New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-12
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
HOW NELSON KILLED HIS coMRADE.
HE CHASED HIS FELLOW AEHLLERYMAN AND

HE CHASED HIS FELLOW AHTHLLERYMAN AND
SHOT HIM As HE RAN.
The trial OF Henderson l.. Nelson for killing John
Mclean his fellow in Battery A, LIST Artillery al
Fort Hamilton May "a was continued yesterday
before Judge Benedict and jury In the United States
Circuit Court United states DistrictAttorney John-
son opened the for the people. lie said he would
show that the killing premeditated. The hrs'
witness was Captain Andrus, OF Battery a. nc
described the ranparts at Fort Hamilton, and said tha'
Nelson was considered good shot. lie said thal
Nelson had an excellent record, and was never even
reprmandcd during the whole four years That ne hau
been member OF the battery.
Post Surgeon Ezra Woodruff testified th't "oi-cdh
died within twenty four ho6rs after the shooting INC
bullet entered the back near the spne passeu lfous"
the body, came Oat in front and went throusn ue
right hand. On cross-eXamnation he aomit'eo 'h"'
few days before the shooting Nelson fell IN the nos
pita yard in faintng fit ana lay on the ground Tor
twenty minutes. lie had record OF the occurrence
and cond not tell the date. General Catlin became
indignant and wanted TO know IL he would nave
treated an officer as he did Nclson but the court IN
teriered.
Anthony T. Cump formerly oomrade OF the
prisoner and the dead said that he was present
at Nappier,s Hotel when the bet was made that LED
10 the shooting. lie held the stakes in bet between
Nelson and a man named Kane. Mclean entered and
said 10 Nelson, "You see this man is drunk. You
might as we'll put your hand in his pocket and rob nm
"a % his money In this way" lie tneH tOoh tne
money from the witness and returned the stakes TO
the two men.
Sergeant Thomas Clark, to whom Nelson surrendered
after the shooting testified to the fact and on cross
examination he said that Nelson used to complain
great deal of his head, and was easily excited
Private Michael A. Quigley, of Battery A, had often
heard Nelson complain Of pains in his head. He was
often relieved from duty for the same cause Nelson
had fits in which he shook and kicked and frothed al
the mouth and remained unconscious for some time
Private John O'Maley. of Battery d. stood about
three feet from Mclean when he fell and he described
the shooting to the court. He was on guard on the
parapet when he saw Nelson coming past the mortar
battery with his rife lie running with his rifle
at a "readys and with bayonet fixed. Mclean was
running too about fifty PAGES in advance. The witness
shouted TO Nelson, but he made no answer. Mclean
shouted Sentry, seize him. lie is going TO shoot
me - and then the witness started forward shouted
10 Nelson to put down his rife and to Mclean 10 get
behind 15-inch gun. The two men were then about
twenty yards apart and Nelson fired. His race was
male and his eyes were wild. AS Mclean fell he SAID
I'm shot, O'Malley went to him and told MN ne
was only shot in the hand Nelson, hearing this SAID
Well il he's only shot in the hand III soon hnlsh
him. lie shouted To Nelson that IL he made move
with his rife he would shoot him where he stood
His gun was not loaded, but he conld nave put In
cartridge In two seconds. Nelson at that turned ana
went TO the guard house and surrendered hlnlseii'
Post Surgeon Ezra Wo9druh was recalled ana sald
that he thought Nelson might have been insane at
the time of the shooting but he was not insane now
Tbis closed the case for the people General Catin
did not for the defence and the case was
adjourned until IL Il. II. Monday.