The evening times., 1899-03-20
JAMES RILEY ON TRIAL.
Charged With the Murder of James
MRhOney.


The trial OF James Riley, who is charged
with the murder of James Mahoney on
May q last, was begun this morning in
| Criminal Court No. l, Justice Cole presid-
ing.
The crime for which the defendant is on
trial for his life was committed at Setz' 5
saloon at the corner of Sixth and \ Streets
southwest about midnight on the day men
| toned
The Government IS represented by As
sistant District Attorney Shillington and
| the defendant by Attorneys William S.
Taylor and Thomas C. Taylor
In his opening statement MI Shillington
said that Riley and the deceased and three
others had been drinking in Matthews
woodshed and that the beer having been
drank the party went to Seitzs saloon for
more liquor. While there Riley criticised
| Mahoney, whom he called a coward for not
having resented a blow he received the dav
previous. They were ordered out of the
saloon by the proprietor. On the outside
| Riley, II is claimed, renewed the quarrel
and finally dealt Mahoney a deathbIow
with knife. Riley denied having killed
Mahoney when arrested
Mr.. Thomas c. Taylor, in behalf of the
| defendant, said that Riley was a young man
| OF excellent reputation and had been q life
| long friend of the deceased. He also claim
| ed that whatever difficulty took place be-
tween Riley and Mahoney occurred in
| SeitZ's saloon. and not on the outside That
| 1t all occurred after boat launching and
| that the defendant was so drunk that he
did not know what he did. That under
| the circumstances, the worst that can be
| made of the killing is manslaughter and
not murder.
The following have been chosen as ju-
rors, to consider the evidence and render
a verdict: Hollie L. Herreil, BENJAMIN
Judson, John Hall, Benjamin Blethyn,
| George E. Smith, n. c. Coburn. B. G. Fur
i egson, Thornton Richardson, Henry Franc,
jr.. w. N. Garges. R. w. Tucker, and Wal
| ter S. Pratt
! The first witness called by the Govern
ment was Deputy Coroner Larkin w.
| Glazebrook, who made an autopsy on the
body of the deceased He described hay.
| ing found wound in the left breast of
| Mahoney. from the effect of which he died
The next witness called was Joseph Mat
| tingly. He said that he saw Riley and
Mahoney in Seitzs saloon on Saturday
night, May 21 last He said that Riley and
Mahoney quarreled and that the former
struck the latter in the face with his fist.
| One of the party then took hold of Riley
| VINO Wfenched nlmSel1 away and went to-
ward Mahoney and made lunge at him.
After this all persons were ordered out of
the saloon by the proprietor. Someone
came back into the saloon shortly after and
said Mahoney was cut. The witness also
| stated that when Riley struck Mahoney,
| the latter took up couple of beer glasses
| and attempted to strike the defendant In
! the meantime one of Riley's friends pushed
him back several feet from Mahoney.
| Michael ]. Reagan, the next witness,
said he knows Riley and knew Mahoney,
| while alive; that he was with both of them
! during the whole of the evening on which
| the killing occurred. He went with Riley
| from Mahoney's home to Matthews wood
she'd where Mahoney was celebrating a
boat launching. The first blow struck in
| the saloon, Reagan said, was by Riley,
| who seemed to strike Mahoney in the
| chest. When they were ordered out by
/ Seitz, he said the quarrel was renewed in
| the street.