The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-01
TRAGEDY IN the EIoHrn WARD.

A Man Shot Dead fbr Expressing seces-
sion SentimsAs:=T:: RerpstxNtVS OF
the Decd suxrsndcrs 0EIimself Over "a
the custody or the P0ltce-DIasram OF
the saloon whore tho Array Took
Place.
early last evening most lamentable affair occurred In
tne Eighth ward man named John Swain being ms
ked ior using strong secession language. The ARRAY
LOOK place IN the lager beer saloon In the basement No.
is' frnce street. kept by German named John H. I'm.
| MEMS The circumstances attending the case, as
IT as we were enabled 10 ascertain, seems that
wan who keeps bakery in the same building, on the
nrs n0or mad frequently held quite lengthy arguments
in Oove saloon upon the present state Of affairs and
generally expressed himself favorable TO the course pur-
sued by the A'outh. Among others with whom he had
oonversed was a young man named Henry Merritt,
sign painter, and member OF Warren
Hose Company No. 81. Between four and five
O'Clock yesterday afternoon Swain came into the saloon
where he found young Merritt and named Charles
sslmons also the bartender Ed O. Immenso OF the
proprietor Of the place. Tho above parties ing had
frequent conversations together upon the above subject
his appearance was the result OF renewal Of argu
ment held the day previous Tho parties having crank
once or twice, Swain, s said sat down Of the
tables with Merritt, and began to with the latter
why he entertained views in opposition TO the North
TepOTteu 70 DC btfOng Union man, De-
came terribly excited over the conversation much
that he for time paced up and down the saloon
would bave knocked Swain down for what he sad had he
not been prevented by others present.
Swain finally also became quite worked up over what
Merit said and remarked that II he Southerner
he would rampe the American flag under his foot but
what he would have his rights and the freedom Of carry
ing slaves into any territory that he a., would
hold them there in spite Of the North He is also re-
ported TO have expressed hmse In the strongest Ian
guage against the pursued by and
was in favor OF permitting the Southern States TO out
OF the Union, and form government TO suit themselves
Tie language used last evening by SWAIN and which 1t
is alleged brought about the unfortunate ARRAY
"that any man who not Southerner and would not
side with those South in hauling down the Stars and Stripes
Ia defence of what he claimed to be their rights
id coward, and ht only TO be classed with such
arbitrary abotionists as Abe Lincoln" Swain, 1t is
said after using the above remarks walked towards the
door with view, doubt, of going up stairs into his
but before he got to the steps, Merritt who
pistol and fired at Swain, he stepped and turned
around towards the bar the ball entering the left breast
the heart, killing him almost instantly Swain,
be fell to the floor cried out, 80, my God and soon
expired Merritt Immediately fled, and succeeded in
getting away before the police arrived. rhe report
large crowd Of people Sergeant Wade Of the Eighth pre-
cnct with several policemen, were soon hand, and
immediate steps taken TO Merritt This however
they failed In doing. But about half past six O'Clock
Merritt walked into the station house. OF Wooster
and Prince streets and gave himself to the custody Of
Captain Holmes He was accordingly locked up in cell,
ana the Coroner notified The police also took In custody
the bartender Immens, and Salmops, witnesses Both
the above seem unwilling to give clear account OF
the affair." and stated that they did not Merritt fire
the pistol, but suppose he did 1t. The following Is
diagram OF the place and where Swain FELL when shot