The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-08


to create o disturbance. One conceives
That anOther's system IL not sufficiently
braced up, and straightway proceeds TO
administer an iron tonic in the shape Of afew
inches of knife. Tom suddenly acquires q great
affection for Bill and fondles him with club. bii
returns the polite attention with leaden phi
thinking that Toms nervous system wants seda-
tive. Others content themselves with such tri
vial jokes as waiting bricks and tumblers through
the bamy air that surrounds the excursion barge
and murder consequently becomes mere acci
dent, for If Tom gets killed the boys say ne had
no constitution to stand their jokes and shouldn't
have travelled with the party. These merry muir
derers are playful set when they surround
large quantity Of fusil oil. Their club house has
lately been well patroAized. and the
MURDERERS OF THE TOMBS
number more than score, with daily additions
The reporter Of the HERALD visited that institu-
ton on Wednesday, and through the kindness of
Warden Stacom interviewed all those then con
fined for murder, and in every instance found that
wine or women was the cause of the crime. Some
of these men feel sense of the awful position in
which they are placed, while others, who only
lack instinct to become perfect brutes were
suilen or Indifferent. These men, until tried
and condemned, are confined ON the upper
tiers, and on the lower one is the
cell OF John Real, who was walking up and down
the passage, was smoking cigar, nervcsIy
held pocket handkerchief with firm hold. He
occasionally stopped and exchanged few words
with those promenading the galleries of the sec
ond tier. especially with the Cuban yasquez, who
is full Of vitality The following is list of those
at present awaiting trial, to which is appended
resume of their crimes and the almost inevitable
cause-whiskey:-
MICHAEL KEARNEY.
This shooting affray occurred June 3, 1869, and
had Its origin in liquor store-the usual places
where murderous ARRAYS commence. Kearney
entered the barroom Of Thomas Costello, whom
he accused OF passing counterfeit money on him.
An assault commenced, and Kearney and his
friends retreated down First avenue, pursued by
Costello. Kcarney fired and wounded Costello
but on repeating the shot killed Richard Gerdes,
had been sitting quietly on chair in his own
door during the occurrence. Kearney, when
questioned by the HBRALD reporter, declined to
say whether he had been drinking to any extent
that night; but from other sources it is evident
that the party were partially intoxicated.
PHILIP COONEY.
This was Sabbath morning street fracas in which
was stabbed notorious and drunken bully named
David O'Day,, who, on the 25th of November, 1868
was in the fight at Campbell's oyster saloon where
Felix Larkin was Killed. O'Day on Sunday
morning April "a, 1870, was carousing around the
Eighth and Ninth wards endeavoring to pick quar-
rels with pedestrians. He met crowd at the cor
ner of King and Varick streets, and called Cooney
liar. fight was about to ensue, but beth men
were pacifed and an invitation was extended to
the company to take drink at No. 81 King street.
between Cooney and O'Day was resumed, The
latter threw glass at his opponents head, free
fight ensued, and O'Day received his death wound
from knife In the hands Of Cooney.
JOHN GLASS.
Henry wachter, the proprietor Of the boarding
house No. 412 West Thirty-ffth street, with his
wife, returned from funeral, where he had been
drinking whskey, that sweltering Sunday, July "a,
1870, and becamed involved in quarrel with John
Glass, one Of his boarders, who also had been in
dulging. Glass found fault because Wachter had
closed up the house during his absence. But a
few words passed between them when Glass
stabbed Wachter in the groin with large jack
knife with such force that the blade of the knife
was broken, one-haK remaining In the wound.
Wachter expired in few moments and Glass
rushed out of the house to the foot of West Thirty
fourth street, when he plunged into the water but
was rescued. He said to the HERALD reporter
that whiskey was at the bottom Of the whole
affair.
THOMAS JACKSON.
On Sunday, October 20, 1869, Thomas Jackson.
an officer of the Court of General Sessions, en-.
gagged in quarrel about politics in the liquor
store No. 2 Washington street, with Archibald
Douglass, noted First warder and anti Tammany
man: After exchanging rev words and bio, blow
seething through the brain of Douglass. The
parties as usual, had been drinking freely, and
neither Of them were considered as models OF
Temperance, Jackson declined holding any con.
versation with the HERALD reporter, and refused
to say whether he had been affected in committing
the crime by the liquor taken.
MORRIS keller.
q
along with party of companions, who had all
been drinking very freely, entered the saloon No.
III Norfolk street, and there met Conrad Os
treicker. A quarrel ensued and Ostrecker drew
a knife and made lunge at Keller, who, however,
was too quick for him, and wrenching the weapon
away plunged it in the body of his assailant. Ke-
her never saw Ostreicker before that evening.
keher and his father who were tailors, took Of
fence at comic song relating to ta0rs and shoe
makers, and assaulted the musicians. The young
man claims to have committed the homicide in
self-defence, and thinks there was too much
liquor all around that evening.
GEORGE NELSON
is accused of killing his wife, Mary Nelson, of No.
455 Greenwich street. She had been drunk and
abusive four weeks before the catastrophe, and
the prisoner broke up housekeeping on account OF
the quarrel. On the night of the Goth of June
Nelson came home drunk, got a pillow and lay
down on the floor. At q later hour the deceased
came home, and, seeing him lying on the floor
called him a drunken loafer. He got up and went
out She followed and entered the hall. There
he beat her severely, and next morning she was
found Insensble in her bed. Nelson said she was
constant drinker, and he had often tried to get
her to take the pledge. He said he only got in.
toxicated occasionally.
JOHN SULLIVAN
stabbed John O'Brien, on the 18th Of June last,
at No. Whitehall street. 1t was given in evil
denceat the CorOner's inquest, that Sullivan was
in the habit of drinking. His wife, on the night in
question, called him drunken, numbering thief,
and his mother-in-law improved the occasion by
striking him on the head with piece of wood.
Sullivan then went out on the landing and Mrs.
Sweeny struck him again; he struck her back
with an umbrella. O'Bren then attempted to in
terfere and took hold of Sullivan. Shortly after
wards the prisoner rushed at him with knife and
stabbed him three times. Sullivan says the whole
party were intoxicated, and If it had not been for
| excessive drinking he would be at liberty to-day.
THOMAS SHERIDAN.
| On Saturday June rs, Thomas Sheridan, who
| had been revealing in rum, met German, named
| Daniel Michel, who lived at No. TAI Second
| avenue, in saloon in Thirty-second street, be.
| tween First and Second avenues. The German,
| while there, had some dispute with Sheridan and
| then left, but, on his way home, was stabbed by
| some one unknown on the corner of Thirty-seventh
street and Second avenue. The accused was ar
rested confessed his guilt, and gave as q reason
| for using the knife on Michel that the latter,
| while in the saloon, had struck him ON the head
! with club. Sheridan says the day was very
| hot and he was nerfectlY out of his mind and In