CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE DEATH OF PATRICK QUINLAN

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, December 26, 1894.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

WHAT CAUSED THE DEATH OF PATRICK QUINLAN?

What the Doctors Found at the Post Mortem—No New Light on the Subject.

   Christmas brought no new light upon the Quinlan murder. Coroner Bradford drew as a jury Hugh McDermott, foreman; William C. Collins, E. Bockes, William Foster, Byron Maxson, Warren Clark, Charles H. Danes, Harmon Hooker and George Eldridge, who viewed the remains Monday and then adjourned till this morning.

   At the autopsy Monday Drs. F. W. Green and J. W. Whitney made a post mortem examination. They found no traces of alcohol in the stomach and found all of the internal organs in a perfectly healthy condition, which showed that the murdered man had not been a hard drinker. They say that very powerful blows must have been inflicted to break the heavy bones of the skull in the way in which it was done. The hat which the old gentleman wore was badly torn and contained blood. A wound which had not been discovered before was found when the skull bones were removed. It looked as though it was caused by a blow from a sand bag, as there were no external indications, but its results showed underneath the bones. This was upon the back of the head and is thought to be evidence that more than one person was concerned in the murder. Had the motive been robbery the blow at the back of the head was sufficient to cause insensibility.

   Thomas Quinlan, the murdered man's son, in an interview with a STANDARD reporter on Monday deviated somewhat from the story he had previously told.

   Mr. Quinlan said that when he was going to Homer he saw his father lying beside their private road.

   "You turned the wagon around and took your father to the house?" asked the reporter, who had been unable to find the tracks where the wagon was turned around.

   "Well, to tell the truth," he replied, "I did not."

   "You said Sunday that you did."

   "I know I said so, but that was not so. I thought that he was drunk and I went to Homer with the milk and when I returned I placed him in the wagon and took him home, where my sister helped me to get him into the house. We undressed him and put him to bed. We bathed and rubbed his legs and feet till they were warm. I supposed he had fallen and injured his head, but did not think it very serious till after dinner, when I called the doctor."

   The remains of Mr. Quinlan were taken from home at 9 o'clock this morning to Pompey Hill, where services will be held, and they will be buried beside those of his wife, who died about fifteen years ago.

   The coroner's inquest was opened at 9:40 this morning, the whole number of jurymen being present.

   Dr. F. H. Green was the first witness called to the stand. After taking the oath the doctor affirmed that he was a practicing physician in Homer and that he was called to make a post mortem examination of the body of Patrick Quinlan, late of Homer. He did this on Monday, Dec. 24. Dr. Green stated that he found the body in the parlor at the residence of the deceased. The clothing was removed and the body of a man apparently between 60 and 70 years old was exposed. The man would weigh about 200 pounds and was about six feet tall. There were no external marks of violence on the body except on the head and face. The doctor [next] opened the thorax and abdominal cavities and made examination of the internal organs and found them all in healthy condition.

   An examination of the head was also made. There was a discoloration over the right eye extending down to the nose which was broken. The discoloration was three inches in diameter. The temporal bones on the right side of the head were crushed. There was an opening in the right side of the skull two inches above the ear about two inches by three-quarters of an inch extending into the temporal bone and nearly to the frontal. The line of fracture extended from this opening about two and one-half inches downward and backward. Another fracture followed into the orbital plate. There was another line of fracture extending along the right side of the skull, near the vertex extending from the frontal backward to the occipital bone. The skull cap was then removed and disclosed a large clot of blood under the right parietal bone between that and the duramater covering the right lobe over the brain.

   This clot also extended back to the base of the brain. A hemorrhage was also formed at the side of the brain. The doctor stated that he knew the man in life by sight only. He said that from the examination he was ready to affirm as his opinion that death resulted from the wounds which had the appearance of being inflicted by powerful blows upon the bead and that there seemed to have been at least three blows. One appeared to have been received over the right eye and the bridge of the nose. Another blow seems to have been received on the right side of the head. This blow was above the ear and was one of the most powerful ones received. Only on removing the scalp was the blow at the back of the head discovered. This was discovered by the large clot of blood which was found between the skull and the scalp. These were the only evidences which the doctor discovered. From the place where the man was found Dr. Green stated that it would be impossible for the injuries to have been received from a fall. The doctor gave his opinion as to the cause of death to have been due to the man's having received these three blows which caused hemorrhages on the structure of the brain and the shock to the structure of the head.

   Upon being questioned by the jury the doctor declared that there was no break of the skin on the body; that there was no evidence in the organs to prove that the man was drunk at the time of his death. The condition of the eye under the lid showed that the right eye was filled with blood.

   The next witness was Dr. J. W. Whitney of Homer. The doctor stated that he was called upon by the coroner to make examination on the body said to be that of the late Patrick Quinlan; that he made such examination on Dec. 24, 1894; that he found the body at the late home of the deceased. Continuing, the doctor gave further testimony which corroborated, with but few exceptions, that of his professional brother who had preceded him. Dr. Whitney stated that the left eye was also slightly discolored; that there was no hemorrhage on the brain, but merely a slight concussion. He also stated that the blow on the eye and nose might have been struck after the man had fallen, but could not be received by a fall; that the first blow was that on the top of the head and that it was sufficient to render the man unconscious.

   Dr. L. T. White was the next witness. His testimony is withheld for the present. The inquest was adjourned at noon until 2 P. M.

   Further reports of the inquest as it proceeds will be published in The STANDARD and extra copies will each day be on sale at the store of Atwater & Foster in Homer.

Reward Offered.

   The undersigned hereby offer a reward of five hundred dollars for the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons who murderously assaulted and robbed Patrick Quinlan of Homer, N. Y., on the night of December 21, 1894.

   Dated December 25, 1894,

   THOMAS QUINLAN,

   JULIA QUINLAN.

                                                                                      (860 tfw597-tf)

THE VICTORIA.

It Took a Run on the Streets Christmas Afternoon.

   Mr. E. J. Pennington, inventor of the motor bicycle, yesterday had the satisfaction of seeing the first Victoria, the four-wheeled machine, put upon the streets and enjoyed a Christmas ride in it. Many people looked on in wonder, as the machine moved easily along, its steering and its speed being under perfect control. The wheels have a tread of three feet and the seat is three feet eight inches wide. Three people rode at a time. The wheels used yesterday were fitted with ordinary two-inch pneumatic tires, but the new wheels with five-inch tires are almost ready to be put on. There was no upholstering on the machine which was yesterday put out for its trial trip. That will all come later, but the mechanism was perfect and the operation was all that could be desired.

   This machine is said to weigh just half of the weight of the lightest buggy which is made by the Hitchcock Mfg. Co. The motors which propel it are gauged to four horse power, and four gallons of oil will run the machine two hundred miles.

   The first motor cycle ever completed by the Hitchcock Mfg. Co. was yesterday set up at the factory and seemed perfect in every respect. A frame for a tandem has also been made and a tandem wheel will soon be running on the street.

   Mr. Pennington expects to have a motor bicycle, a tandem and a Victoria, all completed to take with him to the National bicycle show at Chicago Jan. 7 to 13, and to the International bicycle show at New York, Jan. 18 to 25.

   Yesterday Mr. Pennington received from the Akron Rubber Co. of Akron, O., one of the largest pneumatic tires ever made. It was made especially for him to be used upon a new motor vehicle which is soon to be made which will be after the omnibus order and which will be capable of carrying twenty-four passengers. The tire is eleven inches in diameter when inflated, and the wheel upon which it will be used will stand fifty-four inches high when the tire is on.

CAPT. STEVENSON SENTENCED.

He Accepted Four Baskets of Peaches and Closed His Eyes.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 26.—Ex-police Capt.Stephenson was this morning, in the court of oyer and terminer, sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in state prison, and fined $1,000. There were in the court at the time his lawyer, Vincent, one of the ex-captain's brothers, and his brother in-law, Captain Donald Grant of the Madison-st. police station. A motion for a new trial will be argued on Monday next.

   Stephenson was convicted Dec. 12. The charge against him was bribery in receiving four baskets of peaches from Martin N. Edwards, a produce dealer at 153 Duane-st, a partial consideration for allowing Edwards to violate the law by occupying the sidewalk to facilitate the transaction of his business.

Nine Police Captains Subpoenaed.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 26.—Nine police captains have been subpoenaed to appear today before the Lexow committee. The subpoenaes were sent in a batch to Superintendent Byrnes at police headquarters and he summoned the men before him. The captains are: Ryan, Washburn, [Kitlilea], Westervelt, Gallagher, Straus, Murphy, Martens and Delancy. With the exception of Straus, none of these mentioned has so far figured in the witness chair before the Lexow committee.

RACE WAR AVERTED.

PEACE RESTORED FOR THE PRESENT IN GEORGIA.

Troops Dispatched to the Scene Were Not Needed—Review of the Crime Which Led Up to the Present Trouble. Seven Negroes and Two Whites Killed.

Comments of the British Press Are In a Serious Strain.

   ATLANTA, Dec. 26.—Governor Atkinson received a telegram from Sheriff Thrasher of Brooks county, dated at Quitman, announcing that he was on the point of leaving for the scene of the race disturbances, 10 miles from Quitman, with the Valdosta Videttes 300 strong.

   The sheriff added that, while he apprehended no serious trouble, he thought it advisable for the Waycross Rifles to be kept in reserve ready to move at once in case he should need them.

   The governor has given orders in compliance with those suggestions, and the Rifles are in readiness at Waycross.

   The latest reports from Brooks give the number of men killed at seven, including Constable Mauldin, killed two or three weeks ago, and Joseph Isham, white, and Sam Taylor, Eli Frazier, Harry Sherod, Sam Pike and George Fritz, colored.

   It is believed here that the trouble is practically over and that the appearance of the militia will effectually end it.

   The northern portion of Brooks, portions of Worth, Berrien and other counties adjoining have large numbers of negroes, mostly brought from North Carolina for the purpose of getting turpentine from the pine trees which abound there. These negroes live in camps.

   When Bailiff Mauldin of Brooks sought to arrest a negro, charged with some trivial offense some two weeks ago, he was confronted by armed men with Winchester rifles and pistols. The bailiff found it safest not to attempt the arrest and turning his horse's head started to ride away. Two negroes named Jeffreys fired on him and killed him instantly.

   The citizens aided the officers and after much chasing captured the two Jeffreys and confined them in the Brooks county jail.

   It is said that a number of other negroes, under the leadership of Waverly Pike, formed an oathbound organization to kill every man concerned in the arrest of the Jeffreys.

   In pursuance of this plot Joseph Isham was killed a few days afterwards and Henry Eilman was marked as the next victim.

   The cause of the present outbreak is twofold. First, the arrest of Waverly Pike and bringing him to trial for the murder of Isham and, secondly, to break up the gang of outlaws who have shot down good citizens. The white people, who have formed themselves into a small army, have this purpose in view.

   A negro named McCall and two others named Herring are in Brooks county jail, because they were present at the killing of Isham and are supposed to be accessories.

   A state of terror exists in the northern part of the county. Innocent negroes are coming into Quitman seeking protection and more conservative citizens have asked the governor for protection by the militia.

   Governor Atkinson has ordered out the military, but the companies have not yet been able to reach the scene of the trouble because of its remoteness from the railroad.

VIEWS OF JOHN BULL.

The English Press Regards the Negro Question In a Serious Light.

   LONDON, Dec. 26.—In a leader on the lynching of negroes in the Southern states The Post this morning says:

   ''It is hardly open to question that in many parts of the former slave-holding states of the American union the negro question is rapidly approaching a critical stage. In the North the gravity of the situation is hardly recognized, although the whites refuse in practice to accord the negro that political and social equality to which he is theoretically entitled.

   "In the South no hallucinations exist. In parts of the South where white families are often completely isolated, each white man knows that he and his family are in a position of perpetual peril. That a critical point has been reached, however, is shown by the fact that the negroes display a tendency to stand by men of their own race and aid them by force if need be.

   "It may be needful to face a racial war some day. The result, of course, could not be doubtful. The power of organization of the white man is far superior to that of the negro, and in the case of a racial war the whites would have exclusive command of the sea. Such a struggle, however, would be far from ending the negro question. The root of the trouble lies principally in the fact that negroes multiply more rapidly than the whites, who insist on ruling, no matter at what cost. Against such universal conviction there is no appeal, nor is it possible to say that this conviction is devoid of justification. Hayti and Liberia do not furnish favorable evidences of the capacity of the negro to govern, and the negro press of the Southern states does not afford any indication that the black population of the territory possesses either discretion or enlightenment.

   "The idea of settling the negro question by the ultimate fusion of the races is untenable. In many states of the Union mixed marriages are illegal, and in all, white women, who are willing to accept black husbands, belong to the class which has nothing to lose.

   "The progress of time increases the peril of the situation and does nothing to bring about a solution of the problem.

   "The government of the United States has before it the problem of the successful treatment of a question which concerns not only the republic, but the whole civilized world."

   The Chronicle says:

   "The racial troubles in Georgia appear to be practically entering the stage of civil war.

   "How would general disarmament answer the purposes of peace? A fine, say of $50 for carrying a revolver, and imprisonment for the second offense?"

"Shore Acres."

   "Shore Acres," the four-act domestic drama, by Mr. James A. Herne will be the play at the Opera House on Saturday evening, Dec. 29. This beautiful New England idyl has scored a deserved success, playing during the past season one of the most profitable engagements ever recorded in the metropolis.

   When the American Society of Dramatic Authors invited Mr. Henry Irving to witness the best American play, they took this eminent actor to see Mr. Herne in "Shore Acres."

   One eminent critic in speaking of the hero in this play, said: "In Nathaniel Berry, we have a man made in the exact image of his maker." "A simple and unassuming life with a nature that is almost divine," is what another writer says of the character.  To all who can enjoy a beautiful play, that will be perfectly acted, "Shore Acres" will prove one of the most delightful performances of the season. All the scenery used in its production will be new. There are also some clever mechanical contrivances and a revolving scene, which shows the interior and exterior of the Berry lighthouse.