The morning call., 1893-05-09
HOW HE WAS SHOT
Light Upon the Potrero
Tragedy.
DALEY'S FAITHFUL WIFE.
An Ante Mortem Statement by One
of the Victims of the Affair.
Daley in Court.

The Potrero tragedy of Sunday formed
the chief topic of conversation around tho
old City Hall yesterday. and when Police
Court l was opened for the days proceed
ings it was quickly filed with the usual
morbidly curious crowd and hangers on, as
il was known that the murderer, Daniel
Daley, would appear in the court.
About II o'clock Daley's name was
called, and in a minute or two he made his
appearance in the dock. he seemed
nervous aud excited, and glanced around
the room in furtve manner.
Attorney Long said he appeared for the
defendant and asked for a continuance
until Friday. which was agreed to by the
prosecution. BY that time the Cor0ner's
inquest will have been held and verdict
rendered by the jury. The inquest will
commerce at II O'clock this morning.
Michael \. Lawton, the brother of J. ].
Lawton, the murdered man, swore out
complaint in Police Court l yesterday
charging Daley with murder.
Daley's sister, a stylishiy dressed young
woman, called to see him in the City
Prison yesterday morning, and they
ia ked t0ge ther for q few moments. After
she left her brother she went TO Coroner
Hughes, VINO used to prescribe for the
Daley family. aud asked him to give her
prescription, as she felt terribly nervous
and un strung.
In tie afternoon lady. attired in a
handsome dark-green costume and heavily
vel.ed, came tlmidly up to the gate of the
City Prison. just at that moment Daley
had been called from his cell to speak to
some friends, who were standing outside
the gale.
His eyes lighted upon the shrinking form
Of the lady and he said quickly to the
officer at the gate: Let that lady in. |
want to see her particularly"
Nv no is the lady ?" asked the officer.
My wife" replied Daley.
The gate was promptly unlocked and
husband and wife were in each others
arms. He led her TO one of the benches
aud they cOnversed earnestly together for
about half an hour.
Alter Mrs. Daley left the City Prison a
reporter OF The CALL spoke to her and
she answered his questions readily.
The first time | knew of this terrible
affair."" she said, was when | read an ac-
count of it in the papers this morning.
u do not believe there is woman in
the case. have been married to my hus-
band four years and never had the slight
est cause to suspect that he was false
10 me.
He has always been a kind husband
and kept me in plenty Of funds, and
have the most implicit trust in him even
yet.
Il believe this is nothing but black
mailing scheme, as | know that the man
Lawton was in my hus bands debt.
II never saw either Mr.. or Mrs. Lawton.
All that | knew was that my husband had
room in house in the POtrero, because
be had TO work late at nights recently and
did not care to walk so far TO his home in
the middle Of the night.
knowing my husband as | do, l feel
certain he would have never fired any
lhots unless these men, who rushed into
mis- room, had given him good cause to
10 it.
IN one of the papers it is said that my
husband once threatened to kill me on
account OF disagreement as to the trans
Ter OF some property on Sutter street.
That Is not true; and if it were II is o
business OF anybody but ourselves. We
nave had our tIffs, as most married people
have, but that was all II ever amounted to.
Il am willing to 60 before any Judge
md take my oath that l don't believe my
husband has been guilty with any woman.
i shall visit him in prison every day til
he IS free, as l am sure lie Will be, and he
will get all the help l possibly can give
him.
"Ee seems to feel his position keenly
and is quite broken up over it."
Mrs. Daley is a handsome, intelligent
and earnest woman, and is evidently
imbued with a feeling OF unbounded con-
fdenc5 in her husbands character.
On Sunday night, between 10 and II
o'clo X, Detective Hannah took the ante
mortem statement of John j. Carroll at
the Receiving Hospital. 1t is as folio VS.
l. John j. Carroll, believing / am about 10
die. do make this my dying statement.
Last Sunday morning at about . o'clock
Michael A. LawtOn arranged 10 have John j.
Carroll and Jonn Lawton watch his wife.
VI. 4. Lawlon was 10 be with US in the cellar
10 witness the alleged acts, then We were TO
jump through trapdoor in the floor.
We did witness tie acts through hole cut In
the floor, that IS, John Lawton and myself,
from A. N. 10 $3.50 A. NJ, she going 10 his
Daey's) room OF her own accord. Then she
got up aud d essee tie children aud sent them
0ut, locking the door after them, and then,
Will Daley, stayed there III II O'Clock.
Mrs. LawtOn brought Daley's breakfast to
him in bed. Daley said he was not hungry, but
Mrs. Lawton replied that lie might be and he
had better eat il anyway. She asked if he
wanted spoon. No; piece Of bread,
mo-; anything else, No"
NJ. A. LawIon, her husband intended to
watch bis wife with US, and The three OF US
we're 10 jump in ana catch them.
The Irapdoor comes up to Mr.. Lawto IS
room and around the kitchen way 10 Daieys
room. Mr.. Lawton'S plans were broken up, as
Daley came home late, about 3 O'clock IN the
morning. Daily found Lawton dressed and he,
Lawtou, could not get into the cellar without
exposing his plan set 10 catch Daley and Mrs.
NJ. A. Lawtou.
N. A. Lawton returned at about 3 P. NJ. on
that day and let us out Of the cellar, having
first secured his wife in the font portion OF The
house.
We made new arrangements for sunday, May
T. 1850 tl4dL - 10 edft MI NJ. u. AsdNiou XVI
into the cellar before g A. NJ. and was 10 watch
them through the hole cut ID tie hDor and give
US tile slgual.
He had "A long pole and lath nailed on the
end OF II which he stuck out through crack
underneath the rear window OF The kit chen,
which was 10 be signal 10 us.
We were IN j. LawtOn's wagon in lot In the
rear Of the house. One OF us was always keep
ing watch for The signal from LawtOn. Finally
the signal was given and the following walk ed
In: }. Lawton, j. j. Carroll, Z. j. Carroll and
MT. Fred kluk
We licked up plank In the yard, 2x12, and
banged the door in and walls ed in on them. Ii
was arranged that should put up lie curtain.
As went 10 do ii be Daley fired shot into
J. Lawton, as l afterwaTd found out. The
others lated TO go out OF the room. was
alone and at the foot OF the bed when saw
Daley tHrn the pistol Oh me. stopped aud lie
missed me-
then tIied to make for the door. which was
closed by those who went out. While was
opening the door Daley fired again, The shot
entering my back. just as ] got through the
back gate 1 saw j. LawtOn lying dead Oh the
ground. told my brother got It, too.
lie lifted my coal from The back and saw the
blood coming out. / was put IN ihe wagon aud
taken 10 the Receiving Hospital.
We wanted TO impress on Daley that we
meant no ham 10 him. had pistol on me-,
but did not use II. LawtOn had pistol on
him, but did not draw II.
JOHN j. CARROLL.
Witness: James Coleman. police of1ceE