The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-03
DRINK MADE DEMON
How Robert Quail Came to
Throw Michael Lynch
Down Stairs.
HAD AN INSANE DELUsIoN
peaceabIe Man When Sober
Defence on His Trial for
Murder, Insanity.
HAD AN INSANE DELUsI0N

Murder, Insanity,
1t was expected that the trial of Robert
Quail for the murder of Michael Lynch,
on January 10, at No. 6 Van Horn street,
would be finished yesterday, but owing
to the late hour at which the trial was
begun 1T was found impossible to get all
the testimony in before the time for adj
journment and the jury was k to the
Hotel Washington for the night.
The testimony taken yesterday did not
make any change in the salient features
Of the case as they ave been published.
Quail was very drunk and went into Mrs.
Murtha's house, mistaking it for his own.
Mrs. Murtha's house and QuaiPs house
are in the same row and exactly ike
each other. Quail went up stairs 70
what he supposed to be his own room
and finding Lynch there in bed picked
him up and flung him down the stairs
So far as the evidence shows there was
no generalization. Quail, his brain be-
logged with liquor, seems to have got the
impression that there were two persons
in the bed n that one of them was his
s~ister-in-law.
The first witness yesterday afternoon
after Architect Broome was John Helm,
a bright seventeen-year-old boy. He and
some other boys saw a drunken man.
whom they afterward learned was Quail,
in front of Hurley's saloon on Johnston
avenue. The man fell down and the wit
ness and Joe Mehler picked him UP.
What, if anything, did he say to your
asked Prosecutor Erwin.
.aCan / swear in court?' asked the wit
ness, looking at Judge Blair enquiringly.
Tell US what he said,' remarked the
Judge.
well, he told me to get to hell away
from there or he would break my back"
What kind of a looking man was he?"
asked the Prosecutor.
.fHe was a big man about six feet ten
and a half inches. That's what l told
Policeman Buckbee when l told him that
the man was over across the street fight
ing.'
I'M witness identified the defendant as
the man who was drunk and fighting
across the street.
Captain McKaig testified that he ex-
alnined Lynch's room and found several
blood stains. There were stains on the
stairs and carpet. Detective Hottie, who
was with him. took a piece of the blood
stained carpet to the Fourth Precinct
Station. THE carpet was admitted in
evidence. Captain MeKaig further testi-
fed that Quail admitted to him that he
had thrown the old man down stairs and
claimed that he had a right because he
found the old man in his (Quail's) bed.
When the Captain was at the house Mrs.
Murtha was going about the house in a
historical condition declaring that Quail
had killed Lynch for his money.
Detective Hottie testified that he asked
Quail why he had thrown Lynch down
stairs. Quail rep1ied.-.I went to my
room and found a man in bed with my
sister-in-law. | picked him UP ard threw
him down stairs. / didn't know who he
was"
The witness said he had known Quail
of peaceful disposition, except when he
was drunk. He was very drunk on the
day of the murder.
Sergeant McDevitt, who was on duty at
the Fourth Precinct Station, when Quail
was brought there, testified that Quail
told him he threw Lynch down stairs
because he found the old man in bed with
his sister-in-law. He>said he took Lynch
by the back of the neck and threw him
out. He did not know Lynch.
Policeman Buckle testified that when
the boy Helm told him that a man was
fighting across the street he went to
Mrs. Murtha+s house and found Quail
sitting in the back room. Quail was very
drunk. Feeling assured that Quail would
not make any attempt to escape the
witness summoned a patrol wagon and an
ambulance and had Lynch, who was lying
at the foot of the stairs, removed to the
hospital. Lynch was unconscious. Quail
admitted to the witness thai he had as
Saulted Lynch. The defendant when ne
was placed under arrest, objected to going
to the police station unless a warrant wa
produced, but yielded to forcibie meas
ures.
Mrs. Murtha, with whom Lynch board
ed, testified that he had lived in her
house for six years. She said that ne
sufferer from rheumatism and neuralgia.
She was not at home when the fatal al
fray occurred. She denied Captain Nc
Kaig's statement that she a declared
that Lynch was murdered for his money.
She did mot know that Lynch mad any
money.
tai staff, testified that Lynch was dead
when he was brought to the hospital. Six
of the old mans ribs oun the left sid
and four on the right side We're broken.
II Y > d1l5R OSSA oANS y -
broken ribs. His head was cut and his
body bruised. The cause of death was
hemorrhage of the brain.
The trial was reSume promptly at TEN
o'clock this morning, and Policeman Egan
was the first witness called. He testified
that he assisted in taking Quail to the
police station. Quail objected unless a
warrant was produced.
Policeman John Dormes testified he as
sisted Egan in taking the prisoner to the
police station. He corroborated Sergeant
McDevitt as to the statement made by
Quail in the police station
Mrs. Ellen Quail, the sis~ter-in-law, re-
ferred to, testified that the defendant
had been drinking steadily for three
weeks prior to the day of the murder.
She said she had never been I'M No. 6
Van Horn street, and did not know Mr..
Lynch.
The State rested, and Lawyer McCor-
mack opened for the defence. He put up
a plea Of insanity superirduced by drink
ing. and then produced a number of wit
nesses who testified that the defendant
was a man of temperate habits who oc-
casionally got drunk.
The defendant himself went on the
stand and testified that he had no re-
collection whatever of the occurrences of
anuar 10. He did not remember where
he was that day or what he wore. He was
unable to say whether the sweater and
other clothing he wore ON that day were
his or not.
The case may go to the jury this after
noons
NlTN Nj EXAyC MnTEC