The New York herald., 1870-05-30
HORRIBLE MURDER In BROOKLYN.
Fearful Termination Of Quarrel-Ths Victims
Skull Crushed by Blows from the Leg Of
aTabls-The Murderer in Custody.


About quarter past eight O'Clock last night lit
Tie girl entered the Forty-third sub-precinct sta
ton house, corner OF King and Van Brunt streets,
ana informed Captain Ferry that there was drunken
man lying on the loor at the house OF william Will
son, In Wolcott street, near Van Brunt Onicer
Oberly was Immediately despatched to the place indt-
Gated, with Instructions TO BRING the man to the sta
ton house. The officer returned In o few minutes
and asked for assistance. as he said the man 80
drunk that he could not bring him without help and
that the man was lying on the floor in the dark.
Onlcer Reach then accompanied Oberly to the
place and procured light when most
CHASTITY SPECTACLE
was presented. Lying on the moor of the apartment
was the body Of man, with his skull beaten In and
blood spatered on every side. The table, which
stood In the centre OF the room. was broken, and
beside the dead man lay the heavy wooden bludgeon
which had evidently done the murderous work. DR..
McCauley, neighboring physician was summoned
to the scene, and pronounced the man dead The skull
was broken In In three different places by the fear.
ful blows which had been dealt either one of which,
in the opinion OF tho doctor, would have been sufi
cient to cause DEATH Oflcer Oberly then took into
custody william Wilson,
THE ACCUSED
who was present In the room during the examina-
ton and admitted the deed but claimed that he had
done 1t in selI-defence. Wilson, who Is shoemaker
by trade is thirtytwo years Of age, native Of Ire
land is short stature though rather thlckset. He
certainly does not appear to realize the terrible su
alton In which he Is placed but claims that auy man
would have taken the same course under similar
circumstances.
THE DECEASED,
James Gilligan, was also native OF ireland and
shoemaker by occupation. lie was thrty-tlve years
OF aye, was married, ana worked In company with
Wilson, for Mr. Mcclure, at 40 Dikeman street, South
BROOKLYN Both men were on terms OF intimacy and
their families were constantly Visiting. Gigan
was larger and stronger man, and the prisoner lays
stress upon this fact as an extenuating clrcul-
stance. Wilson made
In the presence OF q HERALD reporter last evening"
TO the eiiect that yesterday he went fishing with
James Glllgan, deceased down at Boards Long
they drank couple of glasses OF ale ana in the
afternoon returned TO Gigan'S house, No. 146 Dixie
In. She had come there upon visit, as they had
been good friends.
The prisoner stated that deceased struck his wife
MRS. Gilllgan last week and that he had advised
him against such treatment and 1t for that pur-
pose that he took him out fishing. Mrs. Gllligan was
preparing the dinner when they got In and he told
her TO send for liquor and remarked that Mrs.
Wilson had had some already. He said TO her, ~
think you are after having your own whack." The
qnor just then or having 1t at all in the house. He
further advised HIM to go without any more
He persisted in sending for liquor, however, ana
took hold OF his wife MRS. Gilgan) for the purpose
Ol ketGILS dollar from HCf, WUcu MIS- WILSON went
between them 10 prevent him from striking his wife.
The latter had PAIR of black previous to this,
which he gave her. Deceased struck his wife and
gave her a beating. and was then about TO strike
Wilson. when he the prisoner said, "lt
will be the last time VIII come to see you," and
then left the premises In company with his
wife and returned home. Patrick ODonnell rela-
tive OF Wilson'S came into GlIgan's and advised him
to come, which he did. O'Donnei and Mrs. Wilson
went out then, the latter going to the cars. While
they were absent. Gllhgan entered the room and
commenced to sc0!d Wilson and to call him bad
names, saying that Wilson's wife was blackguaId d
and made his wife drink lie then struck Wilson on
the head with his fist knocking him against the
stove. Wilson held In his arms his baby at the time
Of the assault, and the child fell from his arms
and rolled over on the settee. He then
struck Gllligan and the blow was returned
by deceased, when the latter caught him by the
neck and knocked MIN down. They jostled against
both fell down. The prisoner SAID, ~ took the leg
OF the table because saw that he was determined TO
hurt me. He was pretty well in liquor, and would
hurt II did not hurt him. hit him on the head
two or three times with the leg or the table, don't
know which. He gave me a kick In the stomach
after ! had him down, and knocked me down.
did not strike him after that. j then took the
child In my arms and told the other child TO go after
an officer. He did not get up after struck him.
There no person present during the fight except
the children and ourselves"
The murder created the greatest excitement
throughout the neighborhood. very large crowd
was assembled about the door OF the station house
up to late hour in the night discussing the details
Of the horrible affair. Coroner Jones viewed the
body and will make arrangements for holding the
tn0ueSt to-day