New-York tribune., 1874-11-04
ELECTION SCENES.
THE CROKER-O'BRIEN MURDER.
THE OLD JIMMY O'BRIEN FEUD.


WOUNDED IN AN AFFRAY BETWEEN JAMES
o'BRIEN AND CORONER CROKER AND THEIR
FRIENDs-CoNFIcTING STATEMENTS AND
CHARGES
The otherwise peaceful election in the Nine
teenth Ward marred yesterday early 10 tue iore-
noon by a most disturbance which arose from
some personal difference between James OBren candi-
date for Congress- and Coroner Richard Croker ana re-
suited n the murder Of John McKenna aud the wound
ING OF Thomas Maher neither OF whom was party 10
the strife or carried upon his person. Ihe
shootng was witnessed by large number OF persons
but the conflicting stories which they tell indicate tha'
for the moment. there was intense excitement whle
very much to the one who hred the tata
shot The testimony OF the dying mau points to Coroner
Croker as the one who shot him. The officer who arrested
Croker did not him use pistol during any
part OF the quarrel and others, who are not friendly to
the political faction which Coroner Croker belongs
say that ne time have any weapon in his
hand. Very few eye-witnesses found who could
rece with assurance. the details Of the shooting
The chief features of the fight by different per-
both Sides for the most part agree and are as
follows:
little before a. Coroner Croker who is an adher-
ent Of Tammany standing at the southeast corner
OF Thirtyfjurth-st and SecOndave.. conyersng with
OF his friends. james OBrien. who. In company
with OF his friends had been visiting several OF the
yoing places walking slowly toward the spot Where
Croker standing. when words passed De-
tween them. Whether OBrien or Croker made
the first offensive remark cannot be established
but many Witnesses agree In stating that Croker told
OBren that unless he took his thieves out OF the ward
he would have them sent 10 the Island O'Brien made
an angry reply OF some Sort and speaking to his COM
panou assured them that they had nothing to fear as
he knew OF who could drive them out OF the
ward. From words they came to blows. Officer
Smyth asserting that Croker first struck OBrien upon
upper lip o'Bren Immediately called upon Officer
smytb, who him. TO arrest Croker which he
proceeded do, the ground that OBrieu had been
assaulted At the moment Of The arrest, as the same
officer stated TO a TRIBUNE reporter, the first shot
was fired but not, he is confident, by Croker.
McKenUa WAS approaching them from the
street, and was about ten feet from the
sidewalk He stood for an instant after the pistol was
DISCHARGED then fell to the ground bleeding from the
head Friends rushed forward TO lift him up. and sub
seQuent wellngh lost In the confusion
which prevailed As assert. friends Of Croker now
their pistols and threatened TO shoot those who
were approaching McKenna. This drove them back for
a moment but several shots fred and many blows
struck How many had arms is uncertain. AT all
events McKenna had none. Croker and his friends
claim that be had none; OBrien and his friends de-
clare that he never carries pistol and did not have
one at this time. George Hickey Henry Hickey, and
John Sheridan friends OF Croker, Immediately ar
rested having taken part in the shooting or their
participation there seems question. Many who
present positively assert that nearly all the balls were
tired at james OBrien. but the only wound received
from the blow Of Croker. The friends of Brien
regarded it the time, and perssteny adhere to the
belief that there base attempt to assassinate him.
Meanwhile McKenna taken into the drug store on
tho opposite coruer. He still conscious but
bleeding from the head profusely Before he taken
away he had become unconscious from which condition
aroused himself previous to his death only recog
the friends about him. and say that Croker had
killed him. After the fight had been checked the TWO
II,olyou Drolo 'Rra aoll ban
the stationhouse The first four held in % 500
bail pistols having been found upon all except Croker,
who had been arrested for assault and battery Croker
wished TO have OBren arrested but satisfactory evi
dence elected TO show that the latter had used any
violence and he was discharged. Edward Kearney went
bail for the other four for the full amount, SIC 900.
The evidence taken by the Coroner was by no means
convincing. The officer making the first arrest
asked to identify those who took part in the quarrel
and he carefully picked out Assistant Under Sheri
James Maxwell whom he had seen with pistol
in his hand. 1t once shown that Maxwell was
uot that part of the city the time and the officer
Acknowledged that the affair was SO sudden and the
fight that he too much confused to assert
positively who were engaged in 1t besides the two
principals McKenna was taken TO Bellevue Hospital
without delay, and it ascertained that he
could live only few hours. He remained unconscious
most OF the time until his death, which oc-
CURED 1920 p. m. He returned TO con-
sciOusness for few moments. while several OF his
friends were watching beside him. He recognized Pat
rick Craig and two others, and as the former
spoke TO them and said that he knew them He
povey that Croker shot HIM nTc He was attended Rs
were found 10 have entered his head and caused his
death MeKenna 2S years OF age. and has lived for
several years with Patrick Craig at Tnrtysecond-st.
and second ave. during which time ne has been con-
ductor OF the city horse-raroadsot late
on the Second Avenue Road He is spoken highly of
IN the DeghbOrhOOd industrious and popular man.
Thomas Maher OF No. 59l Firsave. took no part In
fray hnf re-
ceived slight pistol wound in the John Sheridan,
OF the number under arrest, lives at No. 40 East
the position of Inspector OF Elections resulted in the
mOva OF Commissioners Gardner and Charliek George
Hickey said TO be assistant clerk III the Superior
Court In of the statements of persons present.
MeKenna said to have we kn9cKeG d dO%R one @ OF tRe
OBreD. Then he was, IN turn felled TO the ground,
credence the gwen above inasmuch as OBrien
and Croker istanding on the sidewalk, and
curbsone in the street and noticed coming
the two men just before he fell.
OF the numerous accounts of the fight as given by the
friends OF OBrien Croker, those OF Croker aud the
brother of 0'Brien are fairly representative.
aud second-aye where I had gone to look after the
regular Democratic tickets as had heard that there
was a crowd Of rouehs to be brought there by Mr.:
O'Brien TO destroy the Tammany ticket and
beat the Tamnany me9 Il was o,9 met by Mr..
Some words passed between resulting blow from
him. With me the two Hckeys and Mr Sheridan
there wss crowd with Mr. eBren; they urged him to
strike only had words with him told him that
all wanted was far play, and did not wish TO have
had brought there. Previous 20 this one OF his crowd
and his own brother Larry Brien. had Oeen arrested
for assautng Tue ngnt was general, and
shots were hred-sOme three four. don't know who
never carried pistol in my lie The police came M,
and asked TO have OBren arrested, but they refused
do not know john Mekenna, the injured man, nor DO
know who shot him.
Stephen o Bren says that George Hickey first drew a
ened to XII both Martin Hickey and Coroner Croker
then drew reyoyers, and the firing began AS Coroner