The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-18
PROBABLE MURDER IN THE TWENTIETH
WARD.
A Blacksmith FearfuiIy Beaten in His shop
With a Hammer-Escape Of the Prisoner
from the sherifT,s OH1cers.

A Blacksmith FearfuiIy Beaten in His shop
With a Hammer-Escape Of the Prisoner
from the sherin,s OMcers.
Yesterday afternoon a aconc despatch was re-
ceived at the Central once from the Twentieth pre.
cinct calling for the Coroner proceed 70 .No l33
West Thirty-third street and take the antemortem
examination Of Peter Mcdonald o. who lies at the
point OF death from injuries received al the hands OF
another person.
Inquiries were made at the Twentieth precinct for
particulars, when tue sergeant on duty knew moth
ing regarding the case beyond what was telegraphed
above. Captain Hedden, however, briefly gave the
particulars 70 those representatives OF the press
who applied. From his statement and those OF
friends OF the injured man the following facts have
been oblained:-
ON the 2sth ult. Mr.. Mcdonald, who is a boss
blacksmith, was engaged IN ms shop in Forty-frst
street between Ninth and Tenth avenues, aud IN
the act ol snoeIng horse, when one James McDon-
aid. or McDunn a discouraged iourneyman of his
WAC resides on Ntnth avenue, between Fify-third
and Flry-fourth streets, accompanied by friend,
side. James Mcdonald entered aud got into
an angry discussion with Mcdonald the
elder, which progressed for some little time
when Jun became 80 enraged tnat he
seized the hammer Peter using and dealt him
severe blow on the head with H. This was followed
by another on the temple that rendered the man In
sensible. The rufian followed up hs assault with
the not tongs, which II ~ supposed he applied 10
the left arm, as the flesh has been laid open. The
wounded mans also bears the Impress Of teeth
leading to the supposton that during the fight aim
hit Peter on that organ. The assailant. AFTER
committing the assault, eit his victim
for dead aud ned. An oficer Of the Twentieth pre-
cinct subsequently arrested the woud-bc murderer,
ana he was taken TO Jefferson Market and COM
United for trial. week ago last Friday Mr.. Melon
aid was sufficiently convalesccnt TO permit nus
transfer to the Grand Jury room, where nc made
affidavit detailing the facts oil the felonlous
The fatigue attending that action II appears. re-
suited injurfously, and he has been growing worse
ever since.
YESTERDAY he became so low that the attending
physician pronounced his recovery Improbable, and
Coroner Flynn proceeded 10 hold an ante-inortefn
examination. Mr.. Mcdonald was In such critical
condition that his evidence could not be taken.
The most remarkable circumstance connected
with the case however, 10 that after the commitment
OF the man Jim Mcdonald, to await trial, ana while
ia the custody OF sheriff Oriens deputies, be was BY
some means lost and made good his escape. The
oficer who originally arrested him the same night o.
his escape encountered the rufnan-such n the
statement OF the injured mans frlends-and or
attempting 70 arrest him was twice nred upon, ano
the fellow made his escape and 10 stu az large
Captain Hedden Justly feels indignant a. the facility
with which this prisoner escaped, ana - doing o.
In his power TO secure his rearrest.
In answer TO despatch from the Central once
sent at thirty minutes past ten last night the fo
lowing Information from the botter OF the fwenuetn
! precinct was furnished:-
i JANUARY M-From Twentieth--At three p. MAE
altercation In fortleth street, near Ninth avenue
| whereby man named p. Philip McDunn was struck
| on the head with a hammer In the hands Of james
| mcdonald, inJuriDg him severely. Mcdonald wat
| arrested. Medium was taken TO Bellevue Hospital
by onicef woodruff.
Al ten O'Clock Mcdonald was stiI living, but in q
very feeble condition. and his phyncian was Of the
0pibson 'nas se would mol survive the msbt.