Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-16
TR0Y,s ELECTION TRAGEDY.

Robert Ross was Murdered by ssBat,
 Shea who shot Him While Hs
 was Prostrate-Testimon Of ths
 Murdered Man,s Brother.
 TROY, N. Y., March 15.-The inquest ir
 the case of Robert Ross, murdered ct the
 polls on election day, was commenced thil
 afternoon at the court house before Coro
 nsr Collins. Assistant Attorney Pagan
 appeared for the people. Frank 8. Black
 and Seymour Vanssntvoord, the lawyers | suggested ss associate counsel with the as.
 sistant district attorney, sat near the latter
 official who occasionally consulted with them.
 Dr. E. D. Ferguson gave testimony ss to the nature of the bullet wound which | caused death. Dr. s. H. Webster cor roborated pr. Ferguson's testimony as to the wound, which was on the back of the head, near the right ear, the bullet passing inward, forward and upward. Dr. Her bert E. DeFreest testified to attending ''Bat" Shea in the saloon of Alderman elect Dunlop. There was c slight scalp wound on Shes's head. Dr. N. F. Phelan testified that he attended MoGough, who Is suffering from a gunshot wound In the right side. No vital organ was penetrated and McGough Is improving. Photographs and diagrams of the scene of the tragedy were exhibited and explained
 John Ross, brother of the dead man, tes- ti6ed that he was an inspector at the so- called republican caucus in the Thirteenth ward on February 8. He was secretary of the board of inspectors. John H Roland and John McGough were inspectors. and Hancock and Dunlop were candidateg. Witness said that 1t was evident that men were voting who were not entitled to do SO. w.. s Ross objected to illegal votes, and light ensued. MoGough struck Bo- land, and then drew a revolver, threaten ing that he would shoot Roland. Witness grabbed McGough and forced him back. Hearing the breaking of window glass wit ness saw a man whom he after wards iden- tifed ss Bat" Shea coming from the rear. An attempt was made to stop the intruder, who drew a revolver and held 1t against the head of one of the inspectors, saying 'Ill shoot the (foul nsme)-"
 Witness cried "for Gods sake, do not shoot 6 man like that"
 Witness went to the polling place at .. m. Robert and William Ross and John H. Roland, all residents of the Thirteenth ward, appeared about the same time. The only policeman present on duty was Spec isl Murphy. Officer Kane was present but did not seem to bs on duty. Up to 10 o'clock there had been no trouble at the polling place. Then Shea, AcGough, Clsary and Ksefe appeared.
 Shea started the trouble by striking William Ross. Later the gang went away. Then Officer Ksne said that ss things were quiet he thought he would go and get some thing to eat. He went away. At noon Cleary, Keefe, AcGough and Shea came back to the place. Later man marched into the polling place. Hsiner was struck by Shea and then witness saw McGough strike William Ross. The crowd swept into the street. MeGough was the frst to draw 8 revolver.
 When John first saw Robert Ross after the coming out of the crowd, Robert was holding to the hand of Shea, with whom
 he was struggling. Shea held 6 pistol In
 his hand. John was struggling toward | Robert when the latter fell ss If his ankle from Shea when the latter fired his pistol
 and continued to fire as witness reached Robert.
 | Witness swore positively that he saw
 "BAt" Shea shoot Robert Ross while the latter was prostrate. Shea was at the time
 about four feet from Robert. When John | got to Robert he lifted the latter's head in
 his lap and said: 'Tf you are American
 citizens catch that man," meaning Shea. | The first to reach Robert Ross after John | was John Fl. Roland.
 | MT. Ross testi6ed that neither he nor his
 brothers had firearms at the polling place. Witness could not say whether or not Mr. | Roland had a revolver. MT. Ross testified that he had never bt fore been assaulted in
 polling place, but that his brothers had
 been assaulted before in polling place in Il the Thirteenth ward.