The New York herald., 1869-06-04
MuRDERous AFFaAY IN FIRST AVENUE.

A QuarreIsome Liquor Dealer Shot in the
Back and an Innocent Nun Shot ut His Own
Doorway.
Another desperate shooting ARRAY occurred last
night in First avenue. II had its origin in liquor
store, the usual places where murderous ARRAYS
commence. II is involved In some mystery In the
matter OF Its beginning, but Of character fully
in accord with the hundred and one sImi-
lar occurrences that have stained the city
with blot that Will require years OF peaceful
ness TO remove. The few particulars of this
fight, obtained from from the officers OF the
Eighteenth precinct In which 1t occurred late last
night, resulting In the shooting OF two men. Of
them an innocent and peaceful citizen who may die
IRON the wound, and who was sitting quietly in his
own doorway at the time, are as follows:-
Joseph Hartnett, a letter carrier; his friend,
Michael Kearney. machinist and an01her boon
Thomas Cart about nine o'clock
ated at the corner of First avehie and
Twenty-nfth street, and seeing the proprietor
who might seek them walked quietly up 10 hin,
when in an instant there was trouble Hartnett,
Costello Of having short time before passed coun.
terfeit money upon him. The insinuation was
spurned profanely and Indignantly, but Hartnett
courageously insisted that IL was the truth, when,
without further words, Costello whose rage had
now worked up TO the frenzied state began an In
discriminate assault upon his visitors In which he
was Joined 10y two or three confreres The struggle
here was BRIEF but severe, and Hartnett with hrs
friend Kearney retreaed TO the street as quickly
possible. hurrying down the avenue viii all possible
speed evidently with the intention OF avoiding
further trouble
But the vile blood in Costello's nature was now
raging furousy, and he and his friends pursued the
retreating men-with what object can he readily
surmised They came up 10 them T. on the corner
when the fight was renewed and with murderous
result II Is feared Quick as thought amid pro-
family OF the most fearful nature pistol shots were
heard and the was OF nature terrible 10 wit
wondering crowd, emerging rom thousand
holes and dens In the ncighborhOOd, stared with
alarm at the PROSTATE form OF Costello as they
picked him up from the sidewalk with terrible
scream Of alarm came from the opposite side OF the
avenue. ana the wild throng ned across IN time 20
see the bleeding form or another man picked up ten
derly 10y strange hands They asked who It was.
OF the pistol balls had sDed on Its deadly er.
rand across that thoroughfarc and had
entered the stomach of one Richard Gerdes. grocer
living Twenty yourth street, who had been sitting
quietly on chair In hts own door during the occur.
renee.
with Costello on q strctcher. Gerdes was also
taken TO Bellevue Hospital, followed by household
paralyzed with grief at the thought that husband
such bloody reckessness while at the threshold OF
his own house. Arriving at the institution the
doctors In charge shook their heads regarding the
condition OF Gerdes and at length expressing their
fears that ne may die. CostelIos wound Is not Of
such dangerous character.
Hartnett and kearney were arrested by Rounds.
man Nreedenburgh OF the Eighteenth precinct, and
taken to the station house. where they were locked up
They assert OF course that they acted In sefdefencc
OF age, and lives at No. So3 First avenue, and the
latter IL TWENTY-FIVE years old and resides at No.
800, same thoroughiare. Carr In beg sought for.