Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-06-22

"We find that said Japh ct Connolly
came to his death on the 9th day of
June, 1898, in the Borough of Somers
Point, by strangulation.
We find, further, that he met his
death at the hands of William O'Mara,
now in the custody of the Sheriff of At
laDtic County,"
That is the verdict rendered ou Friday
afternoon, at Somers Point, by the six
men composing the Coroner's Jury after
hearing the testimony of more than q
dozen witnesses. Lit was all one-sided
and all against the prisoner. From
beginning to end there was not q par
ticle of evidence to show that any other
person than William O'Mlra took th e
life of the bright little boy who was
enticed into the woods and so cruelty
slain. All unbeknown to the murderer
there were several persous watching his
movements, just before and after the
perpetration of the crime, although no
thought of anything wrong was enter
tanned and no suspicion was aroused
until after the boy was found to be
missing. Then it was remembered that
young Connolly was last seen alive with
O'Mara, and within a short distance OF
the spot where the body was found. A
little later O'Mara was seen coming
away from the place alone, apparently
excited, and he immediate left town. He
went to Vickers' hotel and begged for a
drink of whiskey as if to brace him up
after the commission of the terrible deed,
but was refused and threatened with
arrest by Mr.. Vickers All the testimony
went to show that O'Mara was not
irresponsibly intoxicated at the tine of
the murder, as he claimed to be at his
bearing before Mayor Higbee, and that
he was apparently but little under the
Influence of liquor. The inquest was
commenced q few minutes past one
o'clock, by Coroner Mclaughlin, and
the first witness summoned was County
Physician, DR.. William B. Wales, who
made an examination of the body after
death. The throat showed that death
had been produced by straDgulation.
There were no other external marks OF
violence except some scratches upon the
chin, which looked as if they might have
been made by the finger nails of some
person. All the organs of the body
were in a condition of perfect health.
There was no evidence to show that any
unnatural outrage had been committed
upon the boy.
Miss Deborah Kendall Saw O'Mara
90 past my house about 5 80 p. m. Mon
day June 6. Saw him stop and light
his pipe. Japhet Connolly was with
him, and o Mara was talking to him.
Saw them both go as far as New Jersey
avenue. Saw O'Mara several times
during the day-and that evening after
be was arrested and brought back from
LiDwood. 1t was the same man.
William Sharrock Was one of the
party that searched for Connolly. Saw
O'Mara for the last time, before he wes
arrested, about 6.45 p. m. on New Jer-
sey avenue.
Mrs. William Sharrock Saw O'Mara
coming from the railroad at New Jersey
avenue about As p. m. He appeared
| to be in a hurry and somewhat excited
Was walking very fast. Called my
husbands attention to him. Had not
then heard that Connolly was missing
David Robinson: Saw O'Mara and
| Connolly together between and 6
o'clock, p. m. Saw O'Mara again about
| 6 As coming down New Jersey avenue
alone from the railroad. He had his
coat off and appeared to be excited. He
kept looking back. When ] first saw
him with Connolly he had his coat on
and both were going towards the rail.
road. He asked for ride. Was appar.
emily sober and talked all right. Saw
him going from place to place while
here. Never saw him with any other
boys.
Theresa Conover: Saw O'Mara and
Connolly stop at the engine house on the
| railroad between 5 and 6 O'Clock. Con.
nelly was playfully running after him
and catching him by the hand. Saw
them go towards the woods where the
body was found, and saw them stand
ing and talking together near the rail.
road. O'Mara appeared to be sober.
Job FL. Conover: O'Mara came to the
engine house where was at work al
about 80 p. m. and asked for a match
but afterward lit bis pipe from my torch
Connolly was with him and they went uI
| the road together shortly after.
Lewis Collins, Milton Clements, and
Theodore RiddeIl gave similar testimony