New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-03
TRAGEDY IN THE TOmBs.
An Insane Man Kills Tive OF His PellSv,
Prisoners, and Severely Iujures sevsv,s
OtherE-Me 10 Finally Secured.

At an early hour on Friday morning H.
Tombs the OF terrible tragedy. resulting: 4,
the death OF two men, and probably, fatally iDari,s
another. Tie particulars Of the are as follows,
On Thursday last, John Donovan, who had been so~
mtea for insanity by Justice Dodge, at the Jeksos
Isrket Police Court. was transferred to the Tomhs
10 was examined by DIR. Simmons. the Assistants Sur.
geon q. the City Prison, and found to be suffering IRON
the effect Of a long course Of intoxication. HS
WAS very docile however, and apparently harmless He
was accordingly committed to what is known IN ~
prison as "Bummer's Hail." long room fronting Q.
FraDkin-st., on the ground floor. With him iu Tn
apartment I2 or IA other prisoners, who we're con.
mitcd for various petty crimea Nothing unusual %
Cured until O'Clock this morning. when the nlslA
watchman, Mr. Mark Finley. who was in the boyS
prison, fronting on Centrest safd the CRY Of mus
der" proceeding from the apartment coupled by Do
ovnn. Hurrying to the apartment 10 fou,.t Done.
van ormed with An iron bar about three feet In Ienk,
engaged in on 1discrmnats assault on his fellow prsos
ers two OF whom were already beaten insensibs b.
blows upon the head. and lying upon tie floor Of Tie
prison. Finding that be could not quiet the uratic Tia
Waterman ran TO the Sixth Precinct Station.honse anl
secured the assistance Of section OF police On thsie
return TO the prison they found Donovan el engages
in heating the lifeess bodies OF his late companions
The prisoners who still nninured covering n
distant parts Of the CELL fearful that they in turn woud b
attacked. As the desperate still hourshed his weep
the only feasible plan Of securing the safety rese
ofthe inmates seemed TO be to shoot him. Three feu1
shots fired, all Of which missed him. but unfof
trnatey took effect in the right shoulder Of =
the prisoners, named George H. Hill inhicting a -
we're wound Donovan then attempted TO escape by
oendiBg fight Of stairs at the east end Of the roem.
While doing So he was overtaken b. the officers. VIA
after struggle end the free Of their cubs
succeeded in reducing him to submission Attentisa
was then turned to the murdered men. They wssv
found 10 be William Kennedy aud James McDonnsa
Tseir skulls found TO be completely crushed
LYING near them was William George. also suffering
from blows upon the head. His skull W.
also fractured and there chancc FOR his recovery
After securing Donovan DR.. Simmons was called to -
tend George and the prisoner E. who was accidenGJ
shot ty officer Crane. The surviving prisoners state
that The murdered men struck by the lunstc whh
the deceased we're aged twentyeight years and natsa
OF Ireland Kennedy who was blind, resided at No. -
Eaxter.st and Mcdonnell, 1t is stated was a reedeAf
Of Harlem. The residence of George 10 unkLoHn, bat
he Is believed 10 be EnglishmaE. aged twenty sou,
years. and stonecutter by trade. The murderer latsy
re sided at No. 5e West Iwentycighth st, where M
mother and sstes st live. He is twentyclg ycafs
Of age and served for two years IN the 10Th ~ Va
(Nayel Brigade).