Inquest.
--We noticed briefly yesterday the fact that a resisting deserter had been shot on Friday, opposite the
Beauregard Saloon, by the guard sent after him. The affair was located in the wrong place.
It occurred at the corner of Franklin and 17th streets. The man's came was
Samuel Hays, a member of
Captain Bayly's company, and he died yesterday morning, at 4 o'clock, at the Infirmary of the Medical College.
Coroner Sanxay held an inquest over the remains yesterday, when the following facts were elicited:
Sergeant McKenna had been sent out, with
privates Coleman and
Henderson, to hunt up deserters.
They met
Hays at the corner of 17th and Franklin streets, and knowing that he was a deserter,
Coleman said he had been looking for him all day, and he must go to camp.
He said he be d — d if he would, and jerked away from
Henderson, who had hold of him, drew a pistol and presented it.--
Hays then went into a house near the corner.
At that moment
Gen. Winder's police came along and learned the circumstances, and were requested to capture
Hays by the
Sergeant and his party, their guns not being loaded.--
Coleman loaded his gun, and
Hays started on a run up 17th street. When between Marshall and Broad streets they overtook him, and he again swore that he would not go to camp, and presented his pistol.
An officer who was present ordered
Coleman to shoot, which he did, wounding the party in the leg and body with ball and buckshot.
He was taken to the Medical College at 8 o'clock Friday night, and died at 4 o'clock yesterday morning.
The verdict of the jury
Tully exonerated the soldier who shot
Hays, who, they say, came to his death by several gun-shot wounds inflicted by
Samuel Coleman while in the performance of his duty in arresting deceased, he having a drawn pistol on him while in the execution of his said duty.
