New-York tribune., 1876-06-15
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
TRAGEDY IN GREENPoINT.


sIcuArL DOwNEY QUARIvLs WITH nus WIFE, IN
T1acIs A DANGEROUS WOUND UPoN hEN' AND
COMMITS SUICIDE.
Jt ,vos announced at the Seventh Precinct
Police station OF Brooklyn, az Greenpoint and Union
ayes about $50 =. YESTERDAY chat Michael D0wney
of No 2D4 Gr.enest Grcehpoint had shOt MS wue ana
then himself No for his action was gwen Inc
"details OF the tragedy follows: Downey was All
Ishman about 80 years OF age and owned the house be
oooupied which is a tvo-story frams structLre bnt III
the rear Of the lot with barge yard in front He was
cartenter 10y trade several years ne had +en en-
nloyed as sampler of cotton ny trm In Sew-York In
this bus ness he earned from $40 to SlUo week For
some time no had been habit of drinking; roeenty
he had become so confirmed In is practice thdt
he was able to perform hs work In salts
factory manner. and during tho past few weeks
ne had been out of work. Mrs. DOwney is 35 years
old rhry have three c1ldren-a son. age sixteen, and
two ers age une and six respectively. Downing
and his wife In the habit OF quareing and he han
accused her OF being common drunk Td and of BENG
unfthfrl him. He had thrustned 10 shoot Doth
her and himself. About two weeks he had quarrel
with his regard IL WORK that the lathf was
doing in thc yard and almost cam, TO blows Ihe wv"
were seraiated however. by Mr. ORurkc. who resides
at No BOG Grccnesi At that time Downey charged MS
vile witt melting tie son to Kill him Win the DaDaer
which he using
Yesterday afternoon tho annual picnic OF the ST. An
Ia the MYRTLE Avenue Park Tne children desired to at
tend a,a their mother wished them N do So. bnt DIT
Downey was opposed the plan. He and his whe hsd
some sharp words In regard to t6e matter ana
In the quarrel that easnrd Mrs Do"neT ned
70 Mr.. ORourke's house for protection. "hen
she returned 10 her own h0use her husband
vos stapdin in the doorway AS she asc nded the hal
dozen STEPS eaiug the sonp he rushed her wth suoh
fore tn Il she fell to the ground. Ono or two nlShDnrs
observed ihis scne and DOTney descended 10 Wherc
his wie was living The gHss, they supposed he WAS
going 10 her ssstahce. Wheu ne reached her. however
he dew pis ol. and piac NJ IL aausi her NECK; d
The bal euterod the hight 81 " the thrust, hdei tho
law and 70 uctrated probably tO the sp'e leaving
wound from which the blood flowed freely Dnwney t
once retreae, through the front locking ater
him The nelgGbO!s Immediately hasteucd 70 ,he
voman's assistance, and lew minutes aitel-
ward they heard the report Of pi"'oi iron
the m iu& OF tie house Officer Ter,ro OF the seventh
and Ohccr McKciup of the Fdtn Precinct soon aiiNoa
aur sueretd IN forcing AN eatrancc To t"e h"'lNe lnty
found Downcy lying bed III tie rear room on we @
frst hoor dead, wound in ass eIt breast ON iie
carpet beside the bid la sing-GIiiclssi ls o. shoS
ina tha! iowuey had loaded II aItCr sloOi' ne we
DIS Jenhiaa and MueelUs, wIO were SlhiinOht' exam
fned Mrs. DoAnCy she et first unoOiscl'us, ana
her w.nd tnOSSn to be dnnSeaots. oHi al ltieF
hour n was believed that WOdld recover lEt C""-
ner will prouaDiy uoid inquest to-day Inc CHI foh
nt.tndfd tie picnic ana aid not ietufh hOi"e uhui