New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-23
BLOW LED TO FISH'S DEATH
sHARKEY, THE DETECTIVE. HELD FOR
GRAND JURY.
CORoNER's JURY FINDS THAT BANKERS
FATAL FALL WAS DUE TO ASSAULT.

| CORoNERs JURY FINDS THAT BANKERS
FATAL FALL WAS DUE TO ASSAULT.
After hearing the testimony at the inquiry
into the death of Nicholas Fish. the banker
| who died after being struck on the head IN a
| quarrel in saloon at No. 265 West thirty
| fourth-st., coroner's jury found yesterday that
! Mr.. Fish had come to his death from cereorai
! henorrhage due to &. fall caused by Do"
| struck by Thomas ]. Sharkey Coroner jan
! son held Sharkey in $4,000 bail, to await the
action of the grand jury
| Mrs "Libbie' Phillips, Mrs Nellie casey anu
Mrs Margaret Pickel. the women VINO "eie
with Mr. Fish in Ehrhardt's saloon were ~
! court. cheerfully loquaclous
| Sharkey. who appeared at ease. was acco'i-
panied by his lawyer. John Hoyer, Assistant
| District Attorney Garvan appeared IN DENIAL VI
| the District Attorneys Office. Coroners fhysi-
| clan OHanlon testified to performing the au-
| topsy. saying that he found wounds on the heao
| and decorations of the BRAIN He said that
| death would not have resulted from minor dis
| eases which the autopsy revealed
George Trojan. a detective, and Policeman
FlarneIly of the West Thirty seventh-st. sta
ton. told of arresting Sharkey at No. 49, West
Thirty-f ourtl-st. the home of Mrs. Casey.
Il asked him If he hit the old man." said Elan
nelly, and he replied, Yes, hit him, and you
would have done the samer
William Reinich. a waiter in Erdhardts sa-
Icon, declared that the banker entered the place
with the women. He said he heard loud talking
soon after Sharkey joined the party. He re-
quested them TO stop the noise. and Mr.. Fish
apologized. Reinich said three or four rounds OF
drinks were served. Sharkey paying for one.
The witness continued that Mr.. Fish asked him
to cash check for $50. and that he asked
Erdhardt to do so.
The boss said the witness, said NO. L
won't cash it. I don't know the gentleman 1
then went back and told Mr.. Fish the boss was
out. and that I couldn't get his check cashed-
He said that he later found the entire party
ready to go. He declared that Mrs. Phillips
was trying to hold Sharkey back and that Shar-
key was endeavoring to push Mrs Phillips out
Of his way. Mr.. Fish, he said, went out of the
dining room door. while sharkey went through
the barroom. He saw blows struck
Mrs. Nellie Casey. of No. 439 West Thirty
fourth-st told Of meeting Mr.. Fish in the
loon of Sharkey's joining the party and of the
check incident. Sharkey, she said. asked:
How can you get check cashed mere? NO
one here knows YOU
Mr.. Fish became angry and called Sharkey
vile name Mrs Casey declared, however that
Sharkey only smiled at the banker and did not
answer the taunt. She saw no blows struck
Soon after this, she went home, and knew moth
ing of Mr.. F1sh's injury until the next de-
Sharkey, when he called that evening to inquire
for Mrs. Phillips. did not mention striking the
banker.
Mrs Libbie Phillips told the same story. She
said she introduced Mr.. Fish to Sharkey under
the name of Jones or Brown. She remained in
the saloon for about two hours after the others
went away, but did not know any harm had be-
fallen Mr.. Fish, although she was in the saloon
when the ambulance arrived TO take him 70 the
hospital
William B. Anderson. of No. $50 West Thirty
fourth-st., testified that he saw an elderly man
come out Of the saloon. followed by a younger
-bo former and He
could not identify the prisoner as the assailant
Archibald Anderson, the eleven-yeer-old son or
the preceding witness. told OF being on the oppo-
site side of the street talking to girl when he
saw the blow struck. He positively idenuhed
Sharkey as the man he strike the banker.
He said Sharkey hit Fish in the neck or chest,
and after striking him stood for moment look
ing at his victim, and then went to GUNNER
ford's saloon.
told him he ought 10 be ashamed TO hit man
who did nothing to him"