New-York tribune., 1871-09-11
ASSASSINATION IN 1UIRD-AVE.
A WELL-KNOwN RAILROAD MAN SHOT AND
KILLED INSTANTLY BY FRIEND-EsCAPE
OF THE MURDERER---A REMARKABLE COIN

KILLED INSTANTLY BY FRIEND-EsCAPE
OF THE MURDERER--A REMARKABLE COIN
CIDENCE.
John (alias "DuckD McCauley, Thomas
Murphy VIM. Coughlin, and David =. Blake met, on
Saturday night at the house Of friend In Third-aVe'
near Forty seventhst and spent the evening In drink
ing and merry-making. When they lett between IL and
a. r all of the party were moro less intoxicated
though it is claimed that OF them were
boisterous. On the way down Third-ave Murphy
and McCauley began to disparage each o'hcr
characters Coughlin and Blake supposed 'ha' i"
was done in spirit OF fun, as the non
bad known each other for years, and had al
WAYS been good friends McCauley finally declared that
his character was very much better than that OF Murphy
and that II he were to tell all that he knaw, murphy
would be dismissed from his position. MURPHY rejoi'eu
that If McCauey asserted that his character WIS o W
was id liar" McCanley then struck MIN 'ioi0h,
blow in the face Murphy instantly drew reNo'oi "iu
fred, the ball entering McCauley's LETT DreasI
Murphy at once ran rapidly down the avenue turned
into Forty y-seeondst half block distant, ana uSap
peared Coughlin and Blake were SO much asVon'no"
at this unlocked termination OF What tncy nau Gun
sdored o friendly dispute, that they made no cn"i'
dctan the assassin. AsMurphy ran. Coughln eSeieo'
Hold on Murphy" but the latter PAID 70 n''en'on "
him. and did not slacken his pace his nat oo" oA '
he made no effort to recover IT,
McCauley when hit exclaimed, al am shot" Cough
lin asked "Do you feel badly" McCauley repled
"Yes" and fell to the pavement. Roundsman Fannlng
who was In Thrdave near Forty yhst heard tho pistol
fred and ran TO the spot He told by Coughn and
Blake had happened, and OF once started IN pu
suit OF Murphy being soon joined by Officers Wilson ana
Reagan Murphy however, had got 30 much the start
Of them that they were unabis to catch glimpse Of
him. When they returned to McCaney he was 81 fond @ TO
nlnth-st Police Station. aud thence to the Morgue.
G n on
TO several of thcm and directed all on post TO keep
sharp lookout for any whom they might see bare
head About 4 a IL
ing down Second ave, from Fif'iethst He was well
pectng that he might be the wanted, the officer
started toward him. The stranger crossed the avenue
"cT "H Me tie steps in front No. sis and
the the bell The ofieer asked him why he Dareheaded
III s 'nsi susns ms o an opening the door, he entered tie
house The officer at once reported the matter TO Capt
Gunner and ordered to back and arrest the ss-
picious stranger He did so and brought him to the
station The prisoner, when Questioned oy CtRt
that he the they had been looking for and that
Knew nothing Of the matter that o had been out with
Joseph Dempsey and some other friends In the Twenty
them had taken his hat and refused give it to him
Capt Gunner said ne would be competed 10 hold MN
locked up Blake and Coughin were also held as Wit
nesses. 40.
Station House, aud listened to the statements OF Blake
and Coughn. AS they are wellknown citizens and VIII
he allowed them to their recog-
nilance. Mr. Dempsey and the other friends with whom
previous night also attended and produced his hat and
corroborate1 his statement Murphy was accordlngly
discharged The singular coincidence OF his names being
that of the assassin and his losing his hat
was commented by those present; but the unfOr-
unate victim Oi circumstances seemed to think that 1t
did not repay hu several hours confinement LII
| statiOn-hOuse cell.
Late yesterday afternoon DR. Marsh proceeded to the
Morgue and made q pOst-mortcm examination OF the
body He found that the bullet had entered the left
breast one half inches 10 the left Of the nedan
line and two inches above the nipple passing between
the and fifth ribs penetrating the upper lobe or
the lung the heart and the thoracic cavity IL wus dis
covered mbedded in the muscles OF the back between
the third and fourth ribs In the opinion of the surgeon
death must been almost instantaneous The BODY
was taken in charge by undertaken and removed to
the late residence deceased, No. Goo Thlrd-aVe
Coroner Young has decided 10 adjourn the investigation
without date order to allow Capt Gunner time to
hunt for Murphy. .,..
The assassin is about five feet eight inches in hight
has light brown hair and usache chin whlskers ana
1orid complexion, and Is aged 28 He Is unmarried ana
lived ut No. $50 East Forty -secOnd-st He has been EN-
poyed for four years gae-keepcr at the Haie
dcpot at Twenty and FOurthave. BE Is 50 well
known that will be almost impossible Tor MN 10 escape
arrest victim aged 25 and has for several years
past been employ ed ON the New-iOrk and Ncw-Havcn
Railroad, formerly in the capacity OF brakeInan ana
later baggage-masteH For considerable time past
he has attached TO the o'clock M express train
lie was of q cheerful disposition and was very popular
on the road. He leaves wife and two children. 1no
affair created great excitement III that portion OF the
city where the assassin and his victim are Dolh well
known.