Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-18

n
Rel,y in Critical COrdittOn-Testi-
mOny OF samuel sharpisy aHd Others,
TO. ESe.
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser 18th
The condition of Edwin Kelly, one
of the victims in the desperate affair in
Twenty fourth street, yesterday, was
this morning considered highly critic
al. The bullet, which LOGGED over the
left temple, sti remains in the wound,
the operation of removing it being a
very delicate one. He was somewhat
s'flighty," both from the exciting cir
cumstances of yesterday and the irri-
tation of the wound.
The remains of Thomas Sharpley
still remain at the Morgue, where an
inquest will be begun tomorrow morn
ing. We give some further details of
this tragic affair in addition to those
given. 1t appears that a strong feeling
of rivalry has existed between the par
ties In the affrsy, growing out of the
competition IN their business; Kelly q
Leon being the pToprietors of the es-
tablishment of negro minstrels, No.
721 Broadway, and Samuel nj. Sharp
ley, the proprietor of the Theatre
Comiaue. The feeling became embit-
tered on the side of Sharpley, who had
| been told of a statement said to have
been made by Leon some time ago ia
Boston, to tue effect that he (Sharpley)
was bankrupt, and who thought Kelly
had dealt in an undetermined manner
In engaging certain dancers.
l Yesterday the parties met at the mat
inee at the Fifth Avenue Theater, acci
dentally, and Sharpley determined,
after the performance, to bring Leon
to account for the alleged SANDER upon
him. The audience had nearly dis
persed when the parties left the thea
ter, and Sharpley, who had been Joined
by Allison, the treasurer OF his estab
lishment, accosted Leon and demanded
a retraction of his statement about
Sharpley's credit. Leon denied having
made any such statement. Sharpley
then gave Leon the lie, accompanied
nv expletives of a still more offensive
nature. and at the same time striking
him with his fist. Leon is a slightly
built man, while Sharpley is robust,
and Kelly inteTfered to defend his
weaker companion. He was struck by
SharpIey and knocked down, and, ac-
cording to one statement, kicked In the
face while down.
The brother of Sam Sharpley, Thos.
Sharpley, appears upon the scene at
this iuncture, apparently as an assail-
ant of Kelly, who states that the broth
ers Sharpley and Allison we're all
striking and Kicking him at the same
time. Leon does not appear to have
taken any active part IN the affair after
his first encounter with Sam.
Kelly, having regained his feet, drew
a revolver and fired three charges into
the crowd of his assailants, one of
whom, Thomas Sharpley, fell dead on
the first discharge. Sam Sharpley see
ing his brother fall, and Kelly, as ne
states. firing at him after falling, also
drew a pistol and fred at Kelly, the
ball taking effect in the left side of the
head, above the ears, and lodging in
the left temple. He was about to fire
caught by Officer Freese, and the ball
struck the fOrefinger Of bis left hand.
Thomas shsrpley's body was removed
/ to Bellevue Hospital, and Kelley had
his wound dressed In a drug store. Sam
Sharpley and Leon were taken to the
station house.
Thomas Sharpley was thirty lone
years of age, and leaves widow and
two children. His occupation does not
seem to be clearly known, but it is
stated that be was part owner of a faro
bank in Twenty-fifth street. He lived
/ In Twenty-seventh street, near Fifth
avenue. The matter will be the sub
| iect of rigid examination.
Samuel l.. Sharpley, brother of the
deceased, made the following state
ment before Judge Dodge. at Jefferson
| Market, this morning. reside at the
| Revere House, corner of Broadway
and Houston streets; on Wednesday
afternoon my brother, Thom8s Jeffer-
son Sharpley, was violently assaulted
by Edwin Kelly and Francis Classy
Leon; my brother and ] were on the
sidewalk IN front of the Fifth Avenue
Theater, on Twenty fourth street, near
Broadway, when we met Leon and Kel-
| ly; Leon and myself had some words,
when Kelly interfered; both struck at
me, and Leon ran across the street,
followed by me.
NV brother, Thomas Jefferson Sharp
ley, was standing near Kelly, who I'M
mediately drew a four-barreled revolt
uer, which was loaded with lpowder
and ball, and pointed it at my brother,
the first ball striking him on the head
and causing him to fall on the sidewalk
with his head partly in the gutter; and
Kelly then deliberately fred two shots
while my brother was PROSTATE, one
taking effect in his left breast and the
other in his right side. My brother
was then picked mp and carried to the
vestibule of the Fifth Avenue Theatre,
where he died in few minutes of the
wounds inflicted; and / charge that
Kelly discharged the pistol for the pur
pose of taking my brothers life.
Officer Daniel Freese, of the Twenty
fifth precinct, deposed that about 4
o'clock In the afternoon, while on the
corner of Broadway and Twenty
street. he saw Francis classy Leon
running through Twenty-fourth street,
pursued by Samuel nj. Sharpley; that
Sharpley said, s'Arrest that man." that
witness caught Leon and took him and
Sharpley TO the Fifth Avenue theater,
where there was q great crowd; that
witness heard pistol shot and saw
Thomas Jefferson Sharpley, the BROTH
er of Samuel, fall on the sidewalk with
his head and shoulders In the gutter;
that while Frustrated, he saw Edwin
Kelly advance and discharge pistol,
deliberately firing two shots.
Officer Kenny deposed that after the
fatal occurrence, he arrested the prison
ers in the drug store of Caswen and
Mack.
Leon and Sharplev were committed.