The New York herald., 1874-08-08
MURDER.
The knife and tho Hammer-A Trade
Hv,in NTrrr

The Knifo and tho Hammer-A Trade
Union Murder.
For some time past o bitter feeling has existed
among the society men in the various trade
unions OF the Eastern District Brooklyn since the
recent difficulties with the coopers. The ter
rible Dwyer tragedy, however. in which
Q mother killed her three children be-
cause her husband would not work, put
quietus on the Coopers' Union and ended
the strike. Then the plasterers and masons took
up the quarrel against non-sOolety men, which cu.
minated in the murder OF a society man last night
at the new building the corner Of North seventh
and Fourth streets, Williamsburg.
THE MURDER
took place about six O'CLOCK P. NJ. or few mo-
mems IN tne FoureentI @ ward ~ thonsa5Is aateerns
about the scene OF the ARRAY and follow
ing the body to the station house. where TREY
'llugered long after the perpetrators had been In
carcerated and the witnesses secured IN the cells
OF the station house on Fourth street The details
OF the horrible affair, as near as can be ascer-
ag1tates the community. are as follows-
James Killdun, Thomas Mclaughlin and John
Kingston, three masOns and "sOciety men, who
had knocked on work at five O'CLOCK, visited the
row Of tenement houses in course Of erection on
Fourth street, between North Sixth and North
Seventh streets. and alter a few minutes conver-
sation not having succeeded In persuading the
workmen there employed to join their society or
"trade unlOn,n commenced co quarrel with
the men, who continued to work until six
O'CLOCK. A few minutes before that hour,
however, the jibes and insults OF the interlOpers
had exerted such an efYect upon the workmen that
o general assault was made upon them, during
which Killdun was thrown out OF the premises by
James Burke and John Keenan,, two non-society
men whom he first struck. Alter he reached
the SIDEWALK Burke followed up the toss
while the other men were actively en-
gagged inside, and their fight worked out Its
way on the sidewalk, when Kildun again joined
in. At this stage OF the proceedings the private
Watchman appointed by the owner Mr.. Daniel
Schaener, to look after the buildings, approached
the scene Of the conflict and recognizing the
strangers as aggressOrs, seized plaslerer's ham,
mer and joined with the workmen in their fight
with the society men, inaugurating his part in
the conflict with two blows with the hammer on
the temple of Jsmes Kildun. As soon as the
wounds were indicted Kilrdun
FELL TO THE SIDEWALK
drew an immense multitude and threats were
made against the parties Implicated In the AFFAIR,
but the prompt action OF Captain WOglOm and
his sergeant prevented an en1eute although the
streets between the scene Of the murder and the
station house were densely tnronged. The police
arrested, as parties to the murder, John Keenan,,
James Burke and Frank Tuck with the following
men as witnesses James Watson, Frank Pelham,
John wendell and Chris. Rittman. Later IN the
evening q boy fifteen years OF age, named Nc
Laughlin. who witnessed the whole occurrence,
was also taken charge OF by the police.
Coroner Whitehill, who was at once notified
caued at the station house last night ana, after
ordering the removal of the body (which had been
taken there) to Parker's undertaking establish
ment proceeded to impanel jury, and will pro-
ceed with the inquest this morning.
THE DECEASED
was a single man, forty years Of age, residing at
No. IS North Second street. while his assaiant Is
comparatively young man, married, with a
family, and residing in the same street, on the
corner OF First street, about Two blocks distant.