The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-29
FITzSIMMONS ON TRIAL
The Pugilist Arraigned for the MUIR
der of Con RiOrdan.
BLOW WAS LIKE A MULES KICK
The Prosecution Proposes to Show That
Riordon Was Killed by the Blow
from the Fist of tho
pugiiist.

Syracu3e, N. Y, June 2S.-The twelfth
juror in the FltzslmmonB trial for man
slaughter in the killing of Con Riordan
in sparring bout, was secured ait 10
O'Clock this morning. The trial proper
opened with "a motion by Fitzsimmons'
attorney to compel the prosecution to
elect upon wh.ch count of the indict-
ment Fitzsimmons was to be tried.
Thil motion was denied. There are
four counts in the Indictment.
In his opening to the jury, which
lasted about an hour, District Attor-
ney Shove said that he would prove
that the blow given Riordan by F'itz-
simmons caused his death. He said
that he would prove by competent wit
nesses that Rlordan collapsed immedi-
ately after the blow on the chin and
neck, and that that blow cracked the
white matter in Riordan's brain. There
would be no con'tention by the prosecu-
tion that Fitzsmmons intended to kill
Riordan. Expert witnesses from among
the best physicians in Syracuse would
be called to show that the blow was the
direct cause Of death.
The district attorney hinted that
there was dirty work on the part of
FitzsimmOns in this case and he would
show 1t. He said that FitZsimmons had
condemned Riordans drunkenness sew
eral times just before the bout.
The prosecution lkened the light tap
given Riordan to the kick of a mule,
and he told the jurors that when the
evidence was in they would see that
Lot nf ha
two.
Testimony Of Journalist.
S. Guerney Lapham, of the Syracuse
Courier, was the first witness. lap
ham, in describing the set-to, said that
Riordan led the fighting, driving Fitz-
simmons back. Then there was a re-
versal and Riordan was driven in .
the center of the stage, where Fitz-
simmons landed on his neck and side of
the jaw, the edge of FitZsimmons' fist
coming to the point of the chin. I'm
mediately Riordan threw his head back.
staggered. recovered for a second and
then sank to the floor in a sitting pos
ture, only to fall over with his head
on the floor. Then he was helped into
the side wings, nobody seeming to pay
any dlteHtloH " Hllil, anu lHe SHOW
went on.
At the afternoon session Edgar n.
Wilson, well known attorney and pol
itician OF Syracuse. was called as n
witness. He was with Lapham at the
time of the set-to. He said that Rior-
dan was larger man than Fitzsim-
mons and had the best of the set-to.
When Riordan went down after the
fatal blow, it was done so easily that
the boys in the gallery yelled fake"
fake, ''and hissed. Wilson could not
describe the location of the blow. He
said that the glove was SO large that
he could not see just where it landed.
Wilson Gives Illustrations.
Wilson said that Riordan was struck
on the right side of his face, and he
never raised his guard again after the
blow. He would call it an old fash
ioned side blow, and it was a light one.
This evidence went in under objection.
One of the interesting features of the
day occurred outside of the court room.
After Con Riordans funeral last Nov
ember his body was placed in a receiv-
ingvault and his brother in San Fra n
cisco notified. The brother never sent
any word as to what was to be done
with the body. Today Fitzsmmons pur-
chased a lot in Oakwood cemetery, and
gave orders for the body to be properly
cared for and buried at his expense.