The New York herald., 1872-12-07
TERRIBLE SCENE AT THE GALloWs.
T'he Doomed Man Painting Be
meath the Fatal Beam.
Legally Strangled to
Death.
FINAL SCENES AND INCIDENTS.

on the gallows in the narrow yard OF the Ray
inond street jail, Brooklyn. Rodgers, who shed the
blood OF John Donohue, an officer attached to the
Filth precinct police OF that city, arrested in
aiicted for murder IN the first degree tried, found
guilty by the jury and sentenced by Judge Gilbert,
.Oi the Kings County Court OF Oyer ana Terminer,
daring the last week OF October. In the legal mur-
der OF this unfortunate man, Rodgers, genuine
type OF very bad element which abounds in the
two cities''-the corner rowdies-is made 10 feel
AT last that there must be limit to the spirit OF
iawcssness, which now nagrantly stalks Its
threatening form and naInts vice defantly in the
lace OF the peaceable and respectable OF the COM
mnnity. The fact that rufflanism can longer
Insult the better feelings or men nor strike down
thc faithful guardians OF the peace for having sim
py performed their duty is impressed upon the
outlaws who chang around the corners" and deal
out vle epithets ana blows to tnonensvc pass
Nts-by
II fails to the lot or
BATTLE ROW GANG
10 furnish the law with the flrst subject OF which
70 make fearful example. This organization
shough without charter, hae existed to the annoy
Anoe and misfortune OF the people residing in the
Eastern District for years past. They derived their
~arlike appellation from row or low frame tene
slcnt honscs on North First street, near Union
avenue, where the majority OF the members re-
down ano robbed by them, sneak robberies and
tutglarles were laid to their account by scores
and more than one murder has occurred in that
0eiphborhood within the past lew years, whereas
She murderer has not been found 1t followed as a
sequence that the Battle Row Gangn were too
wcn known to the police, and in many instances
the guardians OF the public peace and morals were
tDtimidatcd from interfering with them in their
nightly orgies owing TO their threats and numbers.
On the evening OF Saturday, July :, 1872, some
twenty or more OF this gang concluded TO pass
tcw hours in a concert saloon the Alhambra, in
strand street, between Tenth and Eleventh. There
A FREE AND EASY
IN progress and they INDUCED in noise ribad song
and bad beer, which engendcrcd worse passions
0nt about eleven O'Clock, when they took their
departure. Among these fellows were Henry
Rodgers, Mclaughlin Flint (thc latter has since
effected his escape from custody, Richie, Dunn,
Carey Gardner, Dcnvers, BLOCK and ClacE. They
Aad scarcely emerged from the "Alhambra' when
citizen was knocked down by one or the fellows
and his watch and chain was taken from him.
M5ous disturbance then ensued. Pa,rolman
Travis came upon the scene, In response to the
cries OF the citizen. lie went in among the crowd
the officers locust and prevented him from using
~. AS soon as Travis could disengage his baton he
raped heavily on the sidewalk for assistance, and
In so doing split the club. Before aid could come
up. however, the gang had absconded. They then
pro Ceeded TO
Kept by man named hugh McColdrick, corner OF
North First street and Union avenue. This latter
hattie Boys. Here they all drank beer again About
enc O'Clock McGodrick put the crowd out Of doors,
telling them he wanted 70 shut up his store. op
winch McGoldrick was in the habit OF securing his
door nom the inside. Once outside the fellows
commenced TO
MAKE NIGHT uIpFous
by Their carousals, obscene songs, 'cat cas'' and
general outrageous conduct. McGoldrick came ont
Snd SAID he wanted that stick from Rodgers. The
latter surrendered IT, and the wife OF McGoldrick
laccorlin1 10 Rodgers own testimony said "IIcre
is stlck for you" and gave him cart rung. Then
soine one, either Denvers, Clack or Block, SAID,
There IL Donohue, let rs lay him out.n Rodgers,
u was sworn TO on tue trial by several witnesses,
said, HJack Donohue comes along to-nigut III Xii
hmp
OFFICER noNoHuE,
VINO was an excellent policeman, came towards
Tie gang, walking lesurcly at that moment, aud
when about fifteen feet distant, said, 'Come, boys,
u you want TO sing you must 60 insde.n Rodgers,
y was sworn, was under the influence OF liquor, so
much 80 that ne could not walk straight, and was
leaning against coal box at this time. The officer
tald no more, but proceeded on his patrol. He
lad taken but a few steps forward. however, when
Rodgers sprung up behind Donohue, and drawing
The club lor cart rungl about with swing, raised
il on high, tue full length OF both arms, and
brought il down with murderous force upon the
CRUSHING HIS SKULL,
ana telling the officer like to the sidewalk.
80 violent the blow, as described by wit
ness, that II spun Donohue, who was big
man. completely around ere he fell insensi-
bic ana bleeding, never more to stand
on ns feet. Their work was done. The
murderer and his fellows fed in directions.
Other onlcers coming up when the alarm was given
by citizen were horrihed 10 find their conirade
muttering unintelglhle words where he had
HIM TO the station house. Rodgers followed Inc
cart aud actually assisted in bearing his victim
rested, however, the next morning, and others o.
lhe gang were also taken into custody by the
Tolce. onicer Donohue, who was about thrty-two
DIED AT THE CITY HOSPITAL
on THURSDAY, July IL leaving a wife and child to
found verdict against Henry Rodgers,
Gnd the Grand jury duly indicted him for
cuped two days only. District Attorney
ftitton appeared ior the people, and Messrs. T. 9.
Davis and Theo. Edson were assigned as counsel
for the prisoner by the Court, Rogers being with
Out means 10 pay counsel. Alter the sentence Of
Rodgers his friends III the Eastern District made
strenuous efforts to make up q purse to save the
unfortunate man from the galows. They managed
20 get up quite purse, and Colonel Spencer was
Telalhcu. during the uIal the prisoner testihCu
ID ms own Behalf
the MuRDERERs STORY
was mat he had known Policeman John Donohue
ief nine years, during winch period Their relation
.iit had been OF the most intimate and friendly
sahe engine company before he tRodgersl enlisted
uuiy oi ioul years. DoDohue, he SAID, was
c.,, KIND. GOOD MAN.
On the Friday preceding the fatal blow he had
h0' ui,nuly CONVERSATION with DCnOhuc. lie &C.
MED that he had ever associated intimately with
The Battle Row gang. He sand that he had been
1rIuklng at the 8lhambfa with the crowd and
that FlInt TOOK seven O. eight stone bottles from
ale saloon that Flint passed them around, but
that he tRodgersl declined 10 take any OF them.
Gibson, Back and Richie each TOOK a bottle. lie
said he took the bar used across the door or Nc.
Golorick, y store for the purpose oi "cobbing the
boys'-that is, beating the youngsters who were
~ tie habit OF sleeping ~ carts about that corner
Bc gave ~ Up Afterwards and tcok stick, bui had
no intention of interfering with Donohuo ~ tiat
sllDc, ~ bee the isvgUogc " BodScrs, lac was