The New York herald., 1874-11-06
THE M'KENNA HOMICIDE.
Captain Allaire and the Police Author
tiles Censured for Neglect 'Brien
and His Friends Bailed.
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIM.

FUNERAL OF THE VICTIM.
The killing OF John McKenna on the morning Of
election during the fracas which occurred be-
tween James O'Brien and Coroner Croker formed
the principal topic OF conversation In all political
circles yesterday. The excitement In the district
whore the night took place was, II anything, con-
siderably increased, and wherever the parttsans
OF the opposing factions were gathered together
the discussion az TO where the onus should De
placed waxed strong. In fact. several breaches OF
the peace arising out OF these discussions were
often imminent but were, fortunately, prevented.
One and all, however, condemned the action, or
rather want OF action, on the part OF the police
authorities
LACK OF PRECAUTIONS.
1t was contended that had the Police Commits
si0ners paid attention to the warnings they re-
ceived or had Captain Allalre, who has command
OF the precinct. been sufficiently prompt In an
swering the call made upon him for assistance,
the whole affalr might have been prevented and
human life saved. From further investigations
made yesterday by . representative or the HERALD
It appears that the intention OF the roughs
OF the O'Brien faction to strike terror
through the district In the early morning OF eec-
Monday. and at the same time Q request
was made to him for an extra force
OF police to be placed along the avenues
The gentlemen who notified the Captain
OF the anticipated trouble were ex-Alderman
Peter seary, T. Cooper Campbell, John Kelly,
Coroner Croker and Abram Hewitt. Captain
Allaire replied, is seems, tnat It would be all
right, and the gentlemen above mentioned left
the station house. believing that SUFFICIENT force
the morning OF the 3d-as has been already stated
| IN the HRRALD-however, the preparations made
by Captain Alaire appeared to be insufficient, and
| ne was asked again to send out more men, Mr.
| Seary even going 80 far rs to say to him that
as the west side OF the pi ecnct was well known to
| be peaceable he could withdraw his men from that
quarter and throw them over on the east side,
where the Indications showed there was trouble
to be apprehended. To this suggestion Captain
| Allaire replied that
| 'Tr WAS ALL RIGHT"
but he failed to act upon the good advice thus
given him. When the roughs began their raIding
upon the boxes Captain Allaire or the sergeant on
| duty was again notified and asked for more p0-
licemen, the committee who went to the station
house going 30 far 40 to ask him to telegraph TO
the Central ONCE for the reserves which we're
known TO be on duty. Nothing. however, was
i done looking toward an attempt at quelling the
riots hence the unfortunate and disgraceful scene
which resulted In McKenna's death.
CAPTAIN ALLAIRE's STATEMENT
| Captain A.laire, when questioned last night by
the HERALD representative, admitted having re-
and also to having replied to the gentlemen pre-
ierring the request that II he could not take care
70 Headquarters ior assistance but only got six
men. lie thinks ne made the best disposition OF
MS force possible ana denies tnst any Of the
serts that until the rencOftre occurred between
OBrlen ana Croker there was
NO DISTURBANCE AT ALL.
| When questioned somewhat more closely upon
some OF the details already published in the
HERALD he appeared to get considerably confused
and mixed In MS replies, and finally wound up by
saving that there would be an investigation OF tue
affair." and he should prefer to let the matter rest
too, disinchned to admit that he knew OF any
that he had mo- M
arrest Of any one. coroner Croker he had not
seen since Tuesday last, and did not know whether
he was keeping out OF the way or not. He
thought ir would be better for him to know
nothing at present, he said. When asked
a partiaity in favor OF OBrien IN that he rufused
to entertain the charge made by Coroner Croker
replied that he too would say nothing. preierring
wait until the C0roner's inquest was held. when
was then pnt to him as to whethe he was Of the
opinion that Coroner Croker fired the shot which
Killed Mckenna. 10 sn. this ne ,Tp repied well do
when / give my evidence. was not on
the scene myself and should not like
though have certain testimony which win prob
ably show who the guilty party Is"
tanned the writer left the station house.
OBRIRN GIvKS BAIL
bornood OF the Central once, in Mulberry street,
yesterday morning by the TACT becoming known
that ex-senator James 0,Brisn, accompanied y by
! ham Borst had just entered the building In order
to surrender. themselves 70 The war
TOR their arrest by coroner Woltman.
As the parties mentioned stepped IRON
Gliding they We're Recognized
0an,ins who were assembled around the enhance
s...., ysro news was quickly spread that Jimmy
up" crowd was almost as sQon assembled, and
when O'Brien ana mis- friends came out ~ the
custody OF an ofiicer, who had been detailed BY
before Coroner Woltmann al the Coroner's offce
on the opposite corner, they were gazed at and
stared at as though they were
NATURAL CURIOsITIEs.
The crowd followed them and tried to force
up the steps Leading III to 5s
an entrance. Coroner Wotman admitted all the
implicated parties to bail In 1000 eacn, Sheridan
| Shook becoming bOndsman for the O'Briens and
Borst, and James McGovern, OF Pearl street, act
ing IN the same capacity for Costello. Coroner
Croker, up to late hour last night, had not been
served with any additional warrants. and conse-
quently did not think proper to put IN an appear
ance either at the Police headquarters or Cor
oner,s ONCE. He however, Will do SO II 1t is
thought necessary to serve any legal papers on
him He and OBrien are now both under bail,
and It is asserted, that ne has not beer Keeping
out OF the way as some Of his enemies have sug.
gested.
THE INQUEST
will take place on Monday next. Among the
numerous callers at the Coroners office yester-
day were John Kelly. Henry L. CLINTON and
Colonel Fellows, the two latter acting as counsel
for Coroner Croker They express themselves az
being perfectly confident that they will be able tu
show tnat their client was not In any way con-
cerned in the shooting number Of witnesses
have already, they say, come forward who are
willing to swear that Croker was not In position
70 arc the fatal ahot. and further that he ne YER