The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-16
"a BLOODY ASSAULT.
An Officer Of the Chain- Gang Cut IN a
Dozen Places. 4;

- es.eIuayt alerHo0nfs aD0ut Hhaifspast I
ocioes Officer Henry O,Dwyef, OF the chain.
gang, was nearly ent to pieces by Buck
Oakley, q negro desperate. 75..7
Mr. UDWyer had carried his section OF The
chain. gazing to the. Jail from their work. and
had passed by home, on. Seventeenth street
and was proceeding TO Mr. Sol. .Wise,s cIoth'
g.store TO- purchase an!ogercoat when he
encountered Oakley. 4 Oakley escaped from
the chain-gaDg, while at work In Monroe
Park, some four or i've weeks ago, and as
o'DRyer CAME face 10 face With him, oppo
site Clark's shoe-store, No. 1885 Main street,
he halted him. IL 9
ODwyer, who Is 9 small bat spunky man
said to Oakley, g I want you.''',
What do you want with me p asked Oak
ley. s's IS;
al want yen to- walk a0wnato the station.
house with me-" responded O,DWyer.
0D wyer then advanced and put his haa6
in the collar OF Oakley, and turned his face
down the street 10 the direction OF The sta.
tion-house. After proceeding a few steps
ODwyer said, 81 reckon I'd better put TIE
Fs nfppefs on you, you are such agunneF.,
With that remark he released Oakiey,s col
lar and inserted his right hand in hi:
pocket to take out the anippers
with which to secure the prisoner. While
O'D1yer's right hand was in his pocket the
negro gave him tremendous blow on the
back of the head, and then drew knife and
cut at him more than dozen times, making
several bad wounds, from which the blood
streamed until the pavement was covered
with it. Faint and nearly blinded by the
fierce attack Of his adversary, O'DWyer drew
his pistol. Oakley speedily snatched it from
his tingers and gave ODWyer terrific blow
in the Left eye with the butt of it, knocking
him down. .azr
all this passed in an ineonceiyable short
space Of time. O'DWyer called for help,
while resisting with all his feeble powers,
and when some gentlemen ran TO his assist.
ance Oakley fed down Main to Fifteenth
street and down Fifteenth almost to Cary,
where he was secured By. Messrs. r. a. Hop
kins, NJ. A. Whiting, and Richard Moore.
Crowds soon gathered around Oakley and
ODwyer. Seeing the latter covered with
blood, and apparently nearly dead, and the
negro rather tTiumphiDg in his victory. there
was O disposition to lynch him. Several
parties we're asked If they could produce suf.
bcient rope to hang him 10 q lamp.post, but
no rope being forthcoming, and the police
shortly arriving, Oakley vas taken down to
the First station.house unharmed.
When it was suggested that his neck was
in danger he replied: "umph, amt afeerd.
They amt gwine TO hang me. What done.":
Nevertheless, had be not been hurried into
cell very quickly he might not have gotten
off safely, though In this conservative city it
is rare that the popular mind can be wrought
to that pitch of Indignation to cause it to
take the law into Its OWn hands.
O'Dwyer was Immediately removed to his
residence, or the north side OF Seventeenth
street between Main, and franklin, and was
there attended by DR.. Jackson, who dressed
his wounds. DR.. Cullen. who had been sent
for, came in later. 1t was found that O'Dwyer
was cut in about ten or twelve places. One
stab, and o very dangerous one, was in the
centre of the back /; one, ard quite bad one,
on the back of the neck one stab or cut on
the back Of right shoulder, one in the back
of left shoulder, two on back Of the neck, one
on back Of head, one on cheek, by which a
piece of the eat was cut off; one On left thigh
and two trifling ones on top of the head, and
q cash under the chin-the last evidently
aimed at the throat. l:.. s.. lta...
Mr.. O'Dwyer is of course severely wound d
ed, but it is hoped that he is in no danger
The wounds in the centre Of the back, anC
on the back of the neck, may give trouble
but with the good nursing and careful surgi
cal attention he has bis recovery may be
confidently anticipated.
Oakley said that he was drunk, otherwise
be would not have cut O'Dwyer, whom b
affected to like. He is desperate villain
Though only twenty-five, for years he ha
spent much Of bis time in the chain. gang
and has also served one term in the peniten
tiary. While convict he was hired at th'
Old Dominion quarry.
Mr.. ODwyer- has been an officer Of tht
chain.gang for three years, and has always
discharged his duty faithfully and fearlessIy
The knife used was made from q common
table-knfe, with wooden handle. Its blade
bad been grouBd down to fine, sharp point,
and was about SIX inches long. It is very
formidable weapon, and was employed. in
stabbing and cutting With equal damage.
Oakley will be brought before the Police
Court this morning, though, owing to Mr..
O'Dwyer's condition, the examination will
not proceed, and be will probably be com.
mitted to Jail until future day. s.g@
Lost night Captain Tyler thought it ex.
pedient to remove Oakley from the First
station.house to the city Jail.