The record-union., 1899-04-25
PIERCE SURGESOh'S DEATH.
IT WAS CAUSED BY DAVID
QUINN'S SHOT.
The Story of That Fatal Game of
Poker Played the Other
Afternoon.

Coroner McMullen last night held an
inquest on the remains OF Pierce l.
Surgeson, who died Sunday afternoon
from the effects of a pistol shot fired by
David Quinn. They jury brought in a
verdict to the effect that death resulted
from the wound.
Dr. r. L. Atkinson the autopsy physi
clan, testified that the. shot entered the
left side about the seventh rib, pierced
the diaphram and abdominal walls, pro-
duclng perltonitis, from which death
resulted. He thought the wound was
the cause of death, though he said in
other instances such a wound might not
have proven fatal.
j. j. Sullivan, who was present when
the shooting took place. testified that
he, Surgeson, Quinn and a man named
Lamountain sat down in the rear part
of the saloon at Sixth and E streets TO
play game Of poker After Quinn had
lost his checks he wanted to get in the
game again. To that Lamountain OBJ
Jected and demanded that the witness
return the money he had put in the
game. Witness refused to do so, and
quinn struck him, knocking him down
in his chair He grappled with Quinn
and they fought.
Surgeson, the witness said pushed
Quinn, but did not strike him, or if he
dld so, witness did not see him.
In reply to a question by Juryman
Tom White, Sullivan said he did not
know whether he had uppercut Quinn
three times while the latter was lock-
ed with Surgeson
Well replied White, 81 know it,
Subsequently, Coroner McMullen said
that had he known that White had any
feeling in the case he would not have
selected him for a juryman.
Witness said that he and Quinn
finally separated near the door and that
the latter reached toward his hip
pocket. Witness told Surgeson to look
cut and they started to run. Surgeson
was near the foot of the stairs, wit
ness said, when the shot was fired.
Mary Schoenberger who lives at 600
E street, and who was present when the
shooting took place, testified that the
men engaged in playing cards were ar
guing about two bits, which Quinn
wanted Sullivan to return Ito him. Sui
livan would not do so, and Quinn
smashed" him, and the men began
hght1ng. Witness said that Surgeson
seemed to be trying to separate Quinn
and Sullivan. She did not see Surgeson
strike Quinn The men, witness said,
had been drinking small beers
Police Officer Ash testified to arrest
ing Quinn after the shooting The lat
ter, when arrested, was washing him
self at a pool across the north levee.
near the place where the trouble took
place Quinn subsequently admitted to
the witness that he had shot at Surge
son. but said he had done so in self de-
fense. Quinn's face was discolored and
bleeding. Witness said he saw no marks
on Sullivan.
L. Lemountain, the fourth man of the
card party, testified that they began
playing poker with the understanding
that when a man was frozen OUT Qost
all Of his beans) he could not buy in
again. Each man put in two bits and
got twenty beans. Witness said that
Quinn went broke" on the third hand.
and then wanted to buy another pile
of beans from Sullivan. Sullivan sold
Quinn the beans, but the witness OBJ
jected, giving as a reason that if a man
was allowed to buy in" the game
might go on indefinitely.
Thereupon witness said, Quinn said
he would withdraw from the game, and
wanted his quarter back Sullivan,
witness said, replied, You'll get it
when you win it,
Then, witness said, Quinn Jumped"
Sullivan and knocked him down in his
chair Surgeson interfered and all
three men mixed up. They were clinch-
ed all together and witness did not
know whether or not Surgeson struck
Quinn. The three struggled toward the
door. he said, and there separated and
Quinn put his hand on his hip pocket
Thereupon Surgeson ran out of the door
and started down the stairs and Quinn
ran after him, past witness. Witness
elbowed Quinn as he passed. Quinn got
to the door, stopped down and fired at
Surgeson who was on the STAIR The
men were eight or ten feet apart when
the shot was fired. Quinn followed Sur
geson down stairs, but afterward came
back with his gun in his hand He then
left, going toward the railroad and the
witness saw him no more
This concluding the evidence the Jury
brought in the verdict already stated.