Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25
HELD FOR GRAND JURY.
James Hurney Charged With Assault
ing John F. McNerhany.
pondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
EVANSVILLE. Md. July "a, 1908.
James Hurney who was arrested late yes
terday afternoon by Constable Rufus III.
Vincent of Bladensburg on suspicion of
having assaulted and robbed John Francis
McNerhany. assistant manager of the
Catholic Universe Of Cleveland, Ohio, Sun
day. near Chesapeake Junction, was given
a preliminary hearing before Justice of
the Peace Arthur Carr this afternoon and
committed to Jail at Upper Marlboro, in
default of $500 bond to await the action of
the grand jury. Hurney was taken to MARI
boro' this morning.
McNerhany was discharged from the
Emergency Hospital this morning, and was
in court this afternoon. He showed the ef-
fects of violent treatment. his eyes being
bloodshot and his face bruised and cut.
Physicians from the hospital testified to Sc
we're bruises on the legs and on the chest
Just over the heart. According to his own
statement the victim of the assault had ar
rived in Washington Sunday morning from
Cleveland and had been drinking. He pro-
ceeded to Chesapeake Junction. where he
ran across Hurney. He testified that he
went to one of the resorts at the Junction,
Hurney stating that it was easy to get
drink at any of the places Sunday.
Each had drink. and on the suggestion
of Hurney they both walked out into the
country, and stopped at Mrs. Charles Es-
Inns where they got drink of water. They
then started back toward the Junction, and
had not gone far when Hurney struck him
in the back of the head. stunning him. He
pleaded with Hurney not 10 kill him, and
started to run. Hurney gave chase and
soon caught him. when he again struck
him, knocking him down and kicking him
In the stomach and chest. Hurney then
left him and he tMcNerhany) crawled to
the edge of the woods He attempted to
stand his feet and found that he
unable to do so. He remained in the woods
all night. and next morning he was found
by a man named Suit who procured a team
from Pat" Scott and took the injured man
to Landover. from which place he was
taken to the Emergency Hospital Washing
ton. arriving there in bad shape.
Hurney took the stand. and acknowledged
that he had struck McNerhany. but denied
that he had injured him to the extent in
which he found. He said that after
drinking some of the whisky secured at the
Junction he lay down in the shade pla cling
his coat with bottle in the pocket under
his head. McNerhany attempted to secure
the bottle and a fight resulted The diff
Guilty was adjusted and both proceeded to
Mrs. EslinS. where they secured drink of
water. They had not proceeded far when
another fight took place. and this time he
left McNerhany and returned to Mrs. Es-
Inns house. She asked him the reason for
blood being on his hands. and he replied
that he had fixed man" down in the
bushes. Hurney claimed that McNerhany
attacked him with a knife.
The prisoner was represented by Mr.. Rob
ert w. Wells of EVANSVILLE The case at
tracted considerable interest McNerhany's
wife and sister were in court. and the for
mer made quite an impressive talk to the
court upon the enOrmity of HurneyS crime
The credit for the apprehension and arrest
of Hurney belongs to Constable Vincent,
who displayed deal of detective ability in
the case.