The record-union., 1891-10-07
HAGGER4Y'S TRIAL.
Evidence of How He Murdered His
Oldest Son.
His Daughter Relates the Terrible
Story-She Thinks Her Father
is Insane.

The taking of testimony in the trial of
old John Haggerty for the murder of his
son, John D. Haggerty, was commenced
in Superior Judge Van Fleets court yes
terday.
District Attorney Ryan, in his opening
statement, related to the jury the story OF
the terrible crime. The father had come
home one Sunday afternoon in a drunken
condition, and found fault with the latter
because he was keeping buns around
the house." Words were exchanged, and
then the inebriated father drew his
pocket-knife and plunged the blade into
his sons heart.
The entire day was consumed in hear
ing testimony for the prosecution. Coro-
ner Clark was sworn, and gave evidence
in reference to the inquest, and City
Physician c. b. Nichols testified regard
ing the autopsy on the deceased.
Miss Sadie Haggerty, daughter Of the
defendant, was called to the stand. She
was an eyewitness to the killing, and
told the Court and jury what she saw.
! Il was at hone,' she stated, ION Sunday,
| April l9, 1891. My brother, John d. Hag-
! gerty, was away during the forenoon.
! lie returned about noon with friend.
! He cameintO the kitchen where / was pre-
iparmg dinner. Papa was sitting in the
! kitchen also, with can of beer. He was
eating handful Of clover. My brother
asked him if he was enjoying his rooster
money, twitting him on his fancy for
! chickens. They finally entered into a
! quarrel as they often did, each contend
! ing that he could whip the other. John
| said he could whip papa, and papa said
! he would night my brother for 81, 500 for
the first blood
John was washing at the sink, and
| papa got up and went TO the front room.
! where he continued to apply vile names
! to my brother. John threatened to pitch
| him out Of the house, head first, if he did
not hush. Afterward my brother SAT
/ down in the kitchen near the stairway.
/ Papa came out and went to the wood
shed, and soon returned | was busy
! preparing dinner. / heard d scufliing
noise, and, turning around, saw papa
! in the act of stabbing my brother
! He struck John i'll the breast and then
walked out of the house. John cot uu
and walked across the room and then
sank to the floor | saw the blood flow
! ing from his breast, and then | ran to one
Of the neighbOrs and told them what had
| happened"
| ON crOss-examination the witness told
| of incidents tending TO prove that hey
/ father was, at times, of unsouud mind.
! On number Of occasions he had de-
| youred clover by the handful, washing il
down with heavy draughts of beer. and
| glorltylng in the feat, because, as he de-
| clared, he was filling up "on real Irish
shamrock" At other times he would
display to the children "how soldiers
ride" illustrating his remarks by strad-
| ding the fence and clothes line She told
| of other odd things her father did, which
/ all tended to convince her that he was in
sane.
Other witnesses testified, but no new
facts were brought cut, other than that
! Haggarty had frequently threatened Co
! kill his SON.
| The case will be resumed to-day, when
| the defense will be presented.