The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-02-06
THE HOMICIDE CASE.

John Currigan at Centralia on Sep
tember 20, 1890, began in court on
Tuesday afternoon. District Attor-
ney Chrsman and C.. G.. Barkley,
Esq. represented the Commonwealth,
and w. H Rhawn, and J. Fl. Maize
Esq, the defendant John McHugh
was also indicted for the same ofense,
but as he did not appear, his recogni.
zance was forfeited Michael Nc
Menamin being arraigned pleaded not
guilty. Jurors were called one at the
time and those who were accepted
were sworn in. They were the follow
ing: II. J. Edwards, Louis Bcish-
line. John Moore, Silas Young, Sam
uel Fl. Sitter, William Swartz, G.. P.
Hunsinger, F.. B. Guie, Jonathan
foreman, John H. Wolf, B. w. Hess
and Daniel Baylor
Hon. J. J. Metzger of Williams
port presided on the bench.
An hour was occupied in selecting
the jury, and then Mr.. Chrisman
opened the case with plain and con-
else statement of facts as alleged by
the commonwealth.
John Tigue was the first witness.
He found Currigan lying in the gutter
on Locust Avenue, Centralia, on the
night of September go, 1890 His
head was cut, and bloody. Witness
assisted him home, and on the way
Currigan said that he had been fight
ing with McMenamin and McHugh.
Currigan lay with his head against
the curb stone. Did not know that
his head was cut until they reached
home.
DR.. r. NJ. Lashell testified that he
was called in to see Currigan, made
no examination, gave a prescription
for neuralgia.
DR.. w. T. Hamilton of Ashland,
was the next witness. He was called
to see Currigan. Found an indenta-
ton on the right side of head could
not see hole but could feel it. Skull
was fractured. Was unconscious
Post mortem was held. and found
skull fractured, and an abscess, which
were the cause of death. 1t would
require violent blow on the head to
produce the fracture. 1t is possible
it might have been made by fall.
DR.. ]. M. Gwinner was next sworn.
Saw Currigan about two hours before
he died. He was unconscious. high
fever, rapid pulse Found indenta-
ton on right side Of head, and slight
abrasion Of skin. Made post mortem
with DIR. Hamilton, and found frac-
ture extending down side of skull
fracture caused abscess, and abscess
caused death. Fracture could have
been caused by blow or fall.
Bernard J. Darrah assisted to take
Currigan home; does not remember
seeing any blood. Found him lying
in the gutter. Couldn't get up and
they lifted him up.
H. J. Hughes testified that he saw
McMenamin and McHugh, were
walking down the street and Currigan
met them and there was scuffle be-
tween them. Currigan fell down in
the gutter, and told me to 60 for a
doctor as he had broke his head on
the curb stone. Currigan put his arm
around McMenamin's neck and struck
him. After they got loose Currigan
went towards fence and fell down.
McMenamin went and kicked him
two or three times about the legs,
then Currigan got up, and went over
and fell in the gutter. After McMen-
amin kicked him Patrick Mexican
came up and said that was enough,
and McMenamin stopped and Curri-
gan got up and said he would kill
him. (The testimony of this witness
was evidently unexpected by the
Commonwealth
Joseph Mcclure on his way home
he saw Currigan put his arm around
McMenamin's neck and strike him
when he got loose he went towards
fence, and defendant went up and
kicked him. After McMenamin went
away, Currigan got up and said he
would kill defendant, he went to mid
die of street, staggered and fell back
in the gutter Went up to him but
didn't see anything wrong with his
head; took him home. Currigan was
drunk A stone was found near the
fence, don't know how it got there.
Currigan told him he fell in the gutter
and hurt his head, wanted doctor.
Patrick McHale saw Currigan the
night he was hurt was with him
when he met McMenamin and Nc
Hugh, he wanted a drink and asked
McMenamin for bottle they had a
wrangle. Saw defendant kick Curri-
gan, told him to stop, and led him
away. They went down the street.
Patrick Murphy went to see Curri-
gan after he was hurt. He said he
got in fight with McMenamin and
McHugh, and they had hold of each
other, and he (Currigan) didn't know
anything else.