The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-27
AN EAST RIVER TRAGEDY.
BLdCKWELL'S ISLAND n rEPER'S
SkILL CRISHED ~.

Crime that thus Far Battles the Commits
sioners of Charities and Corrcciion-Indi-
cations Pointing TO New York Outlaws.
Matthew Crocvy, tho old keeper Of the
river gate In the wall across the middle Of Black-
wells Island, was murderously assaulted In his
little gate house early yesterday morning, and
no cluo 20 his assailant has yet been obtained.
Francis Burke, coal welgher, In passing through
the gate at little after seven o'clock
noticed that tho door OF the watchhouso was
closed and that the window curtains had not
been drawn. On opening the door he nearly
stumbled over the body Of Mr.. Creevy. who lay
on the floor groaning The old man was uncon-
sclous, and was bleeding from terrible wounds
on the head, and the walls and planks OF his it,
tie room were splashed with blood. A bloody
hatchet that the keeper used I'm cutting his
klndllngs lay by his side Its sharp edge was
covered with bits OF skull, and the hammer end
with tufts OF gray hair. Tho old mans pockets
we're turned inside out and his money was
gone his watch was ticking on the pillow Of the
bed.
Burke, startled by the spectacle, ran trembling
from the room and called Mctiinn, the keeper
OF the livery stable, which adjoins the gate,
and the keeper Of the hog yard; and the three
tried to communicate with him, but he could
mako only a gurging noise when he attempted
charity hospital about a half mile below. and
the warden, Dr. Daniel L. Kitchen, examined
bis wounds. Tho fatal blow had been struck
the back OF tho head aud had crushed through
the skull, making a wound about two inches
square ON the left pnrietal bone. There was a
scalp wound on the right parleta bone and n
terrible injury Just behind the left ear which
bad become, purple. The eyes were swollen and
black, and there was bleeding fiom the ear, de-
noting probable fracture OF the base Of the
skull
TnE VICTIM DYING.
Drs. Kitchen and Traak tried 20 arouse the
man, but he only groaned and tossed on his
bed, and occasionally murmured, Lord God,
question a by s one Of the physieians bo 20 You os
know who struck you7" Creeyy partly aroused
and feebly answered, Yes" Was Il some
the the sos fno eSs asiTs 'TS%
scous.
IL va. evident that the old man could live
only few hours, and Dr, Kitchen sent word to
rectlon and 20 Coroner Eickhon. Commits
sioners Bailey and Brennan arrived early
the keeper was unconscious and speech
less, and his ante mortem deposition could
not he taken Father Fetter attended him,
hut to all Of his questions, Crcevy had the
same answer, Lord have mercy."
Creeyy became an inmate of the almshouse IN
May last, and II only week or two since he was
appointed keeper Of the river gate. lie dwelt
slept, and ate In the little one-chambered gate
house. and was constantly In attendance by day
and night. His duties required him to open the
gate at about o'clock "a the morning, aud 1t
not until or o'clock In the evening that
he closed It for the night. At a little after
o'clock Yesterday morning the Ice carrier from
the workhouse, who goes after his load to the
little house aquarter Of a mile south OF the wall,
passed through the gate and noticed that tho
keeper who habitually stood by his door with
lantern In hand as absent. The gate had been
closed at midnight as usual but the ice carrier
found 1t WIDE open. The penitentiary had not
Yet been opened and only two men had gone
out Of the. workhouse. These men Warden
Nought Of the almshOuse at once locked up.
FRUITLEss SEARCH
The Commissioners aud Warden Fox, of the
parts of the island and in their search for the
murderers, discovered traces that established
by ruffrns from New York or Brookiyn The
boat house Of the penitentiary had been broken
open and one OF the guard boats was gone. Tue
chain that fastened il had been broken and the
craft and everything belonging to IL had been
dragged over the ground to the river. Later In
the day the boat was found tied up to the land
lug at the charity hospital On tue eastern side II
II is believed by Commissioner Brennan that
the murderers crossed from New York and
ptng up their boat, procured the guard boat, In
order that they might escape in II II their re-
treat to their own craft should be cut on The
old gate keeper had probably Just arissn had
built his fire. and had sat down for a quiet
smoke and to await daylight. lie was probably
unaware Of the aSsnssins' presence until he was
stricken down. the wounds Indicating that the
blows were struck from behind. The motive
for the deed was undoubtedly robbery, a. II was
generally supposed that the old man carried
tentiary tool house. kept 10y Capt. smith, was
broken into and, as he alleges, was robbed Of
lbIbN NthNe ouu louIlttu lathteec OI tntWlnR
tobacco.
TnE MYSTERY uNSOLvED.
The Commissioners were on the Island all day
yesterday They were, however unable to reach
the bottom of the mystery, 80 success fully did
the murderers cover their tracks. II Is thought
that the CRIME was not com mitted oy any one
on the island.
At O'Clock last evening Creeyy was at the
point Of death, and DR.. Kitchen said that he
respectfully connected Ia Ireland. His father
was huntsman, and he himself was for many
years attached to the governmental tOpO,
graphical survey OF Ireland After he came 20
America he Joined the American topogt9r .lc,l
survey, and IN that service he lost ni' iaft iag
He was more than ordinarily intellir ami hut re-
verses in fortune and his far ,ly diiicuities
gradually reduced MIN to des" ution lis via
Is dead. He has three chilr'ren. He wn. wound
ed as soldier IN tho We. for the Onion.
oa'u ooani1 ,n brennan yesterday; This
iast ouIhse nhS shown the necessity. which
nave always W Led, of having a night patrol on
sshe s le'snu' Now any one can come TO the shore
nnn inn, W York at night, and roam over the
islaup entirely unmolested"