New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-14
ONE OF THE DEAD RABBIT LEADERS
SHOT

Last evening Mr.. Henry Gillespie end kA freud,
while passing through Mulberry street, stop ped IN
front of the groggery kept by John Maeshh. o. No.
27. when the former remarked, Let go in sss take
"a drink" Mulveahill, who was standing % the
stoop, said he did not sllow any such sons Of - 70
drink in his psce, and at the time, o. s ala ed,
struck Gillespie over the head and then ntveateA into
his den Gillespie with bis friend forthwith repa red
TO the drinking shop kept by Thomas WeSsd bst tor
known as Fatty Welsh" at No. Mulberry stree {,
and, telling their troubles to Fatty" snd,svcrs d
to enlist him in their cause. Fatty Welsh, howcvcr,
refused or declined to interfere, whereupon they et
the place. But a few minutes had elapsed before
messenger entered weshs house and tod Lim that
Gillespie was being besten by Mulveahill. Welsh
hssened to the relief of Gillespie, and upon entering
the place separated the combasnts. Some high words
ensued on account of this interference, when Welsh,
thinking to beard the lion in his den offered to 80 out
into the back yard aud fight Malveshill Rurnor OF
the trouble had by this time been freely circulated
about the filthy neighborhooj, and the Dead Rabbits
were not tardy in userng at Mavsahilps and Welshs
places. The fight now became general; pistols were
discbarged and swords clubs, glasses and other
weapoIs and missiles freely used Bricks wers brought
by the women and hurled about the street In the most
indiscrimiuate manner by the men. The house being
too small to hold all the bellgsrents, portion OF them
cane out on the walk and went 10 fighting pistol
was fred at Fatty Walsh, the shot taking effect In his
I neck, but causing only trihiog wound. The ball
struck one Of the brsas springs in his stock, and,
plsncipg off, entered his neck. The excitement was
rapidly increasing, and great numbers of mon and
women were making preparations TO engage To tue
riot when Capt. Dowling OF the Sixth Precinct, with
poese Of bis men, marched upon the ground. The
Captain ordered the crowd TO dsperss, but they paid
no heed to his words and continued hurting missiles
about in every direction. After giving sfew orders
to his men, the police charged upon the mob with their
clubs and, by free application of the locust, soon
succeeded in clearing the street. Fatty Wekh was
found lying upop the floor, suffering from the ~oand In
bis neck He was removed TO the New-York Hospital.
The Police arrested William Welsh, brother to
Fatty" John Gillespie and John Underhill and con-
veyei them to the Sixth Precinc, SatonIouse, where
they we're locked up in the cells for the night. The
parties are all well known ia the ranks Of the Dead
RAbbts Fatty Welsh is Ieputed TO be the leader OF
ore Of the Dead Rabbit factions, and took an active
part in the Sixth Ward riots two years ago. He hes
been wounded several times aud has frequently beeo
in the hands of the Police. At the present tins hs
bods the Cice Of Inspector Of Msuure at salary Of
50 per day. During the fight many were badly
wounded but their names could not bs learned, ss
they - themselves off with all possible haste.