The New York herald., 1872-11-03
ARREST OF THE assassin.
History Of the Origin, Continuance and End
ing Of the Bloody Vendetta.
RUFFIANLY REVENGE.
Excitement Throughout the City
Last Night.

WCck
spective candidates for the Mayoralty have been
sold there every evening" and as the
nay OF election comes nearer the excite
ment has waxed stronger. Last night 1t was at Its
height, and about quarter after nine O'Clock the
crowds around the pool seller were most eager In
their endeavors to get In their bets and receive
their ticket In return for the money deposited. The
great johnson crying out Justify 1.-TWO hundred
and Hfty dollars in the pool and Havemeyer sold.
How much for second choice Y' when quick sue
Cessl0n OF
PISTOL SHOTS REsOUNDED
through the room. general rush took place to-
wards the door. number OF the excited thrOng
were thrown down and trampled ON and q few
of them suffered severe bodily injuries. At
the entrance lay the body Of q man, with
blood flowing profusely from three di1erent
wounds, while another tall, welLdressed man.
with side whiskers and having q cigar In his
mouth, ran hurried up the steps. The crowd
closed around the PROSTATE body, and seemed not
able to realize the situation till young gentle
man dressed in black with dark hair and black
mustache, broke through the ring and throwing
up his hands exclaimed, 'My God my God that's
Tommy Donohue, and
JOHN sCANNELL KILLED HIMw
AS II suddenly brought to their senses the peo-
pie rushed to the street, shouting Murder" 'Mur
der;'' "Stop that man." Captain McElwaine, OF the
Twentieth precinct, who was going to his station
Baw the crowd and heard the cry, and seeing
6cannell, whom he knew well, running, gave chase
down Twenty-eghth street to Sixth avenue,
through Sixth avenue to Twenty-seventh street,
and on the corner OF Fifth avenue he
CAPTURED THE MURDERER.
Captain McElwaine brought him to the Twenty
ninth precinct station house and put him in charge
SDf the sergeant. Scannel cooly Lit his cigar and
asked to be shown to his room for the night.
The following is the story of the shooting, which
In Its details is one OF the most dastardly murders
that was ever committed In New York John
Scannell came into Johnsons club room about half
past eight. He took drink at the BAR shook
hands and talked with several around, and then,
having mingled among the
BETTING FRATERNITY
bought several pools on the election. About nine
O'Clock Mr.. Thomas Donohue came in, and as most
-Df the men knew him he shook hands with several
chatted freely he started to leave, and was
.stthin q few feet Of the stairs when
John Scannen came behind him, and pulling out
.One OF the largest size navy revolvers,
pointed at him and fred. The ball struck Mr..
'DonOhue under the left ear. He fell on his face
> and hands, rolled over on his back, and then John
Scannell empted the remaining four barrels into
his PROSTATE body. 1t was the work OF but few
seconds and yet in that time the spirit OF gen.
tieman was sent into eternity, while wife and
; veveral children were made to mourn the sudden
loss OF their protector and mother and two low
ting sisters to depore the hapless OF their son
and brother.
After the shooting the
EXCITEMENT WAS INTENSE.
The dead mans friends were frightfuly agitated
and wanted to hang the murderer to the nearest
|, iamprost. Their vows Of vengeance were not only
loud but deep. Over and over the many kind acts
sand generous qualities Of Thomas Donohue were
told, and how he had before magnanimously re-
lused to prosecute the man who had now taken his
lNe.
The surgeons gathered around. probed the
Ounds felt the pulse and tried to stop the now OF
bl OOd; but II seemed that life was extinct
al most immediately after the first shot.
Tn rough all the upper part OF Broadway
the story ran that Tommy Donohue was
kill ed, and, Notwithstanding the efforts OF
ap ttOOn OF police the crowd great that they
aim. sst trampled the dead body lying at the foot
Of the stairs. When persuasion failed force had to
be used and 1t was only with liberal use OF the
baton that the surging crowd were kept back.
Johnson, the pool auctioneer, was rushing about
like q Wild man, crying out to the officers, "Ain't
you going to take this man out OF my house p, but
the fewOflcers were almost powerless amidst the
rabhae. 1t was not for any want OF heart, it is to
,besupposed, that Mr.. Johnson spoke thus but
BUSINESS WAS BUSINESS,
szn6pcOl selling had given way for the time being
30 y greater excitement. At length the srretcher
WAS brought, ak stalwart policemen took up the
bleeding mass and carried 1t to the station house.
followed by AZ least three thousand persons
Tho body was brought to an inner room,
stripped and examined. There was one wound
under the left arm, under the lobe OF the left
.ear, ,snd another In the lower part OF the chest
lAny OF the wounds would have proved fatal but
me xssassn this time wished to make sure work
OF his victim.
ORIGIN OF THE OUTRAGE.
a. few minutes after one O'Clock on the afternoon
ofthe lfh q December, 1859, number OF politicians
headed by Florence Scannell who was then run
ming: for Assistant Alderman in the Eighteenth
ward. g0t into difnculty in the saloon of Thomas
Donolhue, 37s Second avenue, on the corner OF
Twenty. third street. Don0hue was friend OF John
Nesbit, who was canvassing for the same
positionsas Scannel. The entire party at the time
OF going into the saloon armed with clubs
pistols ksnyes and dirks. and that they meant mis-
chief was plain from the ARRAY they got up The
row began by John Scannell, the brother OF Flor
ence who Was boister0us In Ills denunciation
>pf Nesbt and his followers. He repeat
edly exclaimed I'll can kill any one OF
themh shat dapas to my pathn DON
niue surRisng the men had gone into his place
Tor the purpose or creating disturbance, ordered
them out. Hhey refused to comply with the order,
and threatened hem with violence II he or
any one I'M the place dared to molest
pr interfere swiths them. Some discussion
then ensued anti in few minutes
ihe whole place was dn an uproar. Shots were
freely exchanged, clubs were used in most inds-
criminate manner, anf when the melee was at Its
height Florence scanneil was hit By stray bullet.
He fell to the ground but got upon his feet
again and shouted to- the others to- con-
tinue their work. The ID Ahtng then became
more desperate. Bottles, q asses, chairs, table
legs and pewter mugs we're s&,nt flying through
she air while the bloody work o. the knives and
pistols was continued. The police, finally arrived
on the and made descent upon the
rioters. but for some time Y after their