The New York herald., 1864-12-03
FRlGHIfUi TRAGEDY IN THE TDkiBS.
N~>e~~S~O~~~~>>~S~~~>>~~~~-
rwo Prisoners Beaten to Death and
Another Fatally Injured by
an Insane Man.
~.~~~~~~~o-~-~~<Ne~<N~>>~e~
One OF the Victims q Blind
Man
S-~~~~>~~o~~~~>~~~>~~~-
lSQUISlTI0N BEFORE CORONER NhUNANN,
Ass, &s~ ~.
lgQUISlTIOS BEFORE COaOyBR NAUnASN,

meny years Iast. Tho bloody took place In
the city Prison, Of Centre and Leonard sireei,
the perpctraor being insane man, whose alteration
OF mind by tho 10 free indulgence in the nso
OF strong drinks apreaIs Thursday last Jus
tce Dodge u the Jefferson Market Iolice Court, com
mitted man named John Donovan FOR examination On
charge Of insanity. Tho prisoner was taken to lhe
Tombs the afternoon OF Thursday and sttendel
by Or. Simmons, assistant physician to the City
Prison. Tho doctur found Donovan suffering from the
effects OF intemporance; but ho donentcd
and appeared to be perfectly harmless According 20 the
usual custom, Donovan was placed in the long room
the ground noor Of the prison. fronting Franklin
street, and known as ''Bummers Hall" In tho same
department about fourteen "ten days" men, who
had committed or intoxicatiOn. Amcng the number
were William Kennedy, James Mcdonald and William
George. Quiet rened supreme there Till four O'Clock
yesterday morning, when night watchman Mark Fulay,
while 10 that part tho prison occupied by the
juvenile delinqucnts fronting centre street heard
alarming cry issuing from "Blmmer's Hail." followed by
persons shouting 'Murierip 'sHelpr' ''Pollce!' &c
Mr Flnay hurried to the spot mud, looking through the
grating OF the door, Donovan in the act OF assaultng
severa his fellow prisoners with the poker, an iron
bar three four feet engti, and weighing six
pounds. Donovan called upon to stop his
bloody work; bu, he paid attention 10 the night
watchman Those prisoners who had not been disabled
roaming for help Being unable 10 cope single handed
with Donovan Mr.. Frlay TO the Sixth precinct sta
,on house for help, whom Captain Jourdan instantly
despatched officers Barr Crane, CuroY and others TO tho
prison to assist in securing Donovan.
On entering the place where the pr'soners
fined the most sioseuing ana horrible sight pro-
sen,ed. There lay dead the floor &cDonslt aud Zen
nedy, with their skulls crushed in and tho brains aca
tered promiscuousy abou, the room; while them
sha form npFW vln
skull fractured and apparently IN dying condition The
unaiic who'was sii loursbng his murderous weapon,
had upset the stove, which he had piled two or
three benches for the purpose OF setting the prison on
fire this he might have succeeded but for the prompt
assistance which was NJ hand to queEch the flames.
Donovan called upon tn surrender. but failing 10 do
So officer Crane fired several shots al him, but without
effect Ono the bullets however. lodged the right
shoulder OF George Henry Hi indcting serious wound
At this juncturc Donovan attempted 70 up nignt
OF stairs In Tho OF the room hcn all the ocerc
present rushed upon him They applied their locus,s
freely, and succeeded in disarmnI Donovan, who
was taken into coll thus prevented from don7uur
| thor harm. Dr. simmons tho spot and
dered such aid to George and Hin their respective
cases demanded lir. Charles sutton the warden Of the
prison, immediately notified OF the tragedy, like.
wise were Commissioners Bell and Ncolson Of tho Board
| OF Charities and Correction. They quieted the
| fears OF those prisoners who had escaped vio.
| lence at the bands OF Donovan, and adopted
such other measures in the to them
seemed necessary
Coroner Naumann, being called 30 hold inquest
the bodies. summoned jury and proceeded to examine
witnesses, whose testimony viii be found below
George Henry Iii clerk, or rlatbush, being sworn,
says was In the ball of the ten days house az three
O'Clock this morning, when noticed prisoner Donovan
striking The flag Of the hail with iron bar used
poker; about and hat yard distant, oppo.
the stove eudeayored to obtain the poker from him
by persunsou because he appe,red 10 TO bo broodng
something dangerous; prisoner looked sharp al
treated towards the entrance Keeping the bar IN his hand
in defensive altitude as if fearing that about to
attack him \ man named Geason ssked Donovan Give
the poker; want % STIR the 1re:p Donovan wheeled
suddenly round ras"d he baf with both hands and
sideways blow 10 the lett With force upon the bead Of
~ the sleeping u James McDonald he then
turned 70 the right and struck the blind ALSO dead
! three times both lying the seats running
ronnd the walls OF tne hall he advanced from the end
OF the hall towards the stove; another was ~ ng
the ioor at my feet Donovan dealt hm blow the N.
mates fed. bowling with fright: seized the shovel,
Gleason the other and ad arccd towards Dono
van, bnt Donovan struck Gieason ana struck MN WIN
the shovel the ght side OF the head the
but ns my leit arm wounded the b1s not heavy
enorgh Donovan thnu sailed up down the bail,
down the stove and set IRE 20 the oenth hes; Donovan
ccvcrly dyed all the bloSs aimed At him he sprang
up and down De ral. the rest Of the prisoners
the stairs in The hall leading TO tho upper story Dono
/ taunted them ard dared them TO come down;
\ he said he would fire them cut, 81 as To serve
! them the way he did the others; he
afraid 70 come the stairs, as myself ADD Gleason
were on them, commanding him fnhy with the shovel
and poker there dense gmoke tho prisoner struck
the dying men several times: donovan afterwards went
10 The water closet ato which two men bad reireated
got hold OF when struck BIN on the head the
Other man got W stairs ne staggered under my blow,
but rallied and rushed on nc, Hiept Hsde ana struck
HIM the CHA. which brought him down be began to
moan dropping the bar and sang out Don't kill mon'
holding up his hands. TO the door, where there
several men, including tho policemen. and called
for the police 20 come p and while shouting wps shot In
crane shot m. Donovan vas x. pocs
were outside the bar door at THE time, and could
not see who was advancing: nobody but prison.
ers 10 the there is no wstchman
other officer present the door always locked.
Michael Gleason 3l4 Greenwich street. who alec
confined In the hail. corroboraed tue last witness
deuce lie stated that bad been thiryhve times in
the Tombs and he able to light his battles no.
novan told witness the
hs pulse and that lac did not care what became
Marx snlay, deputy keeper Of the City Prison. being
dspcsedAy tour o: duty COMMENCED At six O'Clock,
the time with Mr.. Sparks, and lasts unit, morn.
ing: We 20 through the buildings 6rst commencing
duty, but do not enter the cells from the ouiside build
iugs bells communicsis with shs place IN the hall Of The
old prison.
The testimony Of Mr.. William II. Sparks also . nigh,
wacbmsp, taken, and the 10 substance IS
that given By Nr. Fnlay.
Dr John Simmons sworn, dsposss e follows;-i am
committed BY Judge Dodge 70 the city Prison for erami.
nation for insanity Mr.. Cunningham reported 20 mo ~
brought in com u ssioaor Nicbolsou came the time
but be said let the remain unit, morning; saw tho
ebra,ed and thought ha q, Tor The ten days house al
four O'Clock this NOR ,ng was called BY Mr. finiay who
stated two had been Killed IN ire rombs found
two men, DoIovan and another, lying On the 1oor
bleeding profuseiy tho mea wsre placed In cells and
their wounds dressed George H. Hill, apohef pr souer.
accidentally shot with pistol ball ~ ocer trane
while securing bonovan the bali took effect 10 his rghs
claylce. saw Douovar since; he sesmod perfectly ra.
tionai, and ssys that hu Killed the because they
wanted to Kill him. consider Donovan 70 be under the
efec, OF liquor when examining MIN.
Tue hero took tho jury into the cell where
Donovan was co1fsed and foaad him strapped down 70
an iron beds,ead There several severe cut. and
bruises his bead, bis face hands aad coshing ~cre
covered with blood, and he appeared 70 be sufer,ng
severely from the violence which the officers he'd found
necessary to ina,ct upon him oeose ne was reduced
sub 1nisfon.
folvws;--i served 10 the Nre,y niuth regimsnt New
YORK Volunteers, Company A, and live with rothAr