Evening journal., 1891-08-01
CONSTABLE esowN txoNs RATED.
ais scuffie with Elijah h. Hughes-Cor
oner's Jury Decides Tant Hughes Did
Not Die From Violence.

oner's Jury Decides ThAt Hughes Did
Not Die From Violence.
The inquest upon the body of Elijah
B. Hughes was held in the office of Coro-
ner Sparks last evening. This inquest
WAS of vital import TO SO everal consta oles,
asst was to determine whether Hughes
came to his death by natural causes, or
whether fatal injuries were inflicted by
tks constables VINO arrested him
The inqusition began between s and .
o'clock. The following men constituted
the jury: William Legg. foreman w.
H. Walker, secretary; John d, Dunbar,
Aaron w. Randolph, Edward Melchoir,
John Crawford, Edward Shaw, Jonn r
Mari and Thomas j Giles.
Mrs Rachel Hughes widow OF the de
ceased, testified that she saw Constable
Brown pushing her husband out Of the
house. She was not positive whether be
fell or whether he was thrown, but she
did see Brown use his fists upon him
She further said that when Brown let
her husband up he complained that his
head was hunt He did not threaten the
constable with hatchet. He said he
Was going 10 use it to dem olsh the
furniture. The constables disarmed him.
They then cllnched and while he vas
down the beating took place.
Mrs. Sarah = Long 3 neiRhbor, tesii-
fed that on June % she heard q scream
In Hughes's house She ran there and
saw that disturbance was going on in
the hallway. Thiuking it was family
quarrel she did not il terfere. She saw q
man shove Hughes from the steps, and
choke him un II his tongue protruded.
She protested against this, but IL was Of
no avail. The men then knocked Hughes
down. She did not see any hatchet In
his hand. This testimony was corrobo-
rated by Irene Ireland Sac could not
identify Constable Brown as the officer
who committed the assault.
The most important testimony was
that delivered by Coroner's Physician
smith. He said that the blood clots be
had found through the brain were new
and had not been there more than thirty
six to forty eight hours. In his opinion
they were caused by couvuisions aud not
by the fall. His evidence was supported
by DR. George A Steinieken, who thought
death was caused by appoplexy.
Constable Isaac r, Brown made the
following statement: 81 had landlords
warrant On Hughes for $50, and levied on
the goods May 20 | went for the money
several times. but did not get
1t. On the day Hughes was arrested
was directed TO get either the money
or the goods Mrs Hughes attempted to
put me off my saying that she would pay
me la few days. told her that must
have the money or the goods Immediately
Hughes said that il took the goods it
would be over his dead body. / told the
teamsters to 60 to work. Hughes went
down into the cellar and when he came
back he had one hand behind him. He
faced me and asked me what | intended
to do. Constable dcKelvey pulled \
hatchet from the hand that was behind
him. AS soon as be did this isHughes caught
me by the throat and in the struggle /
pushed him cut into the hallway. We
both fell hear the step. hughes fell on
top Constable Bowers pulled him off of
me, and MeKelyey threatened to arrest
him II he did not dssist. AS be contin-
usd his abuse | ordered his arrest / did
not catch him by the throat was paid
$1S on the rent and left the goods.
Afterwards Constabls Green siezed them
on another warrant"
Bro Tn's testimony was upheld by the
statements of Constable Charles Bowers.
2. 3 Eaton. James Hubert and Robert
Mcshea
Captain Francis and Sergeant Whann
we're called to the stand and said that as
far as they could see there was nothing
ailing Hughes while he was confined in
the police station.
The jury considered the evidence
sufficient and rendered a verdict that
Hughes came 10 his death In New Castle
jail. July %, 1881, Of hemorrhage Of the
brain, caused by commissions.