The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-19
TRoY,s ELECTION TRAGEDY.
The Line or Defe-e. ADOPTED By the Cou-se
for the Prtsouers.

for the Pri,o-er..
TROY March 18-Althoueh It will be several
days before the Coroner Investigation OF the
Robert Ross m urder 10 finished. there is much
speculation as to the result. The testimony
printed In the newspapers has been eagerly
read and the sentiment as gathered to-day Is
that the jury will hoG John McGouRh for at
tempting to kill William Ross. and Bat"
Shea on the charge OF killing Robert Ross, and
that John II. Boland will be acquitted. 1t is
stated very positively that the Coroner's Jury
is made up OF Republicans, and nearly all OF
them are supposed to be friendly to the Ross
Boland Republican faction In the Third dis
trict Of tho Thirteenth ward the Republican
stronghold where the murder was committed.
How that jury came to be selected Is interesting.
Immediately after Ross was shot and taken
into a neighbours house. Coroner John IL Col
Inns was summoned. He arrived on the scene
as quickly as . swift horse could take him
there. He Immediately picked out the jury
and swors them over the body. This jury was
taken from the crowd OF Republicans around
the Third district polling place. the one which
was dominated by the Ross Bolsnd contingent.
In view OF these facts. John 7. Norton. coun-
sci for McGough and Shea is con sidered to be
fighting against great odda Great interest is
felt as to what line OF defence Mr.. Norton will
adopt In behalf OF his clients II was ascer-
tAluou IEOu pEoty kOOu AubuOItb thht ~ thv
proper time he will seek to prove that Bolard
was the aRgressor. and that he pulled his re-
volvsr first 1t is In evidence that Boland
bought q revolver the night before election
day. and that he received with It . handful OF
blank ,s;srtEidEss. * is also in evidence.
friends Of Boisnd. that he was in the
thiss Of the u tsht sEEineipg revolver
learned. visited Frank s. Blacks office. the Re-
publican lawyer now aiding Assistant District
.aa Mts sns es 4, *.
ssnf esdss SSrson Sss SssS
to obtain from Ira Humphrey. who testified to
sanR the at ~.
This inquiry was Instituted on the theory that
In hs timex 81 es oE
Boland fred blank cartridges or not they were
be made to show that Boiand. after the battle.
went to his home and reloaded the revolver
Shea and McGouch fired four shots There is
aaepce to the effect that im,medi.tely after
my God. 1 have killed my best friend.@ The
AMERICAN bulldog revolver found few feet
.nG an S bs sa Shea
did not own revolver witn sss who test,
saSsr :sa aa1'
can be corroborated. to whom docs the uni
SMeatttled revolver belong Does 4 belong to
that shea Is alleged to hsVe earrled after the
battle2 There has been no testimony as to
Mr. Norton viii endsaIor to prove that the
Ross; Boland Repu Rlieans were the aggrsssors
already made Il clear that he is determined to
ia 'n r,srS the
factions. He hopes to show that the members
tSs
they saw McGough and Bat Shea and other
pGnOI the D
,to:s BoI.nd daetiGn have declared that he.
sH norton R:. bfoasss out on
dough and his friends did not attempt to vote
At the Third district polling PLACE. In fact. the
e Bat" shea and their friends entered the hall
leading to the polling room Ellis asyner at.
70 hsS%n nt By
Francis Murphy. Then the fight was begun.
the Of n. Ros brohsns snd
their Repu blican lieutenants that they carried
clubs on election day Al the proper time hs
Willard. Superintendent OF Police, which was
published in all the nswspapers in Troy the
referring to carrying weapons is as follows:
All persons who carry. conceal possess any in
strunent weapon of the Kind com mony known
the sunEshot billy sand CLUB or metal inueksa or
dagger. dirk. dangerous knife Ia guilty OF felony
And NO magistrate or other person 10 authorized by
law 70 License or permit any person. other than .
public street or highway In this city.
Another feature OF the line OF defence net
up by Mr. Norton 10 that nearly all OF the Ross
Boland witnesses visited the office OF Mr..
Black since the tragedy and there examined
OF refreshing their memories before appear
ing on the witness stand. Mr. Norton declares
and he has brought out that In the main all OF
the witnesses for the prosecution have agreed
teitimony as 10 the positions Of Shea. Robert
Ross, MeGouRh, Boland, and William Ross at
the time Booert loss was killed hobert hossI
shot from behind. and Mr. Norton will try to
break down the testimony as to the positions
OF these men at the time OF the shooting.
The Inquest will be resumed tomorrow