, 1872-11-06
THE SCANNELL VENDETTA.


A Man Deliberately HUNTED to Death.
Thomas Donoghuo Murdered by
Jolan Scannell---Flight and Capture
of the eAssassin--.An Angry Hob En-
deavor to Lynch Him.
From tie Ne,o York Times Mop. 3.
The Scannell- Donoghue feud eliminated last |
night in the murder Of Thomas Donoghue BY |
john Scannell, brother OF Florence scannen,
who was shot several years ago in bar-room |
tirht. The result of tlis most bitter feud was |
not unexpected, as Donoghue was known to be |
iu constant danger Of his life at the hands Of |
Scannen, who succeeded in shooting him last |
evening.
The Origin Of the difficulty between Thomas
Douorhue and John Scannell was 8 local politl- |
cal squabble. During the fall Of 1859, Florence
Scanneu was candidate for Alderman in the
nominee. Tho factional feeling ran high be,
tween the two parties, and several rows occurred
in consequence. Both Of the 6cannells were
bad men, who, like too many Of their class, de-
pended upon the spoils Of politics for their
means of living. Once arrested for repeating
at the election Of 1868, Florence became famous
for time by his contumacious insolence before
Congress- when summoned as witness beforo
the Committee invegtigatng the election frauds
in this city.
Thomas Donoughue kept liquor store at the
southeast corner Of Twenty third street and Sec-
oud avenue IN the year 1869, and, being mem
Der of the Tammauy Committee and OF the Amerl-
! Gus Club, WAS naturally warm supporter OF Nes-
btt. There was, apparently, no ill-blood between
| him and the Scannels, though tho latter were
freoucntlyin the habit Of cleaning out" saloons
supposed to be resorts for their political oppo-
| nents whenever their ruffanly instincts hap-
pened to prompt them to some desperate act Of
On the night Of Dec. g. 1869, tho two Scan
| nells. with gang Of dozen followers, entered
| Donoughue's saloon, and started to enter an IN
| o0111Gf d1f
Donoughue Was behind the bar, and noticing
| the defiant attitude assumed by the ScanneU
party. called to those in the room to shut the
door, Florence pushed it open, however, and
his gang producing huge oans from nnuer aId the
inmates. A general battle ensued, and pistols
we're freely used, several persons being wounded;
One Of tile bullets struck Florence scanneu
the heapad 5ssa Logging 81 8ee1ue IN the HaRspa RP IN
| Wien death ensued. At the time of the
tragedy it was generally believed that Florence
was uninteptionally wounded by his brother
John during the fight, although the latter has
a1ways % persisted il asserting that Donoghuo had
fred the fatal shot. This was combated BY. the
friends Of the accused, and they claimed that 1t
was impoasib1o for Donoghue to have shot Flor
once in the back, for he happened to pe 1ac1ng
him at the time. Donoghue always denied that
ho had ever fred pistol during the disturbance.
When IN inquest was held BY Coroner Flynn,
the bitter feeling manifested BY John scanneA
toward Donoghue was remarkable, as he at one
time made M effort to shoot the latter IN the
presence Of the Coroner and his jury. When ne
testified iu the case, he distinctly affirmed that
lis brother had been shot by Dono5hue, ana
was in fearful rage when the coroner and
District Attorney reeased the prisoner On bail,
to await the action of the Grand Jury. so BIT
J ter we're his expressions and his threats OF ven
J geance, that Donoghue's friends removed nun
from the city until he was required for trial, 8
procedure that resulted II h1s honorable acqult-
tnl on the charge OF murder
The result seemed to infuriate John beyond
all bounds, for he mado no hesitation n an,
, uouncng wherever he went that be would k1u Il
| Donocnue on sight. Indeed, when at the
deathebed Of his brother, Florence, John make 6
vow that he would take bloody revenge. That
} he fulfilled the oath is now seen Indeed he
t made an effort once before, but did not succeed
3 in the death of his proposed victim.
: Scannen began his vendetta on the night Of
t Sept. u, 1870. Thomas Donoghue was walking
= up Third avenue with his cousin, when, at tne
9 corner Of Seventeenth street, he was confronted
o guised by false wIiskers. Donoghue recognized
Il John scannel through the disguise, and stepped
J; back. Scanned at once drewa De1rnger plato
t and shot Douoghue through the left breast
= infiicting what at that tlmo WAS though
i Donoghue subsequently recovered. scannel
u fed through Seventeenth street, pursued b
: Sergeant Iooney and Officer Burleigh, Of th
y Eighteenth Precinct; He threw the detIlngo
false whiskers coat, and brown wig. Runnin
through Irving place, he escaped aud fed th
city. On the recovery of .Donoghne, scanne
returned to- tho clty y, from @ th y
o lad Geon hiding, aud surrendered himself Z
;. Captain Cameron when he was held in S10,0
d bail for trial, on Charge Of felomous assault
Although indicted by the Grand Jury, he wa
never Drought to the bar ofthe General Sessions
- and since that time has quietly waited for a
~ opportunity like that of last night to fulfil h
~ deadly purpose. ~, - ~
y The pool-selling had attracted some 300 or 40
he men, representing all grades oi s9ciety, 70 u
a. a. ito candidates Mr.. johnson had been aellin
A. large pools for about an hour, the chief specult
a. ~ tors being seated on Of chairs, had bee
ut range around the auctioneors deskl whio et IL
ed the bars, quietly sitting at the several table
~ Tho first intimation OF disturbance was the r
q port Of single pistol shot, at which the VINO M
'a3f to the Broadway entrance to Apollo Ha!
10 10 Every one present was panic-strieken, md
ID the struggle hats were smashed, clothing tol
ia to shrods, and the majority OF tho tables, chal
'e' we're knocked down and trampled upon, md OF
ma named William MCGEE had his leg broken. 4
IIE Ia this happened in q few seconds, and in Il
Va. Meanwhile four other pistol-shots resound'
a.. through the building. and they, Of course, i
~ creased the excitement, and caused those ri
,or were struggling to get out to increase their c
ri forts. A cry Of 'pick-pockets" was also raise
for I when some Of the sporting men present, vi
,ht doubtless had large sums Of money upon the
~ persons, suddenly turned toward the Twent
NJ eighth street entrance, supposlng that the plst
r. had been discharged by some confedorates OF t
thieves, for the purpose of causing the pan
led Simultaneously with this movement, sever
af voices shouted sIts all over now, but horo's
| a