The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-30
ONLY FISTS Used.
In The Case of O'COnnOr Us.
Mclean.
AN IMPORTANT CASE IN THE Pc
LICE COURT.

Mclean Charged With Intent to Kill-The
Evidence Disclosed No Such Intent
Witnesses Trstify to McLean's Good
Observation-Disclosures Held for Assault,
The most important case before the
Municipal Court Saturday morning was
that against Charles d. Mclean, charged
with an assault with intent to kill on
John B. O'Connor, otherwise known as
Jack" O'Connor. Judge George F.
Gould appeared for Mclean.
In opening the case for the government
County Attorney Libby outlined the case
as follows:
John B.O'Connor, with his friend, Pat
rick O'Connor, was passing along Wash
ington street. Being in need of match
Patrick went over to where three men
were standing. One of them was Charles
Mclean. Patrick got match; and then
John went over. Trouble arose, and Nc
Lean assaulted John. The government,
in MI. Libby's opinion. might not be able
toshow the intent to kill, but could show
assault and battery.
John B. O'Connor, of Larch street, a
payer by trade, was first sworn. He
knew the respondent, Charles D. Nc
Lean. He met him on Larch street a
week before, on Friday evening. With
Pat they were going along Washington
treet, and in the vicinity OF Cumberland
street he saw crowd. Officer Foss
cleared the corner. Then witness went
down Larch street. AS they went along
Patrick wanted a match, and went
across to where two men, tall and a
short man, were standing to get one.
Witness thought the getting of the match
was delayed, and going over said:
"What S the matter?' Thereupon one of
the men said: "You amt looking for q
match, you are looking for scrap
Then witness says he remarked that it
was better to go to bed. He turned,
when he was struck in the back of the
neck with knife. He turned and was
struck in the right breast with knife.
and fell. He raised his arm to protect
arm.
Then he got up and tried to get away.
He was cut in seven places, although his
clothes showed seventeen rents. But only
seven reached him.
The assailant then followed him as he
ran for home. He tried to get into two
houses, by knocking at the windows.
One of these houses was his own. Not
being able to arouse any one, he went to
Mr. Burke's house, where he found shell
ter and assistance, Doctor Smith being
called.
Judge Gould, in cross examining,
brought out the admission that witness
had drank little that night, few
glasses of beer. He had known his assail-
ant before, and had always treated him
we'll But that night he was not sure of
his identity, and when Deputy Hartnett
asked who cut him, he declined to tell.
The witness seemed to have declined to
tell, partly because he was not then sure,
and partly because he did not want to
tell the deputy.
Judge Gould asked witness if his wife
came to see him after he was cut and he
said she did. When, however: an attempt
was made to ask witness if he was glad
to see his wife, the attorney for the State
objected.
Patrick O'Connor was called. He tes-
titled to going across the street to ask
tall and a short man. He also saw the
fight; but could not identify the respon-
dent as one of the men.
On cross examination witness said he
did not see any knife used. So far as he
saw the fight was with fists. He saw
O'Connor fall when struck, and saw him
run away. 1t was after ten O'Clock. and
quite dark, SO dark that he could not see
a knife. The short man pursued O'Con-
nor, and witness saw him come back
with the latter's hat, saying II have
done it,
Witness admitted that he had been
drinking some. He said that the fight
took place as he was lighting his pipe.
When he turned they were in the street
fighting, John O'Connor and the short
man,
DIR. o. P. Smith, city physician, said
he found O'Connor with seven cuts, the
largest about an inch and a half in
length. The others were more like slash
es The largest cut was made evidently
by sharp instrument, like a pocket
knife or razor.
Mrs. Julia M O'Connor, wife of John,
was called and testified to knowing the
respondent. She heard him say before
the affair that he would "stick the Irish
land later she saw him with her hus-
bands hat and heard him boasting that
he had stuck her husband Witness saw
knife flashing in respondents hand.
Judge Gould, in opening for the de.
Tense, said they should admit that the