The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-18
Contradictory Testimony
Regarding the Shooting
Of the BrennanS.
IOUGHS CHANGE THEIR STORIES.
One Witness Says the Policeman
Was Not Knocked Down
Others Say He Was
Badly Used.

quest last night at Chaplin Hall, Sum-
NIT avenue, concerning the death OF
William Brennan and Lizzie brennan.
Killed by Policeman Ryerson early last
Wednesday morning.
fhe hall was crowded with morbidly
curious crowd. Ryerson was IN the
room with his head covered with band
ages. He sat in a corner near Captain
LanRe.
Superintendent Smith was the first
witness called. He said that on Tuesday
morning he had four policemen stand
around Mrs Brennan's bed in the hos
pital and she could not identify Ryer-
son. The Superintendent then read
Mrs. Brennan's anti-tnortem statement,
In which she said Ryerson did
not like her. She added that she had had
q quarrel with Ryerson previously. She
deaied having struck Ryerson with
stick. She said she did not seize Ryerson
while be was making the arrest Of John
Lawlor.
The Superintendent exhibited a dia-
gram of the room with the position of all
the articles of furniture marked. He
said that Ryerson's record as policeman
was very good.
Policeman Gallagher was next sworn.
He said that on Tuesday morning about
tTenty-four minutes to two o'clock he
heard call whistle aud ran to No. 20
Gray street, where he found number of
women and children. He euIered the
house and arrested Mrs. Coyeny. her two
daughters and man named Lee. The
fighting was all over when he arrived.
Thomas Lee, of No. 20 Tuers avenue,
was next sworn. he said that early
Tuesday morning last he was sleeping at
Brennan's house. Brennan came home
aoout seven o'clock at nfgnt. There was
large party out in the lots. He stayed
inside and fell asleep on a bench in the
kitchen. and was awakened BY the noise
of a revolver firing. He could not tell
what was the trouble. He did not
see any Of the trouble.
When he awakened Brennan
was lying oa the floor and said, II am
shot. am DYING He saw some police
man in the room looking for his hat. He
did not know which policeman it was.
Mrs. Brennan said to him, II am shot
am going to the hospital" He was too
confused to ask any questions. When
asked IL he did not tell Superintendent
Smith and Chief Murphy that all were
on the floor when he woke up. ne said he
did not know, but IL he did he spoke
erroneously.
There was light in the room when no
awoke. He was a very confused witness.
HERE'S A QUEER STORY.
John Coyne, who was in the three cor
nered fight which preceded the murder,
was the next witness. Coyne said that
he made one Of party who went to SER
enade Christopher W ilson, and on his way
home some one hit him with a bottle.
Witness first saw Brennan on the night
of the murder in Hanlv's saloon, where
Wilson bought keg Of lager. Brennan
sons house, but instead put it
in the lots near his house
and tapped IT, Coyue said he was struck
as he came out of Wilson's gate. He did
not see Lawlor at all before he saw him in
the Seventh Precinct Police Station. The
witness continued
"Ryerson asked me who hit me aud /
said did not know; then he went over
toward Brennan's house. / did not see
him arrest anyone. He returned and
called on Hughes to assist him, saying
somebody had been shot in the house.
There was no trouble before ] was struck
with bottle"
RYERsoN BORNE OUT
James b. Hughes OF No. Is
Oakland avenue was next sworn.
He said. Il first saw Bremen be-
tween half-past nine and ten on the night
of the 18th in Hanley's beer snop. BEen-
nan took keg of beer which Wilson had
paid for. He threw 1t over in a lot near
his house, and some one said that Bten-
nan was carrying beer into his house in a
can. Brennan Was IN the lots with the
party. He stayed until the party left the
lots TO 90 to the house of the bride. After
staying at the house of the bride we left.
The first Of the party TO leave Wilson'S
house. Mr., Ratigan, was assaulted and
cut on the lip, Coyne was the second man
out. When l went out / saw Coyne and
Lawlor in clinch, / said let 60 your hold.
Then Lawlor pulled out a soda water bot
tie and struck Coyne on the head. Ryer-
son came up and said TO Lawior, Go into
the house. Mrs. Brennan came out
aud made two or three raps
at Ryerson and he said, Now 60 into the
house and mind your own business,
'I'll prefer a charge against this man.
Ryerson went 20 arrest him and Lawlor
broke away. Ryerson followed shouting,
Come in. Jimmy HUGHES. | want
you went up the stoop and saw Ryer-
son down on the floor. Brennan had MIN
by the throat. Both brernans were Kick
ing and heating him. Some one threw
me out of the house. l couldn't 60 in
again. / did not hear any pistol shots.
but when Ryerson came out he said:-'Go
for some help. Go for the ambulance
"Ryerson also said that he had been
forced 70 protect hlmseit. as tney were
beating him. / dlo make statement
that saw Brennan had Ryerson's arms
pinioned and some one threw a billet of
wood which struck Ryerson on the head.
do not know who threw 10. There was
another woman besides Mrs. Bren-
ran in the room while the ARRAY was in
progress"
LAwLoR's STORY.
John Lawlor of No. % Gray street. was
the next witness sworn. He said:-''I
boarded with Mr.. Brennan for four
months. He was my uncle. slept on
the lounge on Monday night and went
out when / heard the row going
on. / went outside and some
one struck me aud / knocked
him down. l don't know who it was.
Some one cried out, ARREST him. and the
policeman seized me. Then he let me go,
and | went up the alley and into the
house. I held the door and soon the
policeman came mp and pushed the door
In. I caught hold of the policeman first.
Then caught my uncle and tried to pull
him away from the policeman. but ne
pulled out his pistol and fired two
shots Ny uncle fell and cried out,
.Oh, l am shot, / did NOT know
nv aunt was shot. / heard Brennan saw.
You struck me with the club and IN
kill you now Ryerson's mouth was
bleeding"
The witness was shown a bloody shirt
and asked 20 account for the blood. aud
he said:-.sThe blood must have come
from Ryerson- did not strike Ryerson.
/ grabbed them TO try and pull them
asunder. There were none of them on
ha floor except Bill Brennan fall when