The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-11
MYSTERY OF A SHOT.
Machinery of the Law Try
ing to Find Out Who
Wounded Costello.
HAPPENED In REYNOLDS HOUSE
1t Was Supposed That Thomas J..
Reynolds Mistook the Victim
for His Father.

d y,
Prosecutor Noonan, for the State, and
ex-Mayor Collins are trying, in the Cen
eral Sessions Court, today, to solve the
mystery surrounding the shooting of
Roger z. Costello while sleeping in his
friend Dennis Reynolds house at No.
457 Henderson street. about one A. M,
on September rs. The court room was
crowded with delegation from the Long
Dock, and Thomas j. Reynolds, twenty
five years old, a son of Dennis Reynolds,
is being tried for the shooting
The story created a big sensation at
the time Costello, who lives at Mullica
Hill, N. T., and was buyer for Reynolds,
had been for several days over on Long
Island buying produce. He reached this
city on the night of November 25 and
found Reynolds very drunk, a. condition
he. had frequently been in before and
since. He was in no condition to trans
act business and Costello accepted an in
vitation to remain all night The Rey-
nolds, although wealthy, live in four
rooms on the first f1ooraspver the store.
In ORDER to make. room for, Costello Mrs.
Reynolds and her daughter Kate went
to neighbor's house to sleep. Costello
was assigned to Reynolds room and
Reynolds was put to sleep in his daugh-
ter's bed About one O'Clock Costello
was awakened by sharp pain in his
breast. He found that he had been shot.
A man who resembled young Reynolds
was seen to leave the house. He had
not been home during the evening, had
not occupied his bed and presumably
did Y,nt 1rpaur f1,ot Coc|a1lo fha
house Costello was taken to the City
Hospital, where he remained for thirty
days. Young Reynolds disappeared and
did not return to the city until October
Is, when he was arrested by Detective
Clark in a saloon in Brunswick street.
Fhe police theory of the affair was and
is that If young Reynolds did the shoot
ing he intended the shot for his father,
not being aware of the change made in
the sleeping arrangement.
Costello was the first witness and told
all he, knew of the shooting. He was
Summoned from Long Island by a tele-
gram from Mrs. Reynolds. When he
got to the house a woman sitting on the
stoop asked him whom he wanted to see.
Dennis Reynolds. he answered; The
that Mrs. Reynolds had gone down the
street and would be back in a few min
told the witness that her husband was
drunk Costello went into the house.
wrote few business letters which Mrs
syor n @ rod aesnea tnel to h e fe fe
asleep and was awakened about one
O'CLOCK by the shot and the shock. Den
MS Reynolds accused him of having at
Mrs. Reynolds was called to the stand,
but knew nothing about the shooting, as
she was not in the house when it oc-
her husband had never had any quarrel,
but en- the contrary were on excellent
terms, She said that her husband had
been drunk many times since and Is on
a drunk now. She does not know where
Thomas scanlon, young man who
standing on thf corner and heard the re-
port of the pistbl Then he saw q young
man resembling the defendant coming out
of the house and walking away
Policeman Dunn testified that he saw a
man in his shirt sleeves running around
the corner, He followed him until ne
for COP was snd snnI thsn he Rfynaa dTopDea
him. The witness went to the house and
found Costello shot The patrol wagon
man to the hospital. The witness TOOK
charge of the house.
Mr.. Collins asked Dunn if a shot fired
from the low sheds ON the opposite side
provided the window was open. The Off
Ger said he thought it could.
Did you examine CostelIo's shirt?"
asked Judge Eudspeth
Yes, sir answered the witness: ssthere
was q hole i'm it and powder marks
That is all . said the Judge
+ Drs. Mclaughlin and Burns, of the hos
nital staff. testified to the character of
the wounds.
Detective Clark, Captain Kelly and Chief
Murphy testified in turn that every effort
was made TO find .tle defendant. but he
was mot at any of his usual haunts, nor
at his; business
Foster Callahan. proprietor Of The Elm
street hotel in Elizabeth, testified that
young Reynolds came to his place on Sep
Sefnber 21 and remained for "a week He
registered under another name He was
very quiet and well behaved. The State
rested.
Mr.. Collins asked the Court to direct am
scarettal on THE ground of iIsuff1c 1ciert evi-
Gsace to Warrant the case going ito the,
jury. Mr.. Noontan objected ard the Judge
denied THE application. "A recess was then
ordered