The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-01
M uRDER NEAR THE GREAT MARKET
A Crime that may Break up Gang that have
Long Banied the Police.

For several years gang OF youngsters
who live in the streets by day and sleep 10 cheap
lodging houses at night have infested the neigh
borhood Of Washington Market. Some Of them
are bootblacks, some are well known thieves
and pickpockets and others do odd Jobs in the
stalls and In the barrooms or steal fruit 10 the
earv morning from the market wagons that roll
In from New jersey. Many efforts have been
made by the police TO break up tho gangs and
sometime as many as twenty boys have been
locked up In the Church street police station at
one time. Ofhcer . X ALI aha an. who has the beat
along Washington street, has kept the band par
TALLY In subiection for the past few months by
driving them at the point OF the club from the
street corners, but as soon as he was out OF
sight they come out OF the cellars and retreat
along the street and were as bold and insulting
as before. They are all banded closely together
and are sworn not to testify against a partner
who gets into trouble. Each one OF the gang Is
known by fictitious name and some have for
gotten their real names.
At about ~ o'clock yesterday afternoon, in
the busiest time at the market, several persons
stood near Stiner's large tea store on the south
east corner OF Vesey and Washington streets,
and the usual number Of young thieves we're
sccattered among them; James O'Brien, alias
tleman's boots on the pavement at Harry Win
ter's saloon at a8 Washington street, and lust
as q llrien finished his job, another bootblock
called Rocks approached, and began to abuse
the former, VINO replied IN anger. words soon
Jack Mclaughlin and John Quinn, alias
Reddy,' boot blacks, and members OF the
gang, interfered and separated the combatants !
but they were not satisfied with the result, and
began again to taunt each other, and in an in
stant tpey were locked together and wrestling
| aged to free his hand. and driving a long thin =
bladed penknife. plunged y into bis opponents 3
fe back nna % darsed awaS snd sed ed
oBrien, as soon as he recovered from the
bin. Rocks wheeled short round whom he
reached Greenwhich street. and turned back on
| growing fainter as he neared Washington street,
| he fell behind. At Washington and Vesey
| few feet, threw up his hands, tottered, and fell
The Iiieess body OF o'Brien was carried into
| O'Briens cabbage store. at 29 Washington
street, and was taken TO the Church street police
station. and thence to the Morgue. PM had
| Lodging House for the last three years. and
| was regarded 10y the manager as a remarkably
| good boy. He entered his name on the register
as James Dolan, an orphan. He frst worked at
| blacking boots, and In that business became ac-
SeEed ap da m t5s s .ns,' Ss ys
| TO the lodging house was on Monday niRht last
That's bad crowd" said Kenny, who has a
| Neill's restaurant In Washington street "they
| used to make raids on me. and threaten to Kill
| me because commer ced TO black here. They are
on the corner all the time. hshting and swearing
| They make few dollars and spend II for rum,
cigars, dime novels, and boys pictorial papers. "
The officers OF the Church street police sta.
| tion went actively to work last evening, and
| wero assisted by special men from the Police
Central Once. They arrested tho principals OF
| the market gang. but the prisoners all denied
| that they knew ANYTHING of tho murder.
| Capt Saunders dispatched Oficer Flvnn to the
| Duane street lodging house at midnight 10 look
| out for others OF the gang. That oficer there
| arrested Josh" bootbiack, whose re- name
| Is not known. Josh, In his cell at the Chui ch
| street police station, said that he knew the
| whole thing" Ofhcer Flynn says that he ar
| was sent to Blackwells Island for ten days
| His name Is either Bowling or Madden. This Is
| the second murder within year In the ne gh
| bornood OF W ashinRton Market.