Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-09
SAYS MURPHY THREATENED
Witness in Michigan Murder Trial Quotes
Prisoners Victim.
SAME ALLEGATION AGAINST DEFENDANT
Different Spectators of FrRcRs Tell
Different stories of what Trans
pired Just Before Fatal
Fight.

Nine witnesses have been examined in
the trial Of Thomas Michigan on a charge
Of numbering Patrick Murphy by stabbing
him in the neck at the west side of Loft
mans saloon. Fourteenth and Howard
streets the evening OF February rs.
Charles LOTHIAN and William Shaw, who
testified yesterday forenoon as to what
occurred in the saloon before the row.
gave little evidence favorable to McGui-
gan. The witnesses in the afternoon testi-
fed more nearly in the defendants in
terest.
George Bailey, a friend of Murphy's, tes-
tilted that Murphy asked McGuigan to come
outside after the bartender had forbidden
them to fight inside the saloon.
Patrick Sinin, who worked with Murphy
at the Elmore grading camp, testified that
after the saloon row Murphy said: you
come outside and I'll attend " you Wit
ness said this invitation was extended to
Michigan a second time.
M~cGuigan's Friend Testihes.
James Lowe, with whom Michigan went
to the saloon and by whom he was intro
duced to the crowd before the fight, testi-
fed he never had seen McGuigan have q
knife. but hat in the struggle outside the
DullQlDk, HIly OF seventy IebJ ITOIn lIS blue
door, Murphy struck Michigan twice. The
prosecution sought to bring out incidents
of a trouble between Lowe and Michigan
while in the saloon, said to have brought
about the FIRST angry words, but the court
concluded this testimony as immateriAl
because not directly concerning the McGui-
gan-Murphy fracas.
John Williams who saw the scufle out
side tho building said Mummy WaQ ron
siderably under the influence OF liquor but
contrived to back Michigan up against a
wagon at the edge of the pavement. Wit
ness said Murphy's back was turned so he
could not tell what was happening until
Murphy staggered back, stabbed.
Alfred G. Bronson of Council Bluffs gave
testimony similar to WiIliams' except that
he said the combatants we're only twenty
five feet instead of fifty from the side door.
Fred Coe, whose examination was not
finished when court adjourned, made no
material statement except that he saw the
combat outside the saloon and that Murphy
seemed to have the better of it until
stabbed.
First Two witnesses UnfavOrabIe.
Charles LOTHIAN, proprietor of the sa-
loon, and William Shaw, a grader and
friend of Murphy's, were the witnesses who
testified during the forenoon.
LOTHIAN testified that the first he noticed
of Murphy in the saloon was when Murphy
and Michigan began wrangling and the
former seized the latter by the coat lapels.
Witness said he separated the men and told
them they must go outside II they wished
to fight; that Murphy went out the Four
teenth street door, re-entered, but said
nothing witness could hear; went out
again; re-entered a second time, still mute,
and then passed out for a last time; tina
McGuigan, standing at the bar, loosened
his shirt front, reached into his trousers
pocket and rade a motion as though open.
ing a knife, then said, '11l FIX him" ant
passed out the corner door.
The next time tho witness attention wal
called to the affair was three minutes later
when some one shouted in at the Four.
teeth street door that a man was dylnl
outside. Witness rushed out and fount
Murphy PROSTATE with great gashes II
his neck. Witness sent for the patrol Wagon
and did not see the principals afterward.
In the cross examination Attorney Brit
read the record Of the corners inquest, IL
which LOTHIAN was quoted as testlfylne
that Murphy re-entered the saloon three
times and called to Michigan to come out
Witness said he could not remember
whether he had or had not 80 testified.
The second witness, william Shaw
stated he was in the grading camp will
Murphy at South Omaha, had dinner will
him there at 1 o'clock. had two drinks Will
him, came to Omaha and had several more
with him at the LOTHIAN saloon, that h
returned to the saloon at 5 o'clock because
Murphy had not kept an appointment t
meet hin at the oxford bar; that Murph!
cane in shortly afterward and they dranl
together with a crowd with whom SHAY
had started to play seven-up in a bacl
room of the saloon; that while they wer,
drinking Michigan came in with a mai
named Lowe, Shaw knew.
Lowe presented McGuigan as a friend
witness testified. and they all drank to
gether. Presently 1--we and Michigan wen
to the toilet. Lowe returned with hi
mouth bleeding and in answer to . question
said McGuigan had hit him. When Nc
Guigan again fronted the bar and wante,
a drink someone told him he couldn't drinI
with that crowd. Shaw echoed this declara
ton and Michigan gave him a push. Muir
ply, as Shaw's friend, faced McGuigan AM
said: III you hit him you'll nave to hgh
me" and seized McGuigan by the coat
LOTHIAN interfered and Murphy went GU
the side door. Murphy re-entered twice an
said to Michigan: Come out" After tn
second call Michigan went out the corne
door hurriedly, but quietly. Witness say
neither of them again until the crow
rushed out and found Murphy near the sa
loon door. Witness guessed Murphy's az
at 80 years, his height at five feet eigh
inches and his weight at 1855 to 10 pounds