The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-22
nm lnonens I've Man Shot Dead in Chat
lam Square Last Night.
TIE MURDERER IN CUSTODY.
NJ Just Pulled Out My Pistol
and Shot Him."
The Cause Of the Tragedy-A Dispute Between
Drivers as 10 the Right Of Way.
THE DEAD MAN IN THE PARK HOSPITAL.


sprung up In this city was yesterday augmented
by still another, quite rs wantOn and unprovoked
rs any in the annals OF crime Indeed, so little
provocation was given In this case that it amounts
nothing short OF for, far as can
be ascertained, even taking the murderer's own
version OF the affair, the victim was wholly unof-
tending.
The locality Of the tragedy was just at the juno
ton Of Chatham square and East Broadway, or, to
be still more definite, in front OF No. 4 Chatham
square, Just as night was
SHEDDING ITS sOMBRE MANTLE
over the city pedestrians and others in the above
locality were startled by the quick sharp report OF
pistol coming from amid the throng Of vehicles OF
every description which lined the thoroughare.
Thus far 1t has been impossible to find any one who
saw the shot fred but Mr.. Frederick Clawess, Of
the New Bowery Savings Bank, and q boy named
william Crest Of No. 10 Bowery, hearing the report
while passing in a Third avenue car looked up and
saw man jump Off wagon and instantly disap-
pear in the hurrying crowd, and at the same mo-
ment noticed
THE UNFORTUNATE VICTIM
fall on his horse, large gray one, which he was
riding in the direction Of Catharine ferry No per-
son near had heard any quarrelng, even any
loud talk, although from what afterward TRANSFERRED
1t IL evident some OF the latter was INDUCED In.
Nor could any one tell whittier the murderer had
ned. The whole thing was over from the beginning
to the end in such incredibly short space OF
time that no man knew anything Of the principals
70 the occurrence. or course a crowd at once
sembled in the locality, and the injured man was
instantly
RAISED FROM THE FILTH
OF the street, when it seen that he shot in
che head, the ball having entered through the
bridge OF the nose. He never spoke a word, but
breathed short and quick, as though life was fast
ebbing away. Omcers hurried for a stretcher, on
procuring which the man was tenderly placed upon
1t and quickly transported to the Fourth precinct
station house. Other officers secured the horse he
81 had so lately ridden, well the wagon and
horse from which the supposed murderer had been
seen to jump, and took them also to the station
house.
AFTER THE MURDER.
Az soon as the wagon was driven up Onlcer Var
buskirk recognized it as the same in which he had
during the day, seen one Michael Nixon, notOri-
ousiy bad man. riding Nixon lives at A Baxter
with his partner, FitZsimm0ns, OF the same pre-
cinct, hurried in hopes Of catching him before he
could have time to change his clothes and escape
The shooting was done At just halipast five O'Clock
and twenty minutes later the Officers entered the
act Of making active preparations for flight. He
subsidized Instantly on seeing the men enter and
never made an en0rt to escape from them. taking |
him to the station house the officers arraigned him
BEFORE CAPTAIN ULMAN.
III
square. Eyes, did shoot him, Captain" instantly
replied Nixon, not muscle OF his face quivering |
or his voice ALTERING In the least; al shot him be-
cause he said he would strike me with whine |
tree"
.How came he to threaten you in that wayYr |
"well, win tell. was coming down the street |
In my wagon, and when near the corner OF East |
fellow ahead Of me riding gray truck horse. He |
carried whirnetree across the horse in front OF |
him asked him to get out Of the way and he would
I n I'm
and Just as got near him he put his hand on the
whifiletree and said he would hit me with 1t. l |
wasn't going to sit there like . fool and let him |
snst him. When j saw him fall OF the horse
ployer's saloon, on the OF Catharine street
and sns East East Broadway. Mr. Lndeman, who keeps
where the oficers found me-" ~ '
THIS was his story, and on so slight provocation
he took human life he had no regrets to ex:
press; on the contrary, seemed to think he had |
done just and proper thing
THE MURDER.
Michael Nixon has, according to Captain Ulman's |
statement. been terror to the peaceable inhab- |
itants Of the lower portion OF the city for years.
He 10 thirty-two years OF age, Is rather below the
medium height and is slender built. He is a bill. |
poster, and has for some time been working for a
saleon 1t the corner Of East broadway and Catna.
zine street. Several times he has been In the |
hands Of the police for attempting to shoot per-
sons, and Is universally known as desperate,
bad man.
Az soon az Warden Brown, Of the Centre Street
Immediately
DESPATCHED AN AMBULANCE
70 the Fourth precinct station house. where the
wounded man was stll lying apparently dead and
covered with blood. The ambulance arrived at the
hospital about hall past six O'Clock p. NJ The MUIR
dered man, who still retained the warmth OF life
was taken In by Warden Brennan. He was both |
Incapable Of recognizing anybody or ANYTIME
bathed
THE BLOODY WOUND,
'wnich looked most CHASTITY ana repulsve. The
ball had evidently penetrated the upper part or
lett eye entered the middle OF the skull, directly
under the left eyebrow, TO the brain.
THE FEATURES OF THE MAN
locked as II fixed angrily on some object, but were
well formed. His lace indicated some intelligence
and strsng determination. His forehead was high
and broad; his cheek bones promiaen near the
eyebrows; his nose aquiline aud well formed, and
HIS EYES SWOLLEN AND BLACK.
He wore sandy whskers, which seemed to have
emily been a short time growing and were APP
preaching to a reddish color, also mustache Of
HIS CLOTHES WE'RE rATrERED
and old looking He was clad in bad pants and
undercoat Of brOwnish faded tweed. He had
vest OF the same color and an old ragged 0vercoat,
with scarf around mis- neck, all OF which indicated
high boots. HUE stockings and brown tweed cap.
He died about ten minutes after reaching the hos
DIED WITHOUT ANY ApPAREsr AGONY
Judging from his appearance when seen by the
HERALD reporter, he was not man addicted TO
arink, He locked as though he had led careful,
good life.
his FRAME WAS ROBUST
ana his weight must have been about one hundred
and nifty pounds
In the inside coat pocket OF the murdered man
VAS found copy OF the constitution OF the Mohawk
Tribe No 1 of
-s.., TUE IMPROVED ORDER OF RED xEN.
IN ,Ss ,ew some light on his name and character.
I. An LILLE copy was found receipt with
THE NAME, FIFE,
ssneu on ~ whch caused the officers OF the police
Snu sne Mardea OF the hospital to suppose that his
,ssme ne. must oe Fiie. Not willing, however to rely
.n, ~ xh proof OF his name with the inten-
LVn OF nndlng cut all about hun Detectives we're
se7pstcneo 10 Williamsburg to search up his name |
previously living. 'VS' "s "ao Deen
Deceased was
sENsELEss FROM THE MOMENT NE rp,,
fN'm his horse. and could not be broneht 20 no an,
tAeans, nor enabled by any treatment OF the INV
selAn W give utterance to his name The blood
Continued to gush from the wound until bathed and