The New York herald., 1874-11-04


told MIN wanted him 10 take the thieves out OF
that district or would have them sent up on the
party to STAY as long as they liked From words
We came TO blows. l was struck arst oy U'Brlen
on tne BACK OF the neck. then struck him IN the
we're surrounded BY large crowd, the pistol
shots were fired; l. 90 not know by whom. II
could not have been O'Brien or myself for we both
had hold OF one another. l never saw Mckenna
until he fell. do not know who nred the shots,
but am confident that the intention was 10 get
me out OF the way, In order that the election
could be managed in their own manner. When
We got TO the police station was searched, out
the sergeant refused 10 search O'Brlen, and re-
fused to take my counter-charge against him. ]
long as can use my nands.O
Ex-shERIFP o'BRIEN's VERSION.
Later In the day exsherir O'Brien was found
ana gave the lolo wing statement
II was passing down Second avenue when
found Two friends OF mine, Mr.. Costello and Mr..
William Borsr, taking with Coroner Croker. some
Croker said he would beat me by two thousand
majority. ! replied that they belonged to the
not any
rounded by his friends the Hickeys and John
Sherioan-most OF whom resided out OF my DIS
struck me in the mouth.n the ex-sherifi's mouth
showed the marks OF blow). .'At the same time
ing Tor the police; they closed on me ana several
shots were nred at me. poor McKenna at this
time knocked George hickey's weapon up In
the street and George Hickey nred again at hum.
At this time the police arrested the crowd"
THE DEATH OF THE VICTIM.
AT twenty minutes alter twelve O'Clock yester-
day morning John McKenna oreathed his last at
Bellevue Hospital. He received before his death
who was In attendance upon the unfortunate man,
and who, 1t Is said, was conscious Tor lew
minutes before ne died. recognizing MS friend
Patrick Craig with whom he boarded), Captain
Alalre, OF the twenty first precinct, and sergeant
Just been removed from the hospltai ward TO the
dead house, near the river. McKenna appeared
to De MAJ, man Q, medium height 81 gnt com com
Ills coffin was surrounded by weeping friends,
VINO bewailed his sad late with piteous tears and
maledlctlons on the heads OF those who mad cut
him on IN the "hower OF his YOUTH
Mr.. Craig, on being questioned, showed the
HERALD reporter all the articles found upon
McKenna when he was taken to Bellevue; they
consisted OF o pair Of ordinary studs, "A sleeve
button, q few pennies and bunch Of soed eiec-
WAS ne conscious before he dledw asked the
reporter. .ro
friend. ~ said to him, Johnny, do you know mea
He said, Yes, know you' We'll, Johnny, tel US
snot me. stood up three or four moments before
fell, and wnen you tmeanng craig tried to raise
me, George Hickey arcd his revolver INTO me-
'Dld you see tue iirlngs" the reporter asked OF
Craig.
"ldid," was the reply. for hickey levelled his
said, 1'.l .:IiIl xii you, You sou oi -
reporter wended mis- way soon after the
tragedy to the
at the corner OF Tnirtieth street and Lexington
avenue. to interview some OF the O'Brien adj
MIR. stephen U'Brlen brother OF the ex.sherlr
was found therein, and although he did not deny
that there had been some rotlng IN the early
ground that intimidation in the shape OF siung
shots had been used by the Tammany
sion Of the dlincuty between lis brother
death OF McKenna, ne substantially confirmed
tharW ivno ns n NJ tnaa u fraV Inn
asserted emphatically tnat Croker the Hickey
brothers and Sheridan brandshed their pistols.
street, and that George Hickey then fred upon
him with the expression, "lll kill you, you son OF
SERGEANT CHRIsrIE's STATEMENT.
The sergeant In charge oi the Thrty-tfth street
station house visited shortly after the atrray,
Cookers r. Charge against Mr.. o'Brien' mad Ot not
been acted upon Sergeant Christie, VINO
So4s On No DUTY .nss Gssse Of s Sesn
used or even struck, but that O'Brien nad his Ii .
cut open, and believing his 70 oe the ,graver
charge OF the two, he entertained 1t. O'Brlen
simply made charge Of assault and battery
against the Coroner. Upon being further ques-
before him was 10 the eject that O'Brien came
down into the ward early Ia the morning to look
after ms ~ M s5 ne me- and
woras passed between tnem, when croker
struck O'Brlen in the mouth. Hickey then un-
struck MIN; Croker then drew a pistol and fired,
and ut the same time hickey fired; Croker then
hastily passed his pistol 10 some one in the crowd,
when Mckenna tell to the ground shot In the
head.
CAPTAIN ALLAIRE,
ON Deing questioned, refused 10 say what the rev.
elarl0ns OF the dying McKenna were, as he did
not think 1t proper at this time. 1t was supposed
tnat the autossy would take place at once and
moved to the residence OF MS friend Craig 1t re-
mains Tor the law TO unravel the mystery ana un.
tangle the evidence OF this bloody street aray, in
order that luSLlCe may be VlnQlcateQ.
STATEMENT OF AN EYE WITNESS
pertaining to the anair, happened to meet Mr..
Larry Delmaure, formerly one OF MIR. O'Brien's
chief supporters and an active member of the
put to him by the HERALD reporter he stated,
albeit reluctantly his version OF the affair as fol-
.Billyn Borst, politician belonging to the West
side, with some oil his friends, came across to the
Twenty.hrst ward and happened to meet near the
fourth street, Coroner Croker, with whom he
entered into conversation. Croker addressed
Borst as foli0ws:-"Bily, what are you doing over
your presence here will only create trouble"
Just about this time Ex-senator James O'Brien
TO Borst, said, billy, what is that damned loaier
saying to your"
O'Bnen retorted, looking directly at Croker,
"You are damned ioafer, and God damned
loafer, and repeater"
q damned thiei." Upon this O'Brien made strike
at Croker. when botn men cl lnched.
number OF the partlsans OF both parties to the
scrimmage immediately considered the quarrel as
their own, and rushed to the rescue OF their re-
spective leaders The Croker crowd, being lne
more numerous, succeeded In oustng the O'Brien-
ites who fed. AS they retreatcd, headed by
O'Brien, some Of the Croker crowd drew revolvers
and fred.
Some seven or eight shots were fred before the
police interfered. When the naetde had In a great
measure supsided it was found tnat one John
Mckenna had received bullet wound on the
left side OF the head. He was promptly
conveyed to Bellevue Hospital, where his
injuries were attended 10. Mr.. Delmaure further
said that the thing was wholly unprOvoked, and
that Larry" O'Brien had been sSirmisning
through the whole district during the morning,
with party Of Houston street .'Roughs," eec-
tioneering In behalf OF his brother ana intimi-
dating honest voters. Other gangs, led by other
cheltalns, had been engaged in the same work.
THE CASE IN THE POLICE COURT
After the release on bail yesterday morning Of
Coroner Croker by Coroner Woltman at the Thirty
NTH street police station the former gentleman
proceeded to Judge Murray's Court, at Filty-sev-
enth street IN order 10 get out warrant Tor ex-
Sheriff OBrien for assault with intent KILL. The
Court, however was closed until the afternoon.