a
revolver. Did it 10y orders to help make
the arrest"
Eagan's Own Testimony.
At 2:45 William Eagap, the defendan;
took the stand, was sworn and testified.
| He was born in Canada and was com.
mon laborer and was brought up on a
farm. At this point Mr.. James +.
Hood took the stand, and said that he
knew Eagsn four or five months and
that his reputation was good. Eagan
was again called and continued: 81
got acquainted with O'ConDor at the
G.. X. 4 I. shops in April or March,
1890: know Anna Dyer and took her TO
Parker's dance. had not invited her
TO go; she asked me TO take her.
OConnor took her home. Never said
anything to O'Connor or Anna Dyer
about II; was not offended. Have
known Minnie Dyer year; never took
her to a party before September l3
Got to Giblln's that night about
! O'Clock: they bad beer: OConnoi
drank. so did /; had five or SIX glasses
lie spoke to me when came. and / re-
turned the greeting. OConnor danced
with Minnie Dyer the first set. said
nothing about Il to either OF them
had no words ut any time in the house
or about 1t: didn't know shout o'Con-
nors going after the flute; wasn'tIn the
room when he went away; saw O'ton
nor FIRST outside. at the north end oi
the house II was on the front step wher
he went around the north end of the
house: he said 'heilo.r and replied: al
bis invitation ve vent for walk;
o-Cenpor s.rnek Hin Fir.t
| vi tttt rtfrtt Dt ttf4 TIC AtrffH !" - z -
Ing 10 lick him, and | said ] had heard
nothing about IL; Afterwards he struck
me: struck him back and knocked
him down; I got on bin; he BIT mJ
thumb on my left hand; struck nm
twice; be erosned he let 20 my thumb
then picked him up iBsensihie and
lsId him up against TIE hank and ven
hack 20 the house. 7 saw be dIdn't corns
back. sad went out with Mary Dyer.
didn't tel her Whist for; ! sad, 4 ard
I, m had a fight sbe asked what aboui
ard ! sad. D0thing much; she - ii
where s be, / didnt tel her what