New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-29
KEEPERS HELD FOR MURDER
CoRoNER's JURY BLAMEs THEM FOR

CORONERs JURY BIAMEs THEM FOR
INQUIRIES DEATH AT WARDS ISLAND.
The Coroner's jury in the Inquest into the death
OF James Mcclure. a paretlc. IN tho Manhattan
state Hospital for the Insane. Wards Island
which occurred August ., rendered verdict
yesterday that II was caused by undue Violence at
the hands Of Daniel O'Connor. Thomas Sexton and
Patrick Ryan, three keepers. Coroner yucca COM
mitted them TO the Tombs 70 await the action OF
the Grand Jury. Martin White. another attendant
was exoncrated previously from the charge OF COM
plicity and was sent 70 the House Of Detention as
q witness.
Detective Boyle testified that Coroner's Physi-
cian Williams told him the man had undoubtedly
been murdered He got warrants for tho four men,
including White who appeared yesterday I'm court
George Mann, painter. who was filing a con
tract AZ the institution. was reluctant witness
Il had A number Of men at work there said
he. ~but when I saw three men have hold Of
man trying TO subdue him. turned my head so
that wouldn't see g."
u made an investigation" said Dr. Spellman.
and found that Mcclure had first struck Sexton
he thon struck Ryan. and then he became violent
After this assault they put him on tho floor where
he had a CONFUSION Then he quoted down. He
remained quiet In tho rocking chair until he died
! did not find any iron bar or any sticks % wood
IN tho ward In my opinion he could have sus-
aned all 81 his injuries by falling. In explanation
7 can say Il IS generally known that the bones Of
paretics unusually brittle and easily broken
Mcclure was a big man. and had the reputation Of
being very strong
Or r. W Rowe. a physician Mt tho asylum, was
called I'm the afternoon. after recess. on tho day
Of the alleged murder he was in charge OF the In
stituton, In the absence of the medical superin-
tendcnt He said that Dr. Spelman had reported
20 him that Mcclure had met with an "occident
I'm the ward He had found Mcclure dead, with
number OF Commissions and broken ribs. The at
tondonfs ,old DR. ROwo that Mcclure had struck
Ryan and that IN the struggle that followed to
subdue him De had had his ribs broken. There was
evidence OF force. and Dr. Rowe Immediately sus-
pended the four attendants. The witness swore
that In his opinion Mcclure was injured by
striking the settee in the struggle that followed
his attack on the attendant
WAS there any other course to pursue than was
pursucd by these attcndants"" asked Juror No. g.
absolutely no other" was tho immediate reply.
Dr. Percy Bryant. the medical superintendent,
said ne was satisfied that the bruises on Mc(iuire's
body that Dr. Williams said had been made by q
blow with an iron bar were made by railing against
the iron arm Of the bench.
John Mcclure a brother Of the dead man. swore
that his brother was not AT any time violent He
,Ias sent TO the asylum the Last time because he
when drinking" said he. my brother was some
tim times little qD"rr7S0"'' lie never '0''7'e' any
Br. o'survan. counsel FOR the prisoners exam
Spo understand. you think your brother was
not insane" was tho question
We'll perhaps ne was llttle. out as far az
could see he was only melancholy was Mcclure S
That will 40" was the curt reply Of Or. OsulI-
Michael Mcclure. the father. said that his son
affected from drink. and no had sent him to the
81 ara convnced'" said Mr. MCGUIRE that my
son was hrutally murdered there by three me n.
Or spelman came TO our house ana toia hed, h al
my son had died from apopleXy. sa" the Dody OF
my son after he had died