The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-05
A FIGHTING POLICEMAN.
He Shoots n Brother Oaacsr Three Times and
Nearly Kills Two Citizons.

He Shoots n Brother OMcsr Three Times and
Nearly Kills Two Citizens.
Shortly after twelve O'Clock yesterday Isaac
Watson and Albert Crowell went into the 'Wood-
bine,n corner Of Thirteenth street and Sixth ave.
nue., for the purpose OF getting drink. They
found there party OF three or four persons, one
OF wnom patroman John Gillespie, OF the
Twenty-eighth precinct, and another was the motto.
rious nannelmouth druggist OF Broadway; but all
were drinking and making frightful noise. Fear
ing that, from the condition they all seemed to
be in,
SERIOUS DISTURBANCE
might occur at any moment, Watson and Crowell
took their 'bitters' soon as possible and left
They had gone but short distance when they
observed Gillespie, whom neither OF them had ever
seen before they went into the "Woodbine,n follow
ing them. He soon came up with them, and accost-
ing them in very friendly manner, asked them
both to join him in quiet drink at some neighbor.
Ing saloon. lhs they refused to do but as Gillespie
did not seem inclined to leave them, they said they
would go and take cigar apiece. No sooner said than
done; put still Gillespie would not leave them. AS
last resort they invited him to take 'something''
with them, and to this request he quite readily
assented The party now went into John Carey's
saloon, corner OF Tenth street and Sixth avenue,
ana upon stepping up to the bar Gillespie called out
TO them to
''NAME THEIR wEAKNESs,n
at the same time pulling out a roll or bills with
which to pay the damage" Watson remon i.
strated with nm, saying that as he and his
friend had proposed the treat they should be allowed
to pay ii. Gillespie refused 1t in that light
declaring that he could only pay all bills but
that he could "lick'' any man he ever saw. Words
now ran high, all hands talking at once. To show
that he was as good as his word Gillespie Waded
into the TWO friends, 1rst with his right and left
dukes" and then with a huge club which he had
picked up somewhere about the saloon. He was fast
MAKING THINGS VERY LIVELY
for both watson ana CroWeii, when, TO escape him,
they ran out the back door on to the steps. Bur the
gentle policeman had but just commenced getting
mis- hand in as he SAID, aud therefore gong
10 nave the little a1alr put an end to IN that way
Following them up, he struck Watson q frghtul
blow on the head, knocking HIM on the steps to
shoulder blade.
At This Juncture of'cer Leroy. of the Ninth pre-
cinct who was on post near by, heard the cries OF
the two men and
WENT TO THEIR RESCUE.
Just as he was entering the front door OF the saloon
" Watson and Crowell broke away from their perse-
cutor and with their clothes torn, their eyes black
ened and blood streaming down their faces,
bounded asst and through the crowd out into the
street. Gillespie at started pursuit. swinging
his club over his head and swearing like mad that
them again. Officer Leroy called out to him to
STOP when he at once turned on him LEROY and
APPLYING THE CLUB
to the region Of his Uranium IN the liveiest manner
possible. In Sell-deence Leroy drew his CLUB and
struck him, when Gillespie pulled out revolver
and commenced firing. Leroy ran into the yard,
where he was followed by Gillespie, who fired tour
shots at him. three OF which took effect in his left
thigh. Falling to the pavement, the would-be
murderer jumped on him and began pound.
ing MIN over the head with the butt end
oil his pistol Strange as 1t may seem, no one inter-
fered to save the PROSTATE mans life, and Gillespie
continued to pound HIM until he Nas tired. Resting
on his laurels lew moments he again
RETURNED TO THE ASSAULT,
but by this time Leroy had partially recovered ana
by means or desperate struggle succeeded in
wrenching the pistol from his prosecutors hands.
As soon as he had lost possession or his shooting
iron" Gillespie threw himself on the ground and
feigned 10 be dying Onicer Fitzgerald now came
in and arrested the 'dead' man, whom he turned
over to Sergeant McComb, OF Jefferson Market
Police Court, and. after giving directions to have
Leroy conveyed on stretcner to the station house,
started In pursuit OF Watson and Crowe the parties
whom every one said had done the shooting.
once out OF the crowd III the saloon Watson and
Crowel
MADE LIVELY TINE
down toward Washington square, followed by q
large crowd OF men, women ana boys, shouting and
hallo1ng at the top OF Their voices that the two
bloody, bruised and ragged individuals had shot
arrested by couple of PARK officers, who conveyed
them to the Fifteenth precinct station house,
whence Captain HeIden sent them to the
ninth precinct. When they reached there an
PLANTATION was had which soon set the matter right,
after which the two unfortunate mems wounds
DIR. Beach dressed officer Leroys wound, which
he pronounced OF a very dangerous character. The
unfortunate officer has been eighteen years on the
force, and Is now upwards OF nifty years OF age.
Gillespie has been three years on the force, and
up to the present time has borne an excellent char