The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-22
A TRAG EDY ara PICNIC.
Young Gardener Deliberately Shooting q
Trespasser on his Fathers Grounds.

Officers Corey and Foley, who were de-
tailed from the Forty-seventh street police sta
ton to preserve order at the Mazeppa Club pic
nc 10 the National Park at Tenth avenue and
Sixty-third street on Satur lay evening, heard
the report of n quo on the premises Of John
Mcmahon, q gardener, whose grounds are sep
arated from the park by high board fence.
Iney FASTENED to the spot indicated by the
sound and found young man lying In a pool of
blood flowing from a wound in his left groin.
Near by were n houble-barrelled shotgun and
the broken stock of another similar weapon, the
barrels Of which have not yet been found. The
wounded man was taken In unconscious con-
dition to the Roosevelt Hospital, where he ex-
pired In three quarters Of an hour.
The officers returned to McMahon's residence,
and were met at the door by the gardeners son,
n boy II years Of age, and young German who
is employed on the premises as farm hand.
Tho boy, John Mcmahon, Jr., acknowledged
that lie shot the man, but said II was In seif-de-
fence. He and John Simlesh, the hired man,
were left by his father in the early part OF the
evening to guard the grounds and keep on tres
pas.ers: They each TOOK double 1atreiisd t
came In sight OF the raised platform where the
dancing was going on. several young men on
away, out Of sight Of the party. No attention
was paid to this, until they Threatened TO
come into the garden oi and dive o them IN
get over the fence. Immediately. John
sexton, followed by four companions, jumped
into the garden and rsn toward them. Sexton,
VINO led the party, was within ten feet OF Nc
Mahon when the latter raised his gun and 1ted,
shooting him Ia the left side, Just above the hip
Sexton fell without II word. The muzzis Of the
gun was 80 near him that II burnt his clothing,
and the charge OF shot entering his side at such
short range NJ AIDE a terrible wound. The Ger
an, whose gun unloaded, struck another
OF the intTuders over the shoulder. breaking the
stock at its juncture with the barrels. When
they saw how seriously sexton was wounded,
the men from the picnic ran back 10 the Park,
house. They were both taken to the Forty
seventh street station, where the boy talked
jokingly OF the affair, and made light OF the seri-
GUS charge against him.
A member Of the Mazeppa Club says that very
thing wen, on quietly until about 3 o clock, when
two young men armed with guns appeared ia
the lot back of the dancing platform, and began
insulting the ladies and gentlemen engaged In
dancing Few answers were made TO them until
they began throwing rocks at group OF young
men on one corner OF the platform. and dared
them to come into the garden. six OF them,
Sexton among the number, accepted the chal-
lenge, and were Immediately attacked by those
In the garden. one using his gun AS d club, the
other deliberately shooting sexton.
The matter was reported TO the managers OF
the Park. who Immediately broke up the picnic.
John MoMahOn the father OF the boy, who
was away from home at the time OF the shoot
ing. was found In lager beer saloon in Fifty
seventh street, and taken to the station. He
expressed gr~at surprise aud sorrow at the &C.
currence, but said bis grounds had been over
run and mia garden trsmped down by people
from the park, and he was Obliged to keep con-
tinual watch to prevent tue utter destruction Of
his cfOD5.