The record-union., 1894-03-01
THE STARBIRD INQUEST.
Testimony of Hall and Others as to
the Killing.
Verdict Returned by the Jury That
Starbird Was Shot by Hall
in Self-Defense.

Coroner Clark held an inquest last
night on John p. Starbird, who was shot
w. T. Jackson.
The main testimony was the same as
published in the REcoRD-UNIoN the
morning after the shooting.
George Phinney testified that Starbird
moved into the vicinity of his saloon at &
and f, Sixth and Seventh, about four
months ago. Never knew him to work
or TO have much money. Perkins was
in his saloon on the night Of February
4th, called for drinks and wanted to
change a $50 piece. Witness refused.
Officers Douglas and Higgins asked him
on the day of the shooting if he could
identity the man who wanted the $50
piece changed. Witness asked Hall to go
with Starbird to identify the man. Star
bird asked if he was suspected Of any
thing, and witness told him no. After
the shooting Hall came in and said he
was shot all to pieces and told witness to
get doctor quick.
;. Z. Thornton said that Perkins came
in for bucket of beer one day when he
ness was III the saloon when Hall and
Starbird Went out on the night OF the
shooting. Starhird went out first and
Hall asked witness to lend him his pistol,
which he did. Hall said he was going
for walk, but did not think he would
need it. Starbird drank and was quarrel
some sometimes.
Joseph L. owen testified that Starbird
and Hall came into his saloon on the
Of q eh ol a6
into the back part Of the saloon and Star
bird asked witness how much he owed
him, and was told it was not much. They
went out together.
Ex-Chief of Police Rodgers was on the
corner OF Fourth and X that evening,
and Hall came TO him and told him that
the party who robbed Jackson was around
there somewhere, and man who was
with him was going to point the party
out Witness recapitulated the conversa-
ton. Witness could see that Starbird
was suspicious OF Hail. After the shoot
ing witness saw Hall, and the latter told
him that they went to Starbird's house
and Starbird called him stOol-pigeon
and shot him.
w. j. Hardy swore that he went in the
patrol wagon to the Railroad Hospital
and brought Starbird down. The latter
said ne knew who shot him, but refused
to tell who it was.
DR.. q. A. White described tAe wounds
which Caused Starbird's deatHand pro-
duced the bullets He thought Starbird
was standing up when shot.
Miss Ada eOmanS saw Hall and Star
bird standing at Seventh and on the
evening of the shooting and heard Star
bird ask Hall to come in, and he did so.
They appeared friendly.
Miss Minnie Ross was with Miss Yeo-
mans that night and corroborated her
testimony.
Officer Douglas said that the day after
the robbery OF jackson be ask ed Phinney
if he had heard OF the robbery and the
about it and Phinney told him that a
queer-looking fellow came in and got
some drinks and wanted to get $40 piece
changed. Phinney described the man
and witness was satisfied it was Perki ms,
as he had seen him and Starbird around
late at night several times. Witness told
Phinney to keep a lookout and let him
know If Perkins came around again.
Perkins came up two or three times. but
witness could never catch him. He was
looking for Perkins on the night of the
shooting, but although he got track of
him he did not find him. Phinney told
witness to go with Starbird, who would
point Perkins out to him. Hall did not
want to go, but went to oblige him. Wit
told by Hall and said that he (witness)
learned that Perkins was hanging around
Starbird's house till after o'clock on the
night Of the shooting but did not dare to
go in.
officer Higgins said he and Douglas
had been looking for Perkins for several
days, and heard of him at Sixth and Il
streets on that evening. They had called
at Starbird's house that day, but did not
see Starbird. He told how he found Star
birds pistol the day after the shooting.
officer Ahern detailed the conversation
between Hall and ex-Chief Rodgers on
the night in question. He saw Starbird
and Perkins together late at night repeat
edly, and also in the daytime. When
Starbird saw Hall talking to Rodgers he
turned pale, and said: bill, what does
this mean? Are they trying to work me
into anything?" Witness told him no,
and StarbirG said Higgins had been up to
his house frightening his wife.
Captain Talbot heard Of the shooting,
and went up and saw Hall and heard his
story. He went down and arrested Per-
kins. a woman who lived with Perkins
told him that Starbird had been in the
room of the latter a number of times.
John G. Hall testified that he got ac-
quainted with Starbird on the night Of the
shooting. Phinney asked him to go with
Starbird, who would point out man who
exhibited Il $50 piece on the night jackson
was robbed. Witness did not want to go,
but went as a favor to Phinney. They
went down town, but Starbird did not
seem anxious to find the man. They saw
Chief Rodgers at Fourth and X.
Witness told Rodgers what they were
after and they went away but did not
find the man. When Starbird and wit
ness were going home, the former told
him that Phinney had been using him as
a H. 81, ,-I.&
Phinney had used him (witness) as one
just as much. As they went by Fifth and
l, Starbird wanted TO 60 around by the
slough bank. Witness objected, but went,
Starbird going ahead. AS they came by
some cars some man came out and spoke
to Starbird, but witness did not know
who it was.
They went to Starbird's house, and he
insisted on witness going in to drink some
beer. Starbird went into back room.
after drinking q glass. and speaking TO
his wife, As witness sat there, Starbird
partly opened the door and shot him, say
ing, This thing has gone far enough"
Starbird's wife stood between witness
and the middle room when the shot was
fired and she ran away at the second shot.
Starbird shot four times and hit witness
twice. Witness struggled with him and
finally got out his pistol and shot Star
bird.
He shot Starbird twice and was going
to shoot the third time, but remembered
there were only three shots in the pistol
and that the other man might be waiting
for him outside. He was speaking to
Mrs. Starbird when the first shot was
fired. Starbird had shown no signs of
anger Witness borrowed the pistol be-
cause be thought he was going into hard
part of the town. Witness saw Perkins
in Phinney's saloon on Sunday night
previous, and Perkins threw $50 on the
bar to pay for drinks, and said he had
been beaten out of 500.