The New York herald., 1874-12-21
TERRIBLE PISTOL ACCIDENT.


TERRIBLE PISTOL ACCIDENT.
POLICE CAPTAIN ISAAC S. BOURNE SHOT DEAD BY
A NEWSPAPER REpoRTER-wHAT CAME OF A
TROPHY OF THE BAY RIDGE TRAGEDY.
most shocking AFFAIR occurred shortly after
noon yesterday IN Brooklyn, in which the life OF q
much respected ofricer was sacrificed and sorrow
ana trouble brought upon TWO families, those Of
the deceased and OF hts unintenti0nal slayer. Tho
victim was Isaac s. Bourne, Captain OF the Second
Police precinct. and the man who shot him is John,
Crawford Pollock, reporter employed by the
Brooklyn Argus. The shooting was entirely acci--
dental. and, strange to relate, was brouRhN abOu1
through discussion Of the Bay Ridge tragedy
1t was while an inexperienced man was handling
loaded pistol that the fatal shot was fred and a
fellow being, without a moments warning, In the
full vigor OF early manhood, FASTENED into eter-
nifty. The facts as elected by the HERALD repre-
sentative are best told, perhaps, by the indlvidu-
ais who came in close contact with the actors In
the tragical affair.
SERGEANT CARRoUGHER's STATEMENT.
Sergeant Carr0ugher, who wept while speaking
OF the occurrence, SAID: IL was seated In q chair
by the side or Captain Bourne. between the desk
and the window, IN the front Olrlce OF the station
house, at the corner OF York ana Jay streets,
about noon to-day, IN conversation with the Cap
tain, when Mr.. Pollock came In. Lewis Lewis, am
oicer of the District Attorneys office, was also in
the station house. Mr. Pollock came In from the
Church OF the Assumption, on the opposite corner.
where he said he had been TO get the programme
OF the music &C. Tor Christmas Day, in order to-
publish it in the newspaper upon which he is en-
poyed as . reporter. Upon entering the station
house he accosted Captain Bourne in the most
friendly way, and. ter some conversation, Poll
lock said, "Caplaln, l have got something,
which ] want to SHOW you," and at the
same time ne TOOK out OF his pocket small pistol
cartridge, and, showing 1t TO the Captain said:-
"This Is similar to the one that killed the child
stealer and burglar Mosher, at Bay Ridge on last
Monday morning." The Captain took it In his
hand, and looking at It for minute, handed It.
back 70 the reporter, and taking out OF his pocket
peculiarly formed pistol Derringer. upon
which was inscribed "My !rlend,n exhibited 1t to.
Pollock. The latter examined 1t and returned it
TO the Captain, who put 1t IN his pocket again.
Then they botn arose, at the Captains request.
and went INTO the private Ott1ce The Captain, as.
they went In said ne would show him iPollock)
something else. They had not disappeared across
the threshold more than two minutes when
heard the report of pistol, and Pollock came
rushing out holding pistol in his hand. and ex-
"MY GOD, I'VE KILLED HMW
l rushed from my seat Instantly, and catching
Pollock by the arm took HIM back to the room.
saw the Captain seated on the floor between the
chair and his desk, where he had sunk down. I
found that the pai nad entered the left breast.
through the heart. The pistol in Pollock's hands
was six-shooter, belonged TO the Captain and
alter his appointment upon the police. It
mad iour chambers loaded; it has q six
at any time, and from nrst to last seemed
TO be on the most friendly terms The shooting
dleo within three minutes alter; tired TO get
him to speak but he as unable to articulate. DR..
but Captain Bourne was dead when he arrived !;
the ban was prObed iOr but was not recovered.
no ps & waom m Is a. once put
lead pencils and letters OF introduction from his
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE POLICE.
The SAD news spread IKE wldire, and the tele-
graph lines fasned the fact near and lar over the
the President OF the Board OF Police Commission
ers, General James Jordan, Commissioner Daniel
Graft, 81 the Fourth precinct, Coroner j. B. Jones'.
and many other citizens and officials had assem-.
%ss sen. so s %dow wno beoT co%
pletely overcome by emotion, tainted when.
wSo have bean s under .Ss a1
ceased gathered about the pace and many OF
them wept n the excess Of their feelings for the
sudden death OF their commandant Permission
was given by the Coroner to remove the body to
the residence OF the iamlly, corner Of York and
take place Wednesday. There will be meeting
y
TO tue memory o. the deceased.
AN UNLuCKY CURIOSITY.
1t Is somewhat singular that the ball cartridge,
to which Pollock called the attention OF the cap.
tain, alluded TO In the Sergeant's statement, is
one OF the cartridges whica renamed IN the unex.
plOded chambers OIL the revolver which was SO.
effectually used by Albert Van Brunt in the deadly
conflict with the burglar Mosner. The introduc-
ton Of the Bay Ridge affair led to the exhibition
MIR. PoLLocK's STATEMENT.
John Crawford PoilOck IS about thirty -four years
OF age. an Englisnman BY BIRTH and is represented
as almost crazy over the unfortunate occurrence.
Sv @ a % mot a to
tnat Pollock says that when ne went into the
Captains private office deceased opened q drawer
In mis- desk and took out pistol. This weapon
was not loaded, and Pollock says ne cooked 1t and
snapped It TO try the spring the Captain then.
pistol" and handed him the revolver. Pollock,
thinking that this pistol was also unchanged,
ball therefrom killed the Captain. Mr.. Pollock
was, some years ago, employed on the Union. He
poisoning case two years ago He is also a drug
glst and has vile and iour children residing at
No. 1853 Sands street.
RECORD OF THE DECEASED.
Captain Isaac ;. Bourne was native OF Connec-
ticut. He was tnlrty-seven years OF age and q,
employed as salesman in Whitehouses shoe
store and took very active part In tho political
management Of the republican party AFFAIRS OF the
Fifth ward being at one time delegate to the gen.
eral committee rom that ward. Five or six years
seant a III IN the Brooklyn police but resieSed ne lat
ter position to resume his occupation in the shoe
trade. In July, 1873, he was appointed Captain OF
the Second police precinct and mas since entering
upon his responsible duties given very general
satisfaction. Assembyman Bradley, OF the First
district speaking OF him to reporter last
evening, said :-.Captain Bourne was very
popular in his precinct and performed his duty
well. so pleased were many OF the
leading citizens here with MIN that they had just,
started O subscription to present him with gold
watch and chain during the holidays, and 5000.
had been collected Tor that purpose He leaves
wife and two daughters the elder OF whom Is seven-
teen years OF age, ON last Saturday deceased re-
turned from Danbury Conn., where, in company
with his vile, he had been attending the funeral
OF his father-in-law, ana Two weeks ago he
was suffering an accumulation OF anguish con.
sequent upon family bereavements. Deceased was
treasurer, for his precinct, Of the Mutual BenenC
Fund, OF which he was an active member. His