New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-29
PHILADELPHIA ASSASSINS.

Philadelphia has long possessed politician
of evil fame, known as Alderman McMullin, or
BILLY" McMullin. He has for many years
been the ruler and chief of gang of des-
peradoes infamous everywhere as the Moya-
mensipg Hose Company. He has repeatedly
been elected Alderman, and in that capacity
has of ooursdt frequently been called upon to
perform magisterial duties. Recent events de-
velop the fact that he has long been an insti
gator OF assassins, ready at any moment to set
ON his crew to murder any citizen who stood
in his way or whom he had reasons of interest
or vengeance to wish to destroy. So that Phila-
delphia has witnessed the strange spectacle of
blood-stained wretch, the chief and employer
of a band of braves whose Office it was to do
murder at his beck, sitting upon one of her
benches of magistracy and helping to enact
her laws. The facts. as they are told in the
confession of Hugh Mara, one of the murder
ers whom McMullin employed, are as follows
In 1862 one Brooks was a revenue detective
in Philadelphia, specially detailed from Wash
ington to investigate the frauds of the Whisky
Ring He appears TO have been an officer who
was not to be bribed nor intimidated, and as
q last resort it was determined to assassinate
him. The persons selected for this Office were
Mara, Dougherty, and Hamilton, all members
of the Moyamensing gang, and obedient to
the behests of its chief. The instigators Of
the deed appear to have been numerous,
though McMullin is the chief figure. These
three assassins lay in wait for Brooks many
days before safe opportunity for the assault
presented itself. There is something horrible
in the easy indifference and simplicity with
which the foiled murderer recounts the details
of the crime. They watched the house Of the
victim all one night, but he did not come
home. Again they met him in a narrow alley
way, but as he looked them sternly in the
face and seemed to be armed, they deferred
their attack upon him. The time came at
length. They stole upon him while he was
engaged in his duties, and, to use the
language OF Maras confession, IL went
"to within two steps of my man, and,
instead Of putting ball through his head,
al shot him under the shoulder blade-the
"least vital part" They then fled. Almost
their immediate place Of refuge was McMul-
Inns house, where they lay in concealment for
a time, and were then sent on to NewYOrk,
where they were arrested. They were tried,
sentenced to long terms in the State Prison,
and there one of them died of consumption.
The other two were pardoned by Gov. Geary
(who will have to explain the grounds of that
action to the citizens of Pennsylvania), and
McMullin brought them from the penitentiary
back to their old haunts in triumph.
In July last occurred the thirtieth anniyer-
sary of the establishment of tho Moyamensing
Hose Company, and the occasion was cele-
brated by banquet, at which McMullin made
a long speech in celebration of the organiza
ton Of which he had so long been the chief.
Half an hour after the conclusion of his
speech he was shot through the left breast,
and, as it was supposed, MORALLY, by Mara,
the immediate pretext being trivial quarrel
about some flowers which had decorated the
table. But the real reason was that McMullin
had never paid his tool the stipulated
price of blood. Mara had been prom
ised s20O. He testifes that he only received
Is. and this from McMullin. The wretch
Immediately fed, but possessed either with in
fatuation or animated with defiance, he came
back in a few weeks to his old haunts, and
was rearrested and lodged in jail TO await trial.
Meantime, the partner of his first attempt at
murder, Dougherty, suspected of having in
stigated or abetted tho shooting ot McMulln.