Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-03-25
A MURDER NOT COMMITTED.


Lynchs Atenptto XIII the Chief Staff Officer of Gen.
Sickles our Spanish Minister in the Erie RaiI,cay
Rerolution-70mmy Drunk and Tommy Sober.
Mr.. Tommy Lynch, who commanded
Gould's reserves during the late CAM
paign in the Grand Opera House, was a
frequent visitor at the Erie offices during
the days of Fisk. He is a man of good
address, in appearance the reverse of
rough, and, when sober, has pleasant,
offhand manner, and ready wit which
almost rivalled that of Fisk He is also
man of some force of character, as wit
ness the baf1ed attempt on the Erie safe
on Monday night, March 18th; and
when under the influence of liquor Mr..
Lynch is one of those gentlemen whom it
is pleasanter not to meet. He has fair
education, and it is his boast that lie
speaks in good English,
WHAT ANNOYED TOMMY.
During the past week Tommy has
been much written about in the newspa-
pers. Some of his deeds have not been
commented upon favorably, and ne has
been credited with the use of slang phras-
es Tommy has taken offense at this,
and imagined that Mr.. George Crouch,
who has been so prominently identified
with the Erie reform movement. was re-
sponsible for the publication of certain
articles in the newspapers.
At ten o'clock on Thursday night Mr..
Crouch was sitting in the office of the
Hoffman House, where he is quartered.
He and Gen. Lansing, one of the new
Erie Directors, were occupying that side
of the Office, directly opposite the radia-
tor in the centre of the room. They
were quietly discussing the situation,
while the office was more than usually
crowded with bankers, brokers, and bus
mess men, with whom Erie was the pre-
vailing topic.
CONVERSATION INTERRUPTED.
Suddenly MIR. crouch was conscious of
the presence of Mr.. Tommy Lynch
Looking up he saw standing close to him
man of about five feet eight, thin, dark
face, black hair. small black moustache,
and swapping black eyes, which flashed
with anger. This was Mr.. Lynch. He
carried his right hand in his trousers
pocket. The knuckles of the hand were
perfectly white, whitened by the tight
grasp which he held on the butt of a
pistol, which just showed above the top
of his pocket. Tommy's features were
set, and his teeth gritted audibly-
Crouch saw that what was coming was
not play.
''Are you fixed ~ muttered Tommy,
in low, distinct tone, which startled
those who sat near.
"No, Tommy" said Crouch. Pm not
fixed-I never carry weapons. y
ARMED AND UNARMED.
WELL" said Tommy, kissing the
words through his teeth, Pm fixed, and
he raised his right hand and what was
in it, until the glistening chamber of a
pistol was visible.
"If any of your friends about here
have got a shooting IRON continued
Tommy, 'you had better get it. -
Tommy" said Crouch, whats the
matter? You are a little excited to-
night
YES" said Tommy, Eyes | am excl
ted, and one of us two are going to quiet
down before long. Either | am going tc
put you to sleep or you are going to put
me to sleep. Do you understand %
By this time Crouch saw that Tommy
meant murder, and nothing less. He
also saw that his only chance lay in no.
body mixing in, for that would precipi.
tate melee which would afford Tommy
the opportunity he sought, and besides
several men of his gang were at hand
some having entered with Tommy. while
others remained in front of the hotel
TURNING AWAY WRATH.
Crouch calmly arose to his feet, ant
carlessly putting his hand on Tommy;
shoulder, said:
'.See here, Tommy. what's all thi:
about? Let us talk this over quietly
and Crouch took position against the
end of the radiator, while Tommy stooc
with his back to pile of trunks, and
about two feet from Mr. Crouch
Tommy's hand and pistol were in tn,
same position. Crouch looked straigh
into Tommy's eyes, and prepared t.
throw his arms around him if he moved
his right hand.
At this time the situation was know
to every one in the office. and all wa
still as death. Many stood up, ant
many were in whatever attitude they hat
when they first gained knowledge Of tn
situation, having apparently been trans
fixed. All eyes were turned on the tw,
men in the centre Then came the trial
Lynch began to oyerwhelm Crouch witt
impolite language and threats. Any
thing to provoke Crouch to an offensiv
action. Bat Crouch kept perfectly cool
and gave his adversary no chance Tn
burden of Tommy's complaint was tn
articles in the newspapers
BY ALL MEANS GET SOBER
Tommy" said Mr.. Crouch, ..yo,
come and see me in the morning, whe
you are COOL
Mr.. Tracy, one of the clerks. sen
for the police Ex-Liet. Gov, Challis Q
Kansas endeavored to have the porter
put Tommy out. Crouch saw that thi
would be the breaking out of storm
and he ordered them back.
Don't touch him. said he; .'there'
little difference between Tommy an
myself, and we will settle it ourselves,