Evening star., 1922-10-02
Decides on Verdict Only
Three Minutes After In
quest Is Completed.
PRISONER Indifferent,
SMILES OCCASIONALLY
Neighbors Testify Of Finding Mrs.
Curran Standing Over Dead
Husband.

Joseph W. Tighe, charged with the
murder Saturday night Of his neigh
Dor. James A. Curran. was ordered
held for action by the grand jury at a
coroner's inquest today at the District
morgue. The jury returned the ver-
dict after about three minutes de-
liberation.
Steadfastily maintaining an air of
indifference and smiling occasionally,
Tighe heard several witnesses indi-
rect1y accuse him Of the crime. At
times, however, he appeared amused
at the proceedings.
Benjamin. Schneider, a neighbor OF
Tighe and the Currans. one OF the
first witnesses to testify before the
coroner's jury, said that he was the
first person to reach the scene OF the
crime. Attracted by gun shots and
the screams of a woman, Schneider
said he ran from his house and found
Mrs. Curran standing in the road
beside the body of her husband.
because Dog Barked.
Schneider asked Mrs. Curran what
the trouble was about and she re-
piled Historically that Tighe had shot
them.
What about?" Schneider said he
inquired
Because our dog barked at him.
Schneider said Mrs. Curran answered
Policeman Belt of the seventh pre-
cinct, who lives about a quarter of
a mile from the Curran home, cor
roborated substantially the state
ments of Schneider. He said he, too,
attracted by shots and screams. ran
to the Curran home and found Mrs.
Curran beside her husbands body.
The police officer testified that Mrs.
Curran told him that Tighe had shot
her and her husband.
Lieut.. Plenamons Threatened.
Lieut.. Plemmons. night chief Of de-
tectiyes. who. arrested Tghe at so
o'clock Sunday niprning as he vas re-
accused man had a small pen knife In
his hand with one of the blades open
when he Attracted him. Lieut. Plemmons
said that he was hiding behind 4 tree
near Tighe's home when he saw the
man zig-xagging, as IL observing whether
in the deep culvert. which follows the
road near Tighe's home. Approaching
Tighe, Lieut.. Plemmons said the ac-
cused man warned him to Took out CT
you'll get cut"
DIR. Herbert E.. Martyr, assistant
CoIVucf, wiz pcTAoE"eU dH autopsy
on Curran's body. told the coroner's
jury that only one bullet had enter
ed his body and that had pierced his
heart and went completely across the
body.
Tighe was represented at the in
quest by Attorneys Henry H. Classic
and Daniel Thew Wright. Assistant
United States District Attorney Bill
brey represented the government.
Warned by Brother.
Several days before the murder,
John c. Curran, brother of the slain
man, said today he warned him to
move from his home on Rock Creek
tinued quarrels with Tighe would
eventually lead to the tragedy which
occurred Saturday evening.
Il knew IL my brother continued to
live near Tighe something serious
would happen" said Curran. IRE
Gently, my brother told me that Tighe
lay in the bushes near his home,
armed with a rifle and 100 rounds OF
ammunition waiting for his return
home from work"
Complained to Police.
Curran said that his brother had
numerous occasions within the past
year about Tighe's actions. but last
week consulted a lawyer with a view
to taking legal steps to prevent the
accused man from trespassing on his
property. and to mainta n peace In
the neighborhood.
Mrs./Ida T. Curran. mother Of the
murdered man. is grief stricken, at
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