The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-25

Domestic TrOubles...Testim
Heard Before the Coroner Yester.
day..Anothcr Hearing This After.
noon.
Whether it was accident, suicide or
foul play that caused the death OF
Patrick Corcoran Tuesday night Is
question of which was not clear
ly established at the inquest
conducted by Coroner Longstreet
yesterday morning. Corcoran was
found laying fully dressed. excepting
his coat ON lounge in the parlor
in the building containing his saloon
and dining apartments, 1724 Ce-
dar avenue. A gas jet. in the
room was open and the gas had
caused death. but whether Cor
coran accidentally or otherwise or
someone else turned on the gas was the
point which was not made clear to Coro-
ner Longstreet and the jury, c. L. Ham,
lin, II. f. Mellon. w. J. Burns, Frank
Conway, c. j. Ruddy and d. j. Moriar-
ity.
Corcoran was 81 years old. He was
select councilman about eight years ago
end at one time did some contract work
for the city. He was supposed to be
worth sufficient money and property to
permit his retiring from active business.
He had experienced some unhappiness
with his wife. who was Mrs Connor.
Of Bellevue, and whom he married last
September, the first Mrs. Corcoran
dying last year. AS recently as Monday
Corcoran and Dr. William Haggerty in
Alderman Millar's Office appeared in an
assault and battery case and the two
were held in bail to appear at court.
There turks a suspicion that Corcoran
may have destroyed himself because of
his domestic and other troubles.
TOO EARLY TO CLOSE
Tuesday night at 10 o'clock Corcoron
was engaged with customers in his
saloon and to his wife's suggestion that
he retire he replied that it was too
carl; to close the saloon. She went to
bed and did not call him again until
she and her 17-year- old daughter found
him a corpse and lying on the sofa at
6 O'Clock yesterday morning.
Mrs. Corcoran ran to the street door
and called to some mel who were pass
ing, they were Patrick Conaboy, Joseph
Muller and Thomas McCaGden, three
steelworkerS returning from their
nights work They found a little kitten
lying d ad in the room which was SO
permeated with Illuminating gas that 1t
had to be thoroughly aired before they
could remain inside for any consider
able period.
Corcoran lay in natural position and
but for the pallor on his face seemed to
have been peacefully asleep. Coroner
Longstreet was summoned by police
man who had been notified by one OF
the workmen.
| AT the inquest which was begun soon
after 10 o'clock Mrs. Corcoran and the
three steel-workers were examined
There We're other witnesses but their
evidence was not important. The testi-
mony of the others was in accordance
with what appears above.
DID NOT DETECT GAS.
Mrs. Corcoran included in her evi.
|
detect any odor Of gas in the room ant
did not know who had turned off the
jet. Her husband had not been accus.
toned to taking maps in that particular
room, she said.
A Mr.. Tobin is said to have been II
the room before the appearance of the
three workmen on the scene. 1t /!
thought that he may have turned of
the gas and may be able to throw some
light on the case. An effort will bt
made to find him and have him present
at the inquest which was adjourned un
til this afternoon in Coroner Long
streets office.
The dead mar is survived by Post
master NJ. F. COrcoran, of Duryea; Mrs
James Keating and Mrs. James Rich
ardson.
Mr.. CorcOran was probably one of tn,
best known men on the South Side
and was we'll known in all parts of tn,
city. His marriage to Mrs. Maria Con
nor, OF Bellevue, last autumn had
tinge of romance to it, and arouse,
some opposition from the members o
his family. His first wife died littl
over year ago and on Sept 4. 1896
he went to Syracuse on an excursion
Mrs. Marie Connor was also a mem
ber Of the excursion party, and the.
returned as man and wife.
Apparently they did not live happil,
together. On May 2 last Mr.. Corcoral
gave to his son, Michael F. Corcoran
postmaster of Duryea, Judgment not
for $1,000. This note was payable on
day after date and was entered up OF
the day It was signed. On May a f
fa. was issued and on 1t the real estat
of Patrick Corcoran was sold on May q
1t was sold first in the morning an
was bid in by his son Michael for 81 OO(
The terms of the bid We're not compile
with and it was sold again in the af
ternoon of that day for $57.40, Michae
again becoming the purchaser.
MRS. COCORAN PROTESTED.
Before the deed was acknowledged b
the sheriff in court Mrs. Corcorar
through her attorney succeeded in hav
ing the confirmation stayed and oh
tanned rule on Michael F.. Corcora
to show cause why the sheriff's sal
should not be set aside, and she al
lowed to defend her rights in the pror
crty. She contends that Patrick Cor
coran did not owe his son $1,000 an
that the note was given for the purpos
Of defrauding her out of her dove
Interest in the property in the even
of her husbands death during her life
time. The rule was granted June 1
and Attorney c. C. Donovan was ar
pointed commissioner to take test
mony.
The commission sat on Tuesday, whe
Mrs. Corcoran was represented by Al
torney c. s. Woodruff, and Michael ]
Corcoran by Attorney +. ]. Fitzsin
mons. Mrs. Corcoran was the first wi
ness. She swore that she was 81 yeal
Of age, and was married to Mr.. Coz
/ COrQ mn SAINT ia 1909 I1o tn1d lar II,