The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-21
Exonerated by the Corcner's
jury and Discharged by
Justice Kimmer1Y.
sUPT. SMITH MAKES no cH ARGE
The Policeman's Graphic Account
Of the Trsgedy-He Did Not
Mean to Kill Either Of
the Brernans.

The Coroner's jury. in the case Of VIZ
liam Brennan. after Ii stening to three
hours testimony snd ,deliberating for
naif an hour last nj ght rendered q YER
dict that William Bre nnan came to his
death by pistol shot wounds made By
Policeman Ryersou. They exohsnerated
The first wi fntss called was the eleven
year-old son Of she dead Bren ans. He
said that he was asleep but was awakened
BY the noise Of the row and W ent into the
room" Il saw papa and the policeman
tried 10 1zi, D.ps .uss szld bat IA, sa1;es.
man snot papa, and then shot mamma"
A long Questioning did not change the
Lizzie Brennan. the thirteen year old
laughter Of the dead couple. sain sins
stooa on the back stoop ana saw ths
IT ragedy through a screen door. Her
story was exactly the same ss her
brothers.
Lizzie added that her mother did not
strike the policeman. s'I saw the pistol
in the policeman's hand, !" she said. 'taud
saw hi m point il at papa.7
LIZZIE TELLS TWO STORIES.
Chief Murphy was sworn aud testified
rs 10 his Questioning Of the witnesses.
He said that Lizzie Brennan told an en-
tirely different story when examined at
the station house. where she said that
her mother threw something at the
policeman and struck him. The state
ment Of the man Lee IN the station house,
the Chief said, was that when he awoke
they were all on the floor where the shots
were fired On his examination before
the jury he did not remember anything
Chief Murphy also gave 70 the Coroner
the knife found ia Brennsn's clothes. He
said it was found open
Walter Davis, No. % GRAY strsat, said
Lawlor was with him in the lots while
the shots were fred
Mrs Dssgree testified that Policeman
Ryerson said TO herr did il 20 save my
own life" she added THAT when she
went into the kitchen Mrs. Brennan said:
II am shot. l am dying fast
Policemen Manning and Kilburn and
Sergeant Wohllben testified to events
subsequent TO the tragedy. Manning was
First precinct officer on duty aud on bis
way home when he heard the call. An
drew Dyas Of No. so Academy street tes-.
titled that four weeks before the murder
be heard Brennan say of RyersoDs-'.Be-
fore two weeks III Kill hin-"
ETERs0N TELLS HIS STORY
Policeman Ryerson. who fired the fatal
shots, was then sworn BE teld Of his
arrest Of Lawlar, the mans escape and his
subsequent following OF him ~Mrs.
brennan struck me In the face twice.
Ryerson said and exclaimed. You
shan't take himp Brennan said: You'll
have to take the LhreeP
"lawlar had pushed the door 70, but I
forced it open and was pulling him out,
when Brennan came in and seized me-
He put his knee IN my back. ana Lawiar
held me in front, while Mrs. Brennon
struck me with piece Of wood Finally
we fell to the floor
BRENNAN THREATENS TO KILL
Brennan said.-'ive goi yon, and ! Il Il
Kill you nowr was weak and had lost
my club. / drew my pistol and said
Let ne up or ! win frep They an
swered:-'Shoot, and be - -.' / then
fired twice
DID NOT SHOOT TO KILL
Il did not shoot 10 kill ] did not mean
70 shoot anyone / shot merely TO save
my own life. believe they meant to Kill
me. believe so still. I had to shoot TO
preserve my life. Brennan fell in cor
ner, and Mrs. Brennan and Lawlor rushed
out of the room.
Il blew my whistle and Kilhurn re-
sponded. did not take aim. There is
no one who regrets the shooting more
than do, bur knew it WAS q question
of life or death
James Burns. Jr., said that he saw
Brennan with something shining IN his
hand following Ryerson- He heard him
say:-'sIili xiii you now"
The statement of DIR. Converse was
read. Il showed Brennan had some
slight wounds on mis- face and an intes-
final wound. made by bullet with .
sligha downwar tendency, which CAUSED
his death