The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-17
A MURDER BY A DRUNKARD
An ENiCTING LANDLORD KILLED
by 4 RESENTFUL TENANT

by 4 RESENTItL TENANT.
A Twentieth Ward Politician Wautonly shst
on tho stairway OF Ills Own Hou.o-An
Account by tho wife Of the Murderer.
John Farrell, teamster, was shot at $40
West Twenty-eiehth street, yesterday morning.
at o'clock, and he died an hour afterward. He
was nfty-three years old and was well known In
that neighborhood as a politician and friend
Of Senator Ledwith. John Taene, who shot
him, was his tenant, md Ia thirty three years
old. The house wherein they both lived Is
owned by Farrell. 1t Is brick, four stories high,
and Is occupied by 1--WE families. The entrance
is by narrow hall on level with the sidewalk.
On the staircase leading to the second floor
the crime was committed. Farrell lived with
his wife and six grown up sons and daughters,
on the lower floor, but two Of his sons. Thomas
and John, slept in the front room, east Of the
hall. Tae1s with his wife and Ave young chill
dren. lives In tho rear rooms in the second
story. A door. usually kept locked separates
the apartment Of the two young men from that
OF Tactic. but loud words can easily DO heard
through II.
Tactic failed TO nay rent for March. Tie was
employed by Farrell three weeks ago to drive
truck. On Saturday evening Farrell paid him
s., and retained the rest OF his wages. g.. on
account OF rent for two months. TaeGe made
no opposition at the time. but afterward COM
pltined To his wife that the rent for Aptil would
not be de until the 2lst In the evening ne
sent his children to stow away kindnnR wood
which he had brought home ON his truck, and
whicd he said had been given to him. The
children brought him the INFORMATION tnat Far
Fc' hst saA; part = me wood up.stairs To MS
nephew, and was having the rcst put into ms
own cellar. laene brOoded ON these two cir
cumstances until he went to bed. His wife
morning | knew by his manner that lie la /
been out aud had got some liquor. lie
was building the IRE. but Kept cur-ing
| the cid man and calling him names.
| Thomas and John Farrell sleep In the front
room on this floor. Ihey could hear every
| word he said aud that Il where all the trouble
came from. when they got W, about o'clock,
they came along the hal md had 60 pass our
| on the lounge still swearing and callius bad
| and closed the dnor. Nv husband innlped up
| down stairs for two minutes no would tx MIN.
| told them To go awAy like good ooys. btc use
| my husband WAS crazy with drink. JOAN, the
| Younger brother, stepped into the ~ )m and
| called my husband a IA name He replied,
half got him down and struck him In the face
! until they made II blscd. Then | aud Mr.
| Masterson. and Jane Farrell. sister OF the two
boys. got hold OF them and pulled them IN.
| don't know what became ~ the two toys after
that. lhey went away. i didn't see thrin any
| into the further bedroom and got pistol. lie
| had to take It fromi the TIL Of a trunk.
| | heard tue old man. Farrell. coming up stairs.
| auJ remained in the doorway to prevent any
| more fighting. Pretty soon / saw my husband
! In the DOORWAY, coming out to whelo stood AT
the head Of the stairs. he pistol was la Ills
| hand. Farrell told HIN not 10 shoe and turned
| partly around, as II to go down STAIR. lie was
| then standing at the top, and WIS one or two
| steps dOwn. The wind from the pistol, wuon II
| was fred, blew in my lace. Farrell WAS dressed
! only In his pants and red shirt. lie turned
aud walked down two or three steps, and tncn
fell forward down the stair. ! went tack into
the room, and s,id john, you've killed the old
! man lie was EoDered ia minute. and said
| My GOO have II did not mean t. kll ulm.'
| don't think he had any idea who II was he was
| firing at, he crazy. His face WAS bleeding
| very bad. You see the blood on the child's
dress. He took II uD In his arms
| Thomas Farrell SAYS that he and his brother
| were walking past Taefes open door when
| Taene began TO abuse him. John stepped up and
replied. Tactic struck him. They clinched but
At last broke away from each other. Then
| Iacre went back for his pistol, and at the same
| time their father came up the stairs. The sh 1t
| was fired when he reached the top, and then
the three went down together. The father
tainted when he got nearly down, and was car
| RED tn ms room.
Martin Mcdonald, boy, heard the shooting
| and ron Tor policeman. lie found Onicer
| Muret, who suraug on car and arrived at the
| facc Of the muid der about i've minutes after the
| shot fired. There 10 the man. said
| Thomas Farrell, who had conducted the oflcer
to ueffr's apartments. THAT shot my father. -
| Tiene was sttiue on the lounge with his elbows
| on hsiknees and his forehead resting on his
hands.
| ~ did not mean to shoot him. said he " Il
| was "A mistake. | was Guarrellng with the bows
Fearing that Farrell might die soon, the VihccT
| hurried Iarhe down stairs to have him iGcnti
| fed. Farrell raised his fOrshnger, and pointing
| to MIN, said nat Is the man that shot me,
| he nec me unconscious, and remained 50 until
he uied,