The record-union., 1896-02-08
JACK HURLEY EXONERATED.
The Court Holds That He Acted in Self
Defense.
He Did Not Commence the Fight, and
OouldHave Justly Shot Be-
fore He Did.

The examination of John Hurley on
the charge of numbering Hugo Klass
was continued yesterday in the Police
Court. The testimony was about the
same as that given before the Coroner
George Hilbert testified that he saw
Ripley thrown out Of the saloon, and
went toward the spot. The next min
ute Hurley appeared at the door with
ten or a dozen men around him, who
followed him a couple of feet outside OF
the door and threw him nearly across
the sidewalk. As he recovered himself,
he pulled his pistol and fired twice.
Then Klass ran up to him and threw
his arm around his neck and Hurley
shot him.
Witness and his brother helped Hur-
ley, who was staggering, to go down
the street. He appeared badly hurt and
wanted to lie down They managed to
partly carry him TO the Peerless Saloon
and lay him on the floor.
Witness fatty contradicted the testi-
mony of Virchoff, who said that Hurley
ran like a deer after shooting.
Officer Logue, who arrested Hurley,
testified to finding him in a, sort Of faint
en- the floor. and that he and another
eH7cer had to carry him to the wagon.
Bert Ripley told how the crowd
Jumped on him and Hurley without
provocation, and while he was defend
ing himself from two men third beat
him with a stick over the head.
7. J. Mcnamara swore that Hurley
did not strike Steiner when he came
from behind the bar. Steiner called
out something in German, and a dozen
men surrounded Hurley, who called for
help. Witness saw Steiner trying to
get at Hurley at that time. He saw
number of men follow Hurley out on
the sidewalk, and saw KIass with his
aTm,around Hurley's neck. When Hur-
ley was surrounded by the crowd he
called out for help, and his voice sound
ed as If he were being choked.
Fred. Storer saw Klass within foot
of Hurley after the shot was fired. Ten
or fifteen men burst out of the dool
with Hurley, and came probably four
feet out on the sidewalk.
Hurley testified in his own behalf
that he went to the dance on the invi'
tation of A E. Coolot, who passed the
party by the doorkeeper. He danced
there several times, and after the ball
was over Coolot asked him and others
to have a drink in the barroom- They
ordered their drinks and were standing
by the bar talking. Steiner asked who
was to pay for the drinks, and witness
told him that he had not had any.
Steiner went behind the bar and got
him a glass of beer, and he did not an
ticipate any trouble until he saw
Steiner raise the glasses in his hand
Steiner came out from behind the bar
and the first thing witness knew he was
attacked by the crowd and thrown
dawn in the corner over a chair, with
his head down. They were striking at
him and pulled him out and knocked
him down and kicked him in the back
and head. He called to Marty,
the milkman, to save him from
being beaten to death. He did
not know how he got out, but when
he wes thrown out on the sidewalk he
pulled his pistol and told them to stand
seac8 and fired two shots.
He did not know where Klass came
frcnas but was seized by the neck by him
and ared the shot at him in defense of
lis life. He never saw Klass before, and
thought he had come to finish him up.
His eyes were bruised and bleeding,
and he had been struck and kicked all
over and was bruised yet. The Hilbert
boys assisted him to the saloon on K
street, and after he was taken to the
Jail he was confined to his bed for two
days.
he did not begin the fight by hitting
Steiner and did not remember hitting
him at ALL When he saw Steiner raise
the glasses he thought he was going to
throw them and lodged out of the way.
He thought Steiner was crazy drunk,
as he was very much excited and said
something in some foreign language
and the crowd Immediately commenced
striking him (Hurley). When he was
thrown out Of the door there were 9
number of people all round him, choking
and striking him. They followed hin
out on the sidewalk, but he did moi
know how far.
H. w. Johnson said that he had 6
number of other witnesses. but theil
testimony would be only cumulative
and would only take up the time of tbs
court He would not, therefore, intro
duce it unless required, but would in
stead move for Hurley's discharge.
City Attorney Brown said that the
case was one that involved the liberty
Of Hurley. He was satisfied that ths
fight had resulted in the death of an in.
nOcent man, who had nothing to do will
1t. He was at the inquest and heard al