The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-28
BARROOM POLITICS.

RESULT OF BROOKLYN MIDNIGHT sQUABBLE-
JAMES x'DERMoTr SLABS A MAN IN ALLEGED
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CONDITION OF
THE WOUNDED PERSON.
James McDermott, well known resident Of Brook
Ign, who prominent in Fenian circles during the
honat Mansion regime, and who has been connected
with the press periods arrested In that
city yesterday morning charge o. having stabbed
Charles Ramsden during drunken political squaDbe.
About tour O'Clock yesterday morning Patrolman
Lyons, OF tho Fourth precinct while on duty on Full
ton street, Raymond street. observed walk
ting the sidewalk with unsteady gait and as he APP
preached him the man fell down. Tho officer assisted
him TO his feet and conveyed him to the Myrtle ave-
nue. station house, corner Of Vanderbilt avenue The
distance about half q mile from the locality
where tho fell, and the way he Ire
quently stopped to rest and complained Of pain
in his lett side. On reaching their destination the
onicers companion fell exhausted and iant,ng the
floor His clothing was bloody, and examination
revealed tho fact that no had received stab
wound IN the abdomen, from which OF the small
intestines were beginning 10 protrude Surgical as
sistance WAS imme diatcy summoned, and on rowing
the wounded no said that his name was Charles
Ramsdcn and that he lived No. 61S Fulton street,
and that he had been stabbed by man named Hughes
He recognized at the station house by
Ofcer Peniad, who Is q relative OF Ramsden.
An ambulance vas then summonod and Ramsden
taken 10 the City Hospital There, aiter brief ex-
animation, his wound was pronounced to be very dan
gerous, If not fatal The police OF the Fourth and
First precincts went to work upon the without
unnecessary delay, and at O'Clock they arrested
james McDermott, whom they found asleep In bed at
his residence on Third avenue.
how IT OCCURRED
During tho evening McDcrmolt had been INDUCING
freely in drinking in various saloons on Fulton street.
He had attended the Philharmonic concert
saloon on the latter street. near Hoyt, where
he remained until about O'Clock, when,
going down the street q short distance, he saw
light Zipps saloon, and he entered that place by
the side door. He recognized several people there
with whom no drank and chatted in pleasant way
for about hour, when he left His whereabouts
ensuing halt hour are not known, but at haf-p
two he was at Witty's saloon No. 600 Fulton street.
where he met Charles Ramsden. The prisoner
aud the latter entered into political discus
sion there, IN which Ramsden tauntingy referred
tho active part which McDermot had taken in tho late
election canvass for the success of the republican
party These remarks were resented by the accused
and Ramsden asked him II ne had sufficient influence
10 get q friend OF his on the police force. Two or
three blows said to have ueen struck McDermott
by his antagonist IN the saloon. They then out
doors, ana while on the sidewalk the alteration
was renewed, and though what actually occurred is
little little doubt but that desperate struggle
ensued. During the scuffe Private Waterman Cam
the two men moving or in different directions. The
Waterman, who Knew McDermott, went up 10 him
and inquired what was the matter, and was told by
the prisoner that he had had row with some one but
1t all right McDermotps right hand was bloody
then and his thumb was cut or lacerated. Cam ac-
compared him to his residence, Third avenue,
where he assisted in dressing tho injured thumb.
McDermott also bad black eye and his leg was
bruised The Waterman, having performed these
NH rat adj tn a her no
after learned OF tho assault and OF Ramsdens being
stabbed. He then ioiu Of what he saw. wnerc
upon Roundsman MCCARTHY and Two other officers
proceeded to tho residence OF McDermott whom they
found sleeping souniy. HIS hat, coat and shirt were
stained with blood. On being taken 70 the Washing
ton street station house no appeared bewildored,
and refused TO shy anything about the ARRAY. Cap
hospital Tor Identification by Ramsden. When taken
before tho latter the injured man said Eyes; he is
the man that hurt me-" During the early part OF the
forenoon many friends of the accused VISITED the sta
ton house for the purpose OF seeing McDermott,
among whom was sheriff Daggett, but admistancs was
MDxnMorr's STATEMENT.
Shortly alter ten O'Clock the prisoner, who was
ters OF Court and Livingston Streets where
Intercepted privately and At length by Supern
tcndent Campbell, 10 whom he told OF tho quarrel,
but said he had recollection OF the stabbing As
Ransden, he never him In his life till he MIN
that morning in front OF Witty's bar. Ramsden had
they got out the sidewalk, whom Ramsden kicked
him and threw bricks Mt him. Alter that ho was
happened,
been taken home by Cain. The wound on his thumb
McDermott claimed, had heen done not by the teeth,
but with knife. During the scuie in the street thero
was he SAID, a loud noise ana outcry, and Ramsden
had friend with him. Tho superintendent asked,
"wel do you know anything about the stabbings" 10
which the prisoner replied, II do not. do not !
don't remember anything about It When
saw Ramsden at the hospital didn't know that
had ever seen HIM before" Captain Smith
says that the prisoner is mistaken about
Ramsdcn having o friend present during the
street quarrel as they can ind no trace OF such per-
Walsh about noon. He was accompanied Dy his coun-
sell exJudge Troy, who protested against the acton
The superintendent before arraignng HIM before
Justice OF tho Peace he pleaded mot guilty." and
committed to the Raymond Street Jail TO await
examination on Tuesday next The Coroner did not
take the ante-mortem statement OF Ramsden
as the hospital physicians regarded u as
weaSsasa condition of their patient p When
subsequently questioned by a reporter the injured
and be,nr out mt naSt when he should have BEEN a.
home; that they got into an argument about Mr..
McCloskey, who was discharged or resigned from The
city works. They qunrrcied and be got stabbed
WHO PARTIES ARR
Charles Ramsden, who has wife and three children,
u % bs cg
pany From the fact that whom first taken
to The station house he stated no had been
stabbed by a man. namcd Hughes, II is believed
he sought to shield his assailant FROM the charge
James McDermott, who Is about ihirty-nve years Of
age, served in the Papai army at Spolctto and IN
olncr engagements during the Garibaidan campaign.
He came the United States from Ireland about
twelve years ago, and took an active part IN
the Fcnian movement which then agitated
tho Irish-Anerlcan element in this country.
Ho subsequently, became editor and proprietor
of the Brooklyn Press, Sunday journal
which died tor want OF patronage several years ago
Alter brief connection with the Brooklyn Argus IN
of winch he became involved in libel suit
with Henry G. Bowen, during the Beechcr scandal
element, he went West for short period. He
among the party who accompanied the remains of the
late John O'Mahoncy TO Ireland from Now York.
ACCUSED LAWYERS.