Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29

tLG eFCulllS bl NUNtillDtr 'fllIl last III en-
tering the residence of Peter Moran, in
Dobbinsville, New Castle thinking it was
his boarding house, cost him his life on
Thursday. He died at the county aims
house shortly before o'clock. The end
was comparatively peaceful, despite his
painful INJURIES and the wounded man
was conscious to the last.
The unfortunate man was beaten
into Inconsistencies by Peter Moran of
Dubblnsvillc, the evening of November 80,
Reardon boarded with Mrs. Conner, and
on the evening mentioned he came home
from work and entered what he believed
to be his own boarding house. Instead of
the house of Mrs Conner, Reardon entered
the house Of Peter Moran, whose resi-
dence is next door. He was in the act
OF disrobng when, tits alleged, Mrs, Moran
gave the alarm and her husband entered
the room, and miStaking Rcardnn for u
burglar lnercilessly raiucd blow after blow
about his head and body. Reardon de-
clared on his deuthbcd that the first blow
rendered him unconscious, and when he
awute from the stupor he found himself
in the middle of the street, covered with
blood. lie WIS removed 20 his boarding
house and later he was sent to the aims.
house, where death ended his suffering.
Inquiry at the almshuuse ON Thursday
ascertained the fact that gangrene set in Il
short time ago as n result Of the injuries
and resulted in death. The statement that
heart disease ended the mans life could
not he verified. Ever since his admission
to the amshOuse Drs. Harris and Baird
have constantly been in attendance upon
him and dii all in their power to save the
mans life, but to no avail. Reardon
formerly lived in Wilmington.
A jury composed Of William II.
Quinn, II. T., Price, Charles Ii. Boyle,
John Pyle, Charles Bowers, Edward
kittell and Joseph +. Fitzpatrick was
empaneled Saturday by Coroner Kirk,
to investigate the death of Daniel Rear
don. 1t met that evening and organized
by electing Mr.. Quinn foreman Mr..
Price secretary. The remains were
viewed at 9. b. Dougherty's undertake
ing establishment, and after directing
the coroner to have post mortem eXami-
nation made the jury adjourned until 2
p. N. Friday.
The investigation by coroner's jury of
the death Of Daniel Rordon began Fri
day afternoon.
DIR. Baird testified that he first saw
RordOn at the aliushouse, where he pre-
scribed for the mans eye. There was no
wound ON his head. Ills eye had been
healing, but the sight had been DESTROYED.
The injury might have been inflicted with
Il knife or the thrust of stick. 1t was
possible for it TO have been done with the
fist, but that was improbable. The brain
was not affected. Itorion was ut the
almshOusc four or live days before he
made any complaint. Then the witness
concluded that the patient was afflicted
with heart disease. and on examination
found that he had a dropsical affection
and that gangrene had set in in the
sCrOtum. He had no reason to believe
that the man had received any wound
there. The dropscal swelling could have
been superiniuced by kick, but he did
not think 1t was.
DR.. Ogle testified that he assisted at the
post mortem examination, which was
made on Friday, Rnrdon had in one of
his eyes a wound which had destroyed the
sight The lower portion OF his abdomen
was discUlored. His thighs were intlamel
and on the left side of his groin was All
liberation His brain and lungs were
normal. He might have had pellrisy hut
ii was not of reCent date. His heart was
diseased. His liver was in pretty good
condition. There was no doubt but that he
had had gangrene,no doubt but that he had
had peritonitis, no doubt but that periton-
tits had followed gangrene, no doubt but
that he had died from exhaustion caused
by this trouble. A kick in the pit of the
stomach could have caused prritOnitis.
There We're wounds on his head and
chest. He had had heart disease. That
will produce dropsy and the latter will
produce gangrene,
Dr. Harris testified that when he first
saw lordon the dropsy had come on. The
eye was pretty well healed. There was no
external evidence of him having been
kicked. 1t was possible for the dropsy to
have been caused by kick but he sup
posed that it was caused by heart disease.
He was at the post mOrem and the heart
was diseased. Heart disease will cause
dropsy and the latter will cause gangrcne.
The lower part of the mans abdomen was
mortified. 1t was possible for this to have
been caused by blow but there was no
reason to believe that ii was There was
no evidence Of it.
Dir, Baird was recalled and testified that
Rordon spoke OF his injuries. He referred
only to his eye and said he had been
beaten up. The trouble might have re-
suited from heart affection or violence.
All three physicians stated that a severe
beating would act worse on man afflicted
with heart disease than on . healthy man.
Horace smith related conversation he
had had with Rordon the night after the
latter was beaten He had known the man
since October and he was very quiet and
inoilensive. liordon told him that he had
gone to sew Castle to get work. lie had
found employment and had secured board
at Mrs. Conner's, in Dobbinsville. lie
had gone to Martin Leonard's and about
bedtime had started home. He had found
Il door open and had supposed it was left
open for him. All the houses in the block
were alike. He went up 10 the second
story and was disrUbing when ne saw two
children in Il bed. Peter Moran came in
and said, what in the hi are you doing
here?" Rordon said he must have made
Il mistake and before he could explain was
thrown down stairs, jumped upon and
showed to the street lie was beaten with
4 cane. When speaking of the way in
which he had been treated Rordon seemed
very much excited. lie had the appear
ance of being healthy.
Similar testimony was given by John j..
Dolan.
Harry T. Graham testified that he had
known Rnrdon about two months. lie
was quiet and the witness had never seen
him staggering drunk. The man had
gotten permit to go to the Homeopathic
Hospital, but he objected to having his
eye taken out and did not go there.
Richard Stewart testified that he had
known Rordon two years. The mans
general character was good They were
together only when they were at work.
lie had gotten for Rordon his boarding
place. All the houses in the row were
alike. They were numbered. Rordon
Ilau Deen drinking some, but was not
drunk After being beaten he went 10 the
witness house and stayed ali night. He
said he had gotten in the wrong house and
had gotten badly beaten. The row was
very dark and the numbers could not be
seen. The next day he said his eye was
gone.
William McGoyern testified that Rordon
appeared TO be sober when he engaged