The New York herald., 1874-11-04
Fight Of the Factions in the
Twenty.f1rst Ward.
BALLOTS Or BULLETS WHICH !?
Dying Declaration Of the Muir
dered Man.
A PAINFUL SCENE AT BELLEVUE
Statements Of Coroner Croker, Ex-Sen-
ator 0'Brien, Patrick Craig, Steve
O'Brien, and Others.

The Sd day Of November. 1874, will long be re-
membered in the Twenty-drst ward OF this city.
bitter political feud, an angry alteration and
exchange OF brutal blows, "rough and tumble"
melee participated in by excited and overheated
parisans, .hree or four reports from pistols ring
ing out loud and clear on the morning air, cry
0f pain mingled with oaths heavy thud upon the
pavement, another lie blotted out In the heat OF
political partsanship, and more homes made
desolate and miserable-such was the record OF
the early morning from the Twenty-frst ward on
the day OF election, and such Is the out-
line OF the bloody tragedy herewith chronicled.
This, the latest murder In our midst by
which a young man named John McKenna, about
thirty years OF age. lost his life, occurred at >
quarter-past seven O'Clock yesterday morning on
the corner OF Thirty-fourth street aud Second
avenue, and the parties implicated in the affair
are prominent local politicians and are known in
political circles throughout the city. The men I'm
mediately involved are Coroner Croker. ex-Sherln
O'Brieu, George and Henry Hickey, brothers. and
John Sheridan. The murder grew out OF the rival
ries or the O'Brien and Tammany factions, each
party claiming that the other was the aggressof;
poor mans life, however, being the forfeit of
their political antagonisms. Party spirit in
this district ran high yesterday morning
in reference to the Congressional contest, James
O'Brlen, ex-Sherin ana ex-State Senator,
running against Abram s. Hewitt nominee OF
Tammany Hall, and son.in-law Of Peter Cooper.
Crowds were early astir in the avenues where the
polling was to be carried on and especially in the
Twenty-drsS ward there was an unusual num-
ber OF rumors OF rioting and disturbances caused,
1t was said, by the
RAIDERS OF TIE o'BRIEN PARTY,
who swept down some OF the streets in that dis
trict, destroying Tammany ticket boxes and as
saulring voters. To understand the story properly
is necessary state that there has existed in the
Twenty-frst ward for a number Of years bitter
political eud between the opposing parties OF the
democracy, ex.Sherir O'Brien heading the inde-
pendent democrats, while Coroner Croker has been
the recognized leader Of Tammany Hall. Ever since
O'Bren'S defeat IN the contest Tor the Mayoralty
he has, 1T is SAID, been losing ground. Being
candidate TOR congress this year, 1t was asserted
that II he lost his election it would close his pot-
tcal career. When 1t was discovered, therefore,
that party OF his followers-supposed to be led
by his brothers, Larry and Steve O'Brien-were
raidlng the streets, something like panic seized
the more quiet voters. Rumors were rile in SEQ
ond avenue OF
oUTRAGEs UPON THE ACTIVE WORKERS
OF Tanmapy Hall, OF ticket boxes upset, pum-
melled citizens--among whom were several men,
bers OF the General Committee OF Tammany Hail
and, generally, actions more becoming the "Mo-
hawks" In the last century than free and inde.
pendent citizens OF an enlightened republic. One
man, by the name OF Luke Casey, member OF tho
Tammany General Committee, was pretty roughly
treated by the gang He was struck on the head and
otherwise assaulted. Mr.. Peter Seercy, the Tam
many candidate for Alderman In that district, also
received some slight injuries. This party at
length arrived at Thirty fourth street and Second
no asf Of ho
liquor store OF jeremiah Murphy & Bro. 1t was
then about O quarter-past seven O'Clock The
polling place was few doors below, In front OF
which were cOngregated the voters and workers Of
Tammany, prominent among whom was Coroner
Croker, who was iE charge OF the district for the
regular democracy. Croker demonstrated, 1t is
said, with the disorderly parties In pointed Ian
guage like this
"You had better get out Of this dlstricr you
thieves Go to the other side Of Broadway, where
you belong!"
This language, 1t is asserted, was addressed to tho
leaders Of the disordery party, among whom were
owen Geoghegan, william II. BOrst and others.
At this moment ex-Sherin O'Brien appeared on
the scene and said:-
.'What's the matterp WHAT'S the matter?n
'Take these thieves out Of this district" said
Croker, cor I'll have them sent to the Islandn
Boys" said O'Brien, "stay here as long as you
nke.n
At this an angry alteration took place between
the two politicians.
"There is no for them here, for you are beaten
already" SAID Croker.
The terms "repeater" and "thief,' now passed
between the two men and they came to blows
1t is said O'Brien struck Croker on the back OF
the head, and that thereupon Croker returned the
assault by violent blow on the mouth OF his
ri nche nd wora
surrounded by their respective partisans, number
ing between till ty and iorty, all OF whom partic
pated In the fight. The disturbance, OF course
Immediately attracted large crowd OF persons to
the scene and Tor o time the excitement was very
great. During the mdlGe The shooting, 1T is claimed
took place on the outer circle OF the crowd. John
NICK kenna-the unfortunate man who was shot
staggered from the sidewalk and ieil in the
street. lie was picked up without delay and car
ried to the drug store ut the nortnwesL corner OF
Thirty-iourth street and Second avenue, and soon
thereafter to Bellevue Hospital on stretcher.
AT THE TINE OF THE SHOOTING
Thomas Maher was also slightly wounded In the
arm. The police then arrested Coroner Croker, who
OF No. 40 East Tnlrty-second street, and George
Hickey and Henry Hickey, OF No. 36l Third ave.
police station, where oBrlen charged them with
fclonious assault. Coroner Croker made a counter
charge against the ex-Snerh, which was no. en-.
reporter at length IN another portion OF this re-
cital. The prisoners were searched and pistols
taken from the Hickey brothers and sheridan, but
none was ound on croker. Coroner Woltman ar.
rived at the station house and proceeded TO IN
vestgatc the charges against the prls-
oners. Oricer Smyth was examined,
VINO made the arrest OF Croker. He
testified to the fact OF the shooting, but upon
being asked to select the man who did the deed he
Identified n gentleman by the name or James
Maxwell, OF the snerin's ofhce who asserts that
he has not been near second avenue for about two
weeks, happening only accidentally 10 visit the
station house, thus giving another evidence OF
THE VALUE OF POLICE TESTIMONY.
The Coroner required the prisoners 10 enter bail
in the sum oil 5000 each for their appearance to
answer the charge against them wncn was
promptly urnished by Mr.. Edward Kearney,
butcher Of Catharine Market, VINO resides at No.
97 Lexington avenue. During the investigation