The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-18

A Nephew, Directing to an Application Of the
Cowhide. Draws Pistol and Fires at
His Uncle-The Bullet Mortally
Wounds His Mother.


house, No. 2s4 Eighteenth street, South BROOKLYN
growing out OF family feud, in which youth.
while endeavoring to shoot his uncle, VINO was
vigorously applying raw hide to his shoulders,
shot his own mother. 1t appears that Tnomas J.
Lewis, who Is eighteen years OF age resides WIN his
mother, Mrs. Frances Hopkins, very respectapie
and lady-hke person, at the above residence. Mrs.
Hopkins Is married to her second husband, II seems
and Thomas, the eldest chlld by her first husband,
has long been Of trouble to her, owing to his
indifference IN all that appertans to earning veli
hood. He Is represented as passOnately
FOND OF NOVEL READING,
and though not a bad boy his mother has been
heretofore compelled TO request that Captain 0'Ne,
OF the Eighth precinct in which they reside. would
urge upon HIM the necessity OF exerting himself
and seeking employment. 1t Is very probable that
the poor woman stated her grievances TO ner
brother, William C. Townsend, Of Jersey City, and
this had q tendency to prejudice him against his
nephew, who appears really TO have had no par
ticar vice other than that OF ldlcness. About a
week ago Thomas went over TO New Jersey to visit
his grandmother. and there he met team
ster named Rickerish, who was upon
terms of intimacy with Townsend. To
Rickerish young Lewis spoke very freely OF
his uncle, denouncing him IN opprobrious terms for
his meanness and neglect Of his nephew. John went
straightway and reported, with embellishments, all
that Thomas had said Of Townsend. This excited
the anger and indignation Of the latter to high de-
gree. so that when next he visited his sister, Mrs.
Hopkins, he threatened to call again and cOwhlde
young Lewis. The latter confded the trouble, which
sat heavily upon his mind TO bosom TREND. one
Robert Miller, young clerk in Gowanus hardware
store. The latter advised him to show belligerent
'front.'
TO THROW CAYENNE PEPPER IN HIS UNCLEs EYES
Vovvu sho ttamu IN nea hin
to shoot him. In fact, Millers friendly Offices went
so far that he actually loaded the weapon for Thomas
and then accompanied him TO the scene OF action on
rowing u book. On entering the apartment in which
his uncle sitting the latter inquired whether he
had a pistol about him. and, receiving no answer
seized him by the collar and commenced to thrash
him with rawnlde: A: this point the boy drew
pistol and fired at Townsend. The aim was defec
mother OF the unhappy youth. He Immediately ned
the premises and repaired to the Eighth preclnc:
station house. where he Informed Captain O'Nell
tnat there was a fight going Eighteenth street.
The Captain, who had previously been told that
sent sergeant and an oliicer to the place, where
upon young Lewis left He tnen took The FIth ave-
ton house, where he made The following voluntary
STATEMENT or THE AFFAIR."
One day last week went over to Jersey City, hav-
ing occasion TO visit my grandmother VINO resides
at the corner OF Cores and South Fourth streets.
While on Montgomery street, about two blocks rom
Rickerish cartman of oil Newark avenue He
said What Is the matter with Bill lately ~ mean
Rickerishs). The answer gave HIM was, II do not
know He then stated that "Bill" William G.
Townsend was very cold towards him OF late, and
that he had loaned him So aud had very unklndly
asked him Tor 1t, and that he Townsend) had also
acted in q very mean manner towards him. then
told RicKerish that he (Townsend) was sucker
and had acted like an uncle should towards
nephew. and also telling HIM that he had borrowed
only paid SIS OF it, l then lett to go to my destina-
ton. On the following Sunday, August ID N.
SS4 Eisnteenih street, and charged me with calling
him a sucker, son OF oh. and with saying that
certain woman, Miss Harrison had pulled the WOoI
him son OF b-n, stating that 1t was not natural
that l shonld cali my own Grandmother "a o IN;
neglected to bring o rawhide. but that he should
1 bring one the next evening, and would
COwHlDE Me WITHIN AN INCH OF MY LIFE.
Re then left, and was afraid to meet MIN the next
cowardly not TO be there so told her. and TO show
| her that l was not coward. that would stay
to meet him. wished on the evening OF the 14th
| OF Augustine night he threatened to cowhde me
| that he would not come | stated the case to my
Smith, OF No. 524 Fifth avenue, South Brooklyn,
and he told me TO shoot my uncle II he struck
evening OF August 10, at nalr-past eight O'Clock,
l was playing with my younger brother, when
my mother, hearing the door bell ring, told me 1t
was my uncle, and to stay IN the front ROOM She
shcyed me In. and instead OF staying IN
the room | stepped out of my window on
went down to ga Filth avenue. the residence or
Robert Miller, and told him that my uncle had come
then proceeded to go out, when Miller called me back,
saying he would close his place In short time. lie
then came out on the stoop and told me ne would
LOAD THE PISTOL WITH SHOT,
and told me TO get five cents worth OF Cayenne
pepper to throw In my uncles eyes. 1 then
went to a store across the way and procured
the Cayenne pepper and went over to Meis
place: stopped there about ten minu,es,
where / purchased the pepper and stated the
case, to the proprietor, VINO told me that I
Townsend. I then went over to Milers, and he fur,
nshed me win pistol and went with me up to my
house, as / told HIM would loan him book. I
ger In IA car resembling MIN so much that thought
Il was him. we went to my residence No. 2s4
my uncle and Rickerish, his Trend. He asked me,
Tommy. have you got your pistolf" did not .
swer him. lie then TOOK from h Is coat pocket a
rawnide and grasped me by the arm, saying you
called me a son OF Abb, did your said DID
STRUCK ME WITH THE RAwHIDE
six or seven times told him to keep back and my
mother and Robert Miller Tried 10 make him desist;
but Rickerlsh held Miller back to prevent HIM from
separating 1s. , ran into me me, front room, my
not follow me. He pushed her aside and rushed
into the front room, and struck me four or five
blows with his hand. The room was dark, and 1
drew the pistol after he struck me and aimed 1t at
Townsends heart and DISCHARGED the contents |
out on the shed, climbed to the street and ran
towards Greenwood Cemetery. | then went toward
Eighteenth street and Filth avenue by way of a
vacant lot and saw Townsend ana Rickersh talking
together. Fearing they would attack me ran and
dropped the pistol about dfty feet from the side.
walk IN the weeds Then, by the advice Of
friend gave myself mp TO the
Eighth precinct police station, and told Captain
ONell that there was fight at 2o4 Eighteenth
street; but he said It was an alarm Of fire. and
l then took Firth avenue car and delivered
myself up at the Tenth precinct police station,
where l now make this statement
THE PRISONER WAS ARRATGNED
before Justice Buckley yesterday, and acknowledged
the shooting OF his mother, out said that IL was
| purely accidental. He was committed 10 the Ray
mond street jail to await the result OF the Injuries
| i1nicted. Robert Miller was also arrested as an
accessory before the fact and held 10 answer Mrs.
Hopkins Is alive at the present writing though but
! faint hopes are entertained of her recovery.
Coroner Jones has been notified 10 take her ante
| mOrIem statement.
''C0NSClENCE DOTH MlKE COWA9DS.o