The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-26
MURDERED WITH A RUNG.
A Jocular Remark Leads to a Quarrel That
Ends in Murder The Victim and His
Alleged Murderer-Evil Effects
Of Beer and Banter.

murder OF an extraordinary character occurred
In Williamsburg yesterday morning. the victim
being John Gass, the proprietor OF lager beer
saloon and boarding house at NO. 80 Division
avenue, and his supposed murderer, John Connors,
member OF engine No. IL, Brooklyn Fire Depart
ment Previous to the tragedy there was q quarrel
between Gass and Connors In the dining saloon OF
Alanson Eckley, In Grand street. near the ferry the
quarrel originating IN joke perpetrated by Connors
that was harmless In ITSELF
1t appears that there Is in the saloon mentioned a
powerful Maltese cat pet Of the walters and other
employees Of the saloon, that has achieved some
celebrity for fighting ana beating away any dog that
happens to enter the place. Lately 1t became
standing joke among those who visited the saloon,
they often saying to the walters that they knew Of
dog that could beat their cat. When John Connors
went there yesterday morning he addressed one Of
the walters, saying, ~ have
DOG THAT CAN LICK YOUR CAT"
At that time John Gass ana his friend Carlo
Smith were sitting at table discussing an oyster
stew, and Gass, thinking that the remark was
addressed to him, said TO Connors "You cannot
lick me, nor one side of me- or words to that effect.
Connors who was apparently IN liquor, as were
also Gass and Smith. talked back, and after few
words Gass jumped up and struck him, giving him
black eye by the blow.
THE MEN CLINCHED,
and after struggle between them Connors left the
saloon, and meeting officer Keyser asked him to ar
rest Gass Tor assaulting him. The officer told him
that no could not do so, as he had not witnessed
the assault, but advised him to 60 with him to the
station house and make complaint there. Con.
e oeer some aisance but nay coecudes
that he would make no complaint. The officer then
left HIM, and nothing more was heard of the DIM
Guilty until about an hOur or SO afterwards, when
the police we've notified that man was assaulted In
First street. near South Second street. three or four
blocks from the saloon alluded to- and on repairing
to the point Indicated they found Gass lying the
sidewalk in an tnsenslble condition.
HIS SKULL BEING FRACTURED
by blow from behind with cart rung. He was
Immediately removed to the Fourth street station
house. and was attended by Police Surgeon Dreamer.
He was then sent to his home, where he continued
IN an lnsensible state until nine O'Clock, when he
expired.
THE ACCUSED.
The police, having been notified of the death of
Glass; arrested COnnors and Smith, and they are
detained to await the action OF Coroner Whlehill,
who ordered q post mortem examination TO be
held. The inquest Will probably be held tomorrow
evening in Justice voorhees, court room.
John Connors or "Long John, " as he Is Familiarity
called by his acquantances, Is represented to be
quiet and unassumin2 young man OF previous
SeSa character and none who SnyW hum
ting the evidently .premeditated murder for
which ne Is held to answer He made 10
trary, wnen he heard that he was suspected OF the
murder he started toward the police station TO sur
render himself, ana was arrested while on his way
Gass ID represented to have been genial and kind
hearted man when sober, but when under the Inllu-
ence OF beer passionate and quarrelsOme. lie was
a native Of Germany, and leaves o wife and three
children IN good circumstances.
Smith, the companion Of Gass when he received
his death-blow, says that all he knows OF the
renee is that while he and Gass were on their way
nome man came behind them and struck Gass on
the back Of the head with cart rung, and when
Gass fell the man ran one way, and he (Smith),
fearing that he would also be assaulted, away In
another direction. He Is unable TO say what kind of
man the murderer is, and has no knowledge OF his
size or general appearance. He was so scared, IN
deed, according to his own story, that he fell twice
while running away.