The morning call., 1893-01-04
THE MCCOY INQUEST
Miss King Exonerated by
the Jury.
SHE TELLS HER SAD TALE.
On Hearing the Jury's Verdict She
Faints in Her Mothers
Arms.

One of the saddest inauests ever held in
the Coroner's Office took place yesterday
when DR.. Garwood began the hearing of
testimony in the case of Albert Sidney
Johnston Mccoy.
The curious and tragic fate Of the young
man at the hands of Miss Clara King, while
the two were reciting charaGe in which a
dagger scene played a prominent part, not
only shocked the city. but has been an abb
sorbng topic Of conversation ever since.
Yesterday was the time set for the in
quest, and when O'Clock arrived a curious
crowd had collected in front of the Morgue
with the expectation of catching glimpse
of the unfortunate girls face. A carriage
drove up, and all craned their neeks
forward until there were kinks in their
backs. but they were disappointed. A hand
some-l0oking matron, with silyer-gray hair
rolling from her forehead in pompadour
puffs, descended and helped to assist still
younger woman. who was heavily veiied.
1t was impossible 10 get sight of her face.
When assisted from the carriage she was
given two clutches, and hobbled painfully
along TO the entrance oil the C0ronerS
office, and there was half carried upstairs.
The lame girl was Miss Clara King.
When the inquest pariorS were reached.
she was taken TO a corner and tenderly
cared Tor by her mother and friends.
The testimony Of the witnesses did not
establish anything materially new in the
story that has already been published
Among the witnesses were members OF
the Mccoy family. and it was evident they
deeply sympathiZed with the sufferings of
the un fortunate young woman W no had been
the chief actor in deplorable Tragedy.
The chief feature of the inquest was when
Miss King was called as a witness. She
was led to the stand by her mother. She
wore a black turban, dark purple coat
and gray dress
When asked to remove her veil fine
looking face in the full flush Of youth was
revealed. yet on 1t were traces OF an lnten
sity of suffering which even the richest
health could not disguise. 1t was not the
tears that had rolled down her cheeks, nor
the quivering of her lips unused to tTembe
with grief, but it WAS an ag0nlZng and hOr-
rible thought ever present that Swallowed
with darkness face where light alone
dwelt before.
Looking upon her countenance as Miss
King removed her veil man deeply versed
in human nature said: 81 would rather be
he that is dead than she that is alive. for
would not wear her thorn at any price.
She is OF a nature that can never. forget
this"
Miss King, in the arms of her mother. did
not shrink from the gaze of the crowd. Her
grief was too great When questioned by
the Coroner she told her name bravely and
said she was a music-teacher.
1t was only when describing the tragedy
between broken sobs and heartrending
clutchings of the hands, with bowed head
on her mothers bosom and AWFUL pauses of
the husky voice, that Miss KING showed the
strength of her remarkable grief Then it
was one saw how the dramatic and the
tragic in real life exceeds that Of fiction and
the stage.
Thara ,yero p,oist avac ubap Mics Kin1
told her story, and the jury, which ques-
toned closely every other witness, thought
too much Of her great sorrow to annoy her
with questions.
Miss King told about the charades, and
how before the play began apples were
roasted before the ire.
"Mr. Mccoy showed me the fatal knife"
she said. ''and told me it was the instrument
with which was TO kill him."
The truth of his prophecy broke on her,
and she sobbed aloud.
The girl continued. and said that when
she reached that part Of the charade where
the knife was used Mccoy gave her the
knife, but she pushed it from her, saying it
was too Notwithstanding.
She was compelled TO take it to carry out
the play. and soon warmed I'D TO the scene.
According TO the play" she said, II
pleaded with him. and said lie was a coward.
Then took the knife and sprang at him.
Then hit myself and fell back on the
lounge. because l was supposed to be
dying"
The young girl walled and walled with
grief as she told this story. She said that
Mccoy went out. came back. and went into
the second arlor. closing the folding-d
She knew nothing of what was going on.
Finally from the great efforts made to
divert her attention and the whiSperings of
a few, she began 10 expect that something
was wrong. They at first told her that old
DIR. Mccoy was sick. Finally it was admit
ted that Albert had been struck by the
knife. but only pricked. Soon she learned
the fatal truth.
When shown the knife Miss King fell
back in her mothers arms and could not
look upon il.
She said that she had never had hard