New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-22
SHEA FIRED THE SHOTS.
ADAM ROsss TESTIMONY IN THE TROY
MURDER TRIAL.
TIE WITNESS CLEAR AND POSITIVE THAT HIS
DROTUER ROBERT WAS SLAIN BY IhH
PRISONER YEsTERDAY's EVIDENCE.

Ross % brother Of Robert Ross, testified as ioi-
lows:
.The Ross family was composed of my father
and ,rother nv brothers william. John G. anu
Rohert two sisters and myself. All the male
members Of the family were registered voters
in the Third District OF the Thirteenth Ward
Robert Ross was twenty-five years and six
months old, William is thrty-seven, John thirty
three and am thirty. We were all engaged IN
business In the Ross Valve Company. Robert
was six feet and three inches tall and weighed
200 pounds.
Il went 10 the polls at about 1915 o'clock cleo
ton morning | remained there until after the
shooting There were about fifty persons there
at the time OF the shooting. Robert and william
were there when arrived. and they also re-
malned all the morning | first saw the defend-
ant Shea between s ana 9 o'clock in the morn
ing He was standing with group Of men. Inc
next saw of Shea was about 10 o'clock, when
he. with a party of six or seven. came over 10
the polling place. l recognized Shea. McCioush,
Cleary and owen Judge. AZ they came up IN
front Of the polling place some one said: You've
got TOO much mouth Then Judge struck man
named Cairns and staggered him. Then Cleary
hit Cairns and knocked him down. My
brother William then stepped up to speak TO
Mart Kane a police officer who was not on
duty. As William did 80. Shea reached over
and struck William in the mouth. My brother
John stepped in and took hold Of william. saying:
Take that We don't want any trouble mere
John pulled william away from Shea and the
latter, McGough. Cleary and the others went
away.
The next I saw OF them was when they
marched over and went into the polling-place.
This was after u o'clock. and first saw them
as they were coming down Orr-st. Three or
four strangers were In advance and were fol-
lowed by Shea, Cleary and McGough Ihey
all went into the door Of the pong-p!ac and
Hayner went in after them. ! crowded up into
the door and heard loud talking in the railway.
but the first | saw Hayner being pushed
out He tried 10 hold himself in the doorway
by grasping the casing. Then he was struck
and pushed out Then Iayner. McGough, Cleary
and Shea had words In front Of the polng-plac
one said to Hayner that he liked 10 talk TO a
man and that he never took another mans
lob Then Shea struck Hayner and the latter
was pushed back toward the south. saw
McGough draw a revolver and raise It. Then l
saw Hayner % down on the ground at a point
south Of the polling place, and east Of the post
I was standing in from Of the polling-place' but
as the crowd surged down | was forced back.
The next thing noticed was when saw my
brother Robert standing in Orr-st, south OF the
post Robert was In tackle with man. don
know who the man observed my orother
william start toward Robert When first saw
William he was Just west Of the post. He was
moving In u southwestery direction toward
Robert saw Robert and this man clinch.
The man had revolver In his hand ana my
brother Robert was forcing him back toward
the west. Then my brother william moved IN
b,.v..u Robert and myself. and next l saw
McCiough run forward. | saw some one grasp
his arm. and McGough raised hts hand saw
the CLEAN of "A revolver In HIS hand. He aimed
the revolver at a man who have since learned
was Ouigley. Then | saw MeGough turn the
revolver toward william and fire twice william
n,,ched headlong to the ground. When the man
and Robert were In tackle the former discharged
a revolver but rs Robert held his hand the
w.ap,.l was discharged in the air
Mr. RaIurs then showed the witness hat'
which The witness said he believed was the hat
his brother Robert wore that morning lie ha'
| never during Roberts lifetime seen any mole IN
,h, brim Of the hat. The witness continued as
follows:
This discharge Of the revolver In the hand Of the
! man with whom Robert Was In tack.e anu tm'
ieSns w'i,,m yrH Robert threw Of the with
whom be- was graphing anu sliTt'l III pI' y,
. .mg ~ mem Then vent toward the northwest
| anI mex saw Robert AMI M"Goush coming oul o.
! m. gully Robert wns Apparently just rrtr"...
| W.GSurG A. that time man came between me
! and them / recognized the man as Shet, .,,,
The latter ralsei his revolver ant hrei tWire
| Robert and Mc,iough were then on the hgn Hrouhu
,,ist north ~ the ditch think Sh"A in!kh' ma ss
moving Westerly The two shots appearei1 10 on De-
nred directly AT my brother. Ny brother I' Al ~
| rsv,Iver 50 thar the muzzle close 70 koosrt
| head. ana nred again. Then, as Shea passed Dy
R,Aert he discharged another shot at my pro'heF
Mr.. Ralnes then showed the witness the clothes
worn bv Robert on Election Day. and the witness
| Identified them. He said that he discovered q
hole in the right breast of the overcoa' There
ar. . number OF paper. in the inside pocket OF
the coat, These also show hole or puncture
| evidently made at the same tIhe the Hoie III '"'
coat was made. He said;
| did not see whore Shea went "a just then re-
| volyrr shot flashed In my face. turned my het.
| and saw "A revolver pointed al my head threN
n.y. n.y., my lyeo n,,s explodc1 over my head drew
| stick from my pocket and struck the man. IL
ie ana 6To R P% %T' John was hrr beforr
| was and had lifted Robert head ! took ms nea'
| I'm my arms Then John called ana saw BoIih.
run over pas, us and north OF US when JONI
| called Boland answered. TT. =. ., o.,
most 10 have his hand on McGough. Just at ina
moment Shea nrel the two shots Robert sank down
| D,'s.r,a What became OF McGough at that time
| but af,erward saw him running toward N tn
| Ennrth- Il took the stick which carried IRON
! the shop | ala not draw 1t until AFTER the re
! volvcr had been discharged over my head TOO
| hnv. A revolver that day, and | know that M
| brothers did not have anv When got 70 hoper'
af,sr he fell there nothing IN his hhnds anu II
weanon hy his side. When William was shot
| cond not see his hands, but his arm was so pen
| thot r. looked az If ne had his right mana up
h hiiS hrenst rocket williams back was turned I
| WcCough and he was running from 'ns .au.v ,
| M. nral nv Mc(iOugh ana by tnt Hitu VII
whom Robert was graphing were almost simu
tanrouS and they were the first shotS near" III"
day. ,,.-t., r,,r ,.aors and I az
90, Lnow th,. four men who went into the POI
IL MIN Shea McCiough and Cleary. Four or nv
months before Election Day Robert was sIuhS
WI his snLle was strained He vas laid up Tor
" c, Of weeks and his ankle was left so wea
that when he stepped upon smah S'ohr " "o"'