New-York tribune., 1869-05-25
MURDER IN THE ELEHEYTH WARD
FATAL ENDING OF A QUARREL

FATAL ENDING OF QUARREL
For considerable time past there has been
feud existing between certain Of the young inhabi
tants OF sherst aud their neghbors in Pittst, among
tho more noted Of tile shers crowd are two brothers
named John and william Purcell aged respectively "a
and 1s years, residing at No. 100 sherfst They are
vendors. peddlers. by occupation. On Saturday
night last the brothers Purcell had difficulty
with Peter Delaney and others OF the Plttst.
gang and meeting downtown yesterday the alteration
was renewed Nothrg very serious occurred however,
and the parties separated, yOwlIg mutual vengeance
when next they met. Believing that Delaney and his
gang would put their threats into execution, John Pur-
cell last evening" according 10 his statement borroweda
pistol from the bartender of neighbor
ing saloon Soon alters o'clock last evening William
Kiernan, residing on the tnlra MOOR OF 40; NO;
of the lager beer saloon the first floor Of the last
mentioned premises and commenced banterlng William
acquaintance named Robby" Lehman for IS side.
william declined to do So and Kiernan called him
coward and struck him in the face John protested
against this treatment OF his brother and struck
himself Herman then TUNED again TO the younger
brother aud WAS in the act OF assaulting him,
when John took from his pocket the pistol
he had borrowed earerl IN the evening and presenting
IL at kiernan fired The ball from me weapon ehtefc1
the left temple OF Herman. and passed entirely through
the head causing death IN very few minutes;
After firing the murderer attempted to escape
but after running short diStace was Oyertaken aud ar
rested by Ftzmorrs of the Eleventh Precinct who
but short distance away wren tue shot was hred
prisoner taken 10 the Union Market Police station
together with his brother William, and John Tracy
pedder, OF No lO9 Sherh,st, who was present, and
witnessed the whole u the aay and aeO in spite OF the
Se S e mentioned above 3oSSh tf to Gss
handed the pistol 10 Purcell after the aay commenced
The assassin on be4ng questioned by Sergeant Thomp
the StatiOn-house relative To his guilt the pistol
in the meantime having been taken from him. said:
"Yes; intended to do ~. and am willing to swing for
It," Later in the evening he closely questioned by
Capt Walsh relative the affair, especially Nth refer
he insisted that the account Of his dcaIty with Delaney
lis procuring the pistol from the bartender in Pas
MOt>S's saloon, aud his subsequent difficulty with aud
shooting Of K.ernan, were already described. His
statement in good part cOrroborated by his brother
ana Tracy All the prisoners were then placed sepa
rate cells, TO await the action OF the COrouer.
Tho prisoners are young apparently OF the lowest
order OF Intelligence and two indictments for burglary
said to be pending against Tracy He is also said "a
belong to the body guard OF certain city official,
former Alderman, and Is regarded invaluable man
at primary election IL Is more than probable that
other fights may grow ont Of this tragic occurrence.
The deceased native Of this city, aged 80 years,
vender aud Is represented one OF the class
with the other parties TO the fight