Evening journal., 1891-10-17
is BLACKBURN GUILTY?
THE coRoNER'S JURY DID NOT
ARRIVE AT A VERDICT

The FIRST sitting of the corone,s Jury
in the murder case OF 9-year old Eddie H
Gardiner, was held In the City Hall at
| q 20 o'clock last evening, The following
men constituted the Jury summoned by
Coroner sparks: William a. Quinn, w. H.
Walker, John Crawford, William q Rob.
inson J. T. Walker, John b Dunbar.
Steven s. Winchester, Taylor Wicker.
sham.
The jury vie we'd the body, and at the
time appointed began the inquest with
William H. Quinn acting as foreman.
The room was tbronged with spectators.
many Of them being chronic police court
habitues
Patrick Gardiner and wife. who have
been Frustrated since they heard Of their
sons tragic death, were unable to be
present aud testify,
Police Captain John G. Kersey was the
first witness placed upon the stand. His
testimony was that, shortly before 0
o'clock on Thursday night he was noti-
fed by telephone that the boy Is body had
been found Hearing the story OF Black
burns dream, and thinking the mans
actions suspicious, he arrested him and
his companion, Harry Seaman. Ia the
car he found no signs of struggle. He
knew nothing concerning either the
murdered boy or the accused man
James =. Kennedy. who lives at No.
BOB East Sixth street, testified that be
saw boy who looked like Eddie Gardiner
at several points ia the city on Wednes.
day while following the parade. He was
not positive, however, that it was Gard
iner.
Michael. the 14-year. old brother OF the
victim, swore that the last time he saw
his brother was on Wednesday afternoon
at ] o'clock. 1t was from Walter J.
Blackburn thar he FIRST heard of the muir.
der de related the circumstances of
Blsekbdrn's dream and the removal of
the body to the house Curing this re.
cltal he broke down and wept Bitterly.
Ooroner's physician Joseph K Smith,
who held the autopsy, stated that be
found the neck broken, and one eve dis
colored. In his opinion the real cause of
death was the broken neck. In his
opinion the crime must have been com.
mittei by an adult
Thomas Hinesley, Sr, was the next
witness He last saw the dead boy on
Wednesday morning. He was positive
that his own son WAS not out of the
house on Wednesday night He said he
wanted to know who it was that
had made the statement that
bis son was seen leading
Eddie Gardiner on Lord street on the
afternoon in question. He further tes-
titled that between 4 aud o'clock on
Thursday afternoon ne was sitting on a
derrick near the railroad at the foot OF
Fifth street. He saw Blackburn aud
companion come out of saloon
at the corner and go across the railroad
track back of the cars. They did 1t on
two different occasions. Al the time he
did not attach any Importance to what he
had seen, but when he heard of the
murder he became suspicious immed'-
ately and linked the two circumstances.
he knew that Blackburn had attempted
to kill his wife last spring by throwing
Ratchet at her
Edward Redding swore that on We'd
nesday evening he saw Blackburn at Lord
and Church streets, and afterwards down
at the railroad. On Thursday morning
Blackburn told him that Eddie Gardiner
was lost, and he wanted TO find him They
went together 20 several engine houses
but could not find him. or get any clue TO
his whersabouts. AT IL 80 o'clock he
left Blackburn.
James Katffy testified that at 9o'cloclx
on Thursday night Blackburn came to
his house, No 600 Church street, and
borrowed a railroad lamp, without an
swering the question put to him as to
what he was going to do with II. He did
not hear Of the murder until yesterday
morning.
Martin. the l7-year-old brother Of
Eddie, was the next witness put under
the IRE OF interrogations, On Wednes-
day night, he searched for his brother.
but without success. Blackburn came
to the house at 8. 80 o'clock on Thur day
evening, and after talking with his sister
vent away. He returned later Then
they heard Of Eddie's death. The mother
told Blackburn that he had murdered her
boy. This Blackburn denied saying he
was Eddie's best friend Blackburn said
he saw Hinesley acc 1mpanied by Eddie
going down Lord street on Wednesday
afternoon.
John Cook testified that Blackburn
had related to him the circumstances az
his dream After saying that Mrs.
Gardiner was worried about Eddje's ab
sence he said that on thursday after
noon he slept from until 8 o'clock aud
had a dream He dreamed that Young
Gardiner was down around the old
Church by the railroad In his dream he
saw blood there and wanted to see II any
thing was wrong. Blackburn saw Eddie
going along Church street with drunken
man on Wednesday afternoon. He
dreamed that Eddie was in freight ear
and wanted to investigate it. IL be
found 1t trne he intended to show Il up
in the newspapers
John Fuhr Of No 500 East Fifth
street, swore that on Wednesday night
Thomas Hinesley came 20 his home
drunk 1t was then 6.45 o'clock. Fuhr
took him home shortly after o'clock
A Suspect on the Stand.
Every neck was craned when the name
Of Harry Seaman was called he was
one Of the men arrested by Captain Ker-
sey AS he took the stand it was noticed
that his face was pale. He gave his
evidence in a straightforward manner, 1t
being in substance as follows:
4 was standing at Cooks store at
Seventh aud Church streets on Thursday
night when Blackburn approached me
He told me about the dream At his re-
quest went with Blackburn to the rail
road. We looked in several cars and
passed those which were locked Finally
we came to baggage car. 1t required
considerable strength to open the door
After we pushed the door back looked
IN anc saw something dark. | told
Blackburn to fash the lantern in. This
ne did and saw the body
He got into the car, but l stayed out
side When he came out he looked like
L.