The following article was actually the first one I ever found about the murder. I had emailed the New York Public Library looking for Mitchell's obituary and they sent me this. They said they had looked for a follow up on the case, but found nothing.
This article calls Mitchell by the name Michael. Also, it mentions that the Ambulance Surgeon said that the fracture would have killed Mitchell instantly, so it contradicts the story of Hills and Douglas that Mitchell fell and got up again. Though it's not in the article, my grandfather, six-years-old at the time, told us that the examination of his father's body took place on their kitchen table. Hard to imagine.
Again, this is transcribed word for word so any typos are from the original article.
The Standard Union. 26 Nov 1906
KILLED IN FIGHT; TWO MEN ARRESTED
__________________________________
Victim's Skull Fractured When His Head Struck Stone.
James Hill, 43 years old, of 176 Meserole street, and Joseph Douglas, 47, of 136 Jefferson avenue, answered to a charge of homicide before Magistrate O'Reilly, in the Manhattan avenue court today, having caused, it is alleged, the death of Michael Gallagher, 39 years old, of 176 Meserole street.
Hills, who is the janitor of the flathouse at 176 Meserole street, lives in the rear in a frame building. Last night, when Douglas was visiting him, Gallagher, who was a tenant in the house, being under the influence of liquor, crossed over to Hills' porch and began annoying the inmates of the house. Douglas came out and asked the man to stop. Instead of going quietly away, Gallagher demanded to see Hills.
The latter came out to Gallagher and after some hot words the two started in to fight. They, with Douglas, who joined them, went down into the yard and in the tussle Hills managed to down Gallagher. As he fell the latter struck the back of his head upon a stone. He was stunned for a few moments, and then arose and started to go into the hallway before he fell to the floor.
Policeman Joseph Becker, of the Hamburg avenue station, was called in, and after sending a call for an ambulance to the German Hospital, went to the house in the rear, where he arrested Hills and Douglas.
In response to the call of Becker, Ambulance Surgeon Holzman came and examined the body of Gallagher. he said that death had been instantaneous and was the result of a fractured skull.
Magistrate O'Reilly adjourned the case until Wednesday in order that the accused men might have time to consult with counsel.
The Standard Union. November 26, 1906. P. 12. 4 o'clock edition.
This article calls Mitchell by the name Michael. Also, it mentions that the Ambulance Surgeon said that the fracture would have killed Mitchell instantly, so it contradicts the story of Hills and Douglas that Mitchell fell and got up again. Though it's not in the article, my grandfather, six-years-old at the time, told us that the examination of his father's body took place on their kitchen table. Hard to imagine.
Again, this is transcribed word for word so any typos are from the original article.
The Standard Union. 26 Nov 1906
KILLED IN FIGHT; TWO MEN ARRESTED
__________________________________
Victim's Skull Fractured When His Head Struck Stone.
James Hill, 43 years old, of 176 Meserole street, and Joseph Douglas, 47, of 136 Jefferson avenue, answered to a charge of homicide before Magistrate O'Reilly, in the Manhattan avenue court today, having caused, it is alleged, the death of Michael Gallagher, 39 years old, of 176 Meserole street.
Hills, who is the janitor of the flathouse at 176 Meserole street, lives in the rear in a frame building. Last night, when Douglas was visiting him, Gallagher, who was a tenant in the house, being under the influence of liquor, crossed over to Hills' porch and began annoying the inmates of the house. Douglas came out and asked the man to stop. Instead of going quietly away, Gallagher demanded to see Hills.
The latter came out to Gallagher and after some hot words the two started in to fight. They, with Douglas, who joined them, went down into the yard and in the tussle Hills managed to down Gallagher. As he fell the latter struck the back of his head upon a stone. He was stunned for a few moments, and then arose and started to go into the hallway before he fell to the floor.
Policeman Joseph Becker, of the Hamburg avenue station, was called in, and after sending a call for an ambulance to the German Hospital, went to the house in the rear, where he arrested Hills and Douglas.
In response to the call of Becker, Ambulance Surgeon Holzman came and examined the body of Gallagher. he said that death had been instantaneous and was the result of a fractured skull.
Magistrate O'Reilly adjourned the case until Wednesday in order that the accused men might have time to consult with counsel.
The Standard Union. November 26, 1906. P. 12. 4 o'clock edition.