The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-27
HOMICIDE IN A BALLROOM.
A YOUNG MAN SHOT DEAD.
ARREST OF THE MURDERER.
Investigation by the Coroner.

chile Base Bah Club, at National Guards Hall,
fracas occurred in the entry on the first floor,
during which John Maloney, aged nineteen
years, was shot and instantly killed. The deed
was committed by Frederick Paul, aged twenty
five years, who was arrested Immediately by the
Sixth Ward police officers, and locked up at the
Station House. The disturbance originated In
an eating saloon opposite the hall, and was re-
sumed in the street, and extended to the entry
OF the hall, where the shooting occurred.
1t seems to have been the renewal of an old
quarrel between two rival FIRE companies. What
part if any, the deceased took in the fight is not
shown by the evidence of the witnesses exa-
mined. All that seems to be known is that he
was in the entry, and was shot there. The de-
ceased resided with his mother in Swanson
street, below Mead alley. Paul, who is twenty
five years of age, resides at No. 227 Christian
street. Both men are single. The shooting, of
course, created the greatest CONSERVATION in the
ballroom, and put an immediate stop to any
further festivity. Coroner Taylor held an in
vestigation this morning at 10 o'clock, when
the following evidence was elicited:-
Francis Schneider, sworn-Reside at No. 3l8
Cherry street, know Paul, the prisoner, and
Maloney, the deceased; was at the ball given
last night at National Guards Hall; met
Maloney there; he was sober; saw him after he
was shot; he was lying in the entry; l went
from the ballroom with two friends 10 Claw
sons eating saloon, opposite; Paul and another
man was there at the eating bar; Maloney was
not there; saw no difficulty between Paul and
Maloney; three men came in and called for
drinks; one of them looked at Paul; Paul said:-
"l on needn't look, it's me;" angry words passed;
the smaller one of the three men ran to
Paul and caught him by the neck Before this
Paul said he didn't want to have any more
lC. 4hoAI l. tod
and that it they would stake up fifty dollars they
would go out; another challenged Paul to come
out IN the street; one of them picked up q
ketchup bottle, but Mr. Clawson took it from
him; the other two men pulled the men from
Paul; one OF them came up and said to Paul he
had little brother who could lick him: nother
one took the little fellow aside and whispered
something in his ear. The next / saw of the
men they were in the hall; witness recognized
Paul; Paul's friend said it was foolish to fight, it
was only q company affair; saw scuffle in
entry; heard pistol. |.t Nft
DR.. &. B. Shapleigh, who held postmortem
examination on the body, testified that there
was pistol wound in the corner of the left eye
The ball passed through the BRAIN and caused
death. portion OF the lead was found in the
brain.
Charles Higginson, sworn-Reside at No. 40
Norfolk street; was at the ball; went in company
with Conlif, McMullen, and Berry; went there
about IL O'Clock; didn't see the prisoner there's
didn't see him before occurrence; had no pis-
tol; was on the pavement at time of shooting;
| heard there was fight when l was in the ball
ran down stairs into the street; saw mob; they
came across and went into the ball; heard the
report of pistol from the entry; there were
from thirty to forty persons there at the time
didn't appear to be general row.
Thomas German, swoTn.-Reside No 45 Beck
street. below Front; was at the ball; was with
Donnelly, Steel, and Bramore; went there about
50 O'Clock; know the deceased; was raised with
him; don't know prisoner; was upstairs in the
ballroom about o'clock this morning; ANDY
Graham came up and said there was fight
down stairs; he had been struck in the head; |
went down and got in the entry saw Paul and a
couple more; Paul had something in his hand;
either a pistol or a revolver; Paul fred;
Maloney was on the right of me, and fell
/ saw the flash of a pistol; Paul then ran;
ran after him up stairs. and by the time got in
the ballroom two officers had him in custody;
Maloney. was about good step from me when
he was shot; Paul was coming in the door; he
was forcing his way in through the crowd; he
made no remarks, but drew the weapon from his
pocket and took deliberate aim; saw no one else
with pistol; don't know what became of the
pistol; saw no one attempt to protect Paul; don't
think the latter was intoxicated, as he ran too
good for that; we took Maloney to the hospital
when the doctor said he was dead, and we
brought him to the Station House.
John Il. Bennett, ,sWorn-Reslde In SAMSON street
above Tenth know neither prisoner nor deceased;
saw Mr.. Paul first last night at Clawson's oppo.
site the Hall, eating plate of oysters; a lot of
fellows came in there; had hard words; thought
they could whip Paul. didn't take particular
notice of the affair; the first thing / knew
some one hit Paul in the neck; some one jumped
up and said-"I have got a brother eighteen years
ofsage who can whip you;" Paul said he
could take either Of them in a fair fight and
whip them; the party went out, still leaving
Paul eating his oyster soup; Paul finally got up
and lett with his friend; Paul went across the
street to the hall, when the crowd tackled him
and gave him pretty hard round of IL: / saw
him hit half dozen times very hard; he went
into the hall, and there heard pistolshot; the
deceased is, i think, the man who hit Paul
while in the saloon.
Robert N. Clawson, sworn-Reside No. 523
Race street; keep an eating and drinking saloon;
never saw prisoner until last night; he was in
my place with friend and got some oysters:
this was about o'clock this morning; in a few
moments three more came in, and commenced
talking; one of the party called Paul some name
and walked up and hit him while eating his oys-
ters; Paul grabbed the man by the hair aud
held him. he didn't strike him; another of the
party grabbed the catsup bottle; seized il from
his hand; the three who came in went out; Paul
and his friend when done eating also went out;
after this heard report OF pistol heard Paul
make no threats, and saw no pistol.
AZ lillian A. ClGwson, sworn-Reside with nv
brother at No 523 Race street; knew prisoner
by being in our place last night. This witness
cOrroborated all that the previous witness had
said. The party opposed to Paul called him a
them challenged. Paul to go into the street and
fight; Paul said tins was no place to fight, and
heswmted nothing to do with them; a small
the hair; Paul held him off at arms length; the
small man drew "black-jack." r.l at
David s. Barry, sworn-Reside at No, 525 Race
street; keep eating and drinking saloon:l have
seen prisoner frequently; was standing at my
bar about o'clock, when left to go over to the
bali, having ticket upon reaching about half