The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-19
DEGNAN'S FURIOUS RAGE
THE WILD RESENTMENT OF A REJECzt
ED LOVER IN NEW1RE
stnbbing the Girl who Repuised Hin, setttng
Fire to N House, and Shooting uimsc1f-Aa
Old Man who Courted an Unwilling Girl.

stnbbing the Girl who RepuIsed Hin. setttnG
Fire TO N House. and Shooting Iiuscif-AA
Old Mnn who Courted an Unwilling Girl.
In Newark, on Saturday evening, In a lit
tlo wooden tenement at 236 Warren street.
owned and partially occupied by Michael
Matthews and his family-Peter Dog
nan tried to kill Mary Matthews and
to commit suicide. Only recently he re-
turned from California. whore he had been
for twenty-five years. and was living with his
mother. his stop father. Mr. Matthews. and his
step-sster. Mary. Since his return ho has pro-
fessed great admiration for Mary. and has
shown her such attentions as led to the spread
OF the report OF their engagement He is fifty
years old and she Is twcnty-onc. On Saturday.
after supper. he persuaded the old folks to go
to market TO get turkey for Sundays
dinner. leaving him nlone with Mary.
Immediately on their departure he approached
the girl. who was washing the supper dishes.
and insisted on her consenting to marry him.
She Indignantly rejected his proposals. He
drew bowie knife and struck Mt her heart,
which she triod to protect with her left hand.
Alter cutting her hand and arm in several
places he dealt swift blow that severed the
ligaments Of, tho wrist and her arm dropped
powerlcss, He then slashcd hor across tho left
breast, ana inflicted two severe cuts on her head.
In inc struggle Kerosene lamp was over
turned. and IL exploded. Instantly tho window
curtains were in "a blaze and the floor was COW
cred with burning oil. This diverted Degnan's
attention for an instant. and the girl fled from
the room, down stairs. through the narrow hall.
and into the street. Seeing her about 10 escape.
he seized loaded rifle and started in pursuit.
AT the foot OF tho stairs, finding that she had
reached the street. he placed the muzzle OF tho
gun to his own head and fired. The ball on
tered his right ear and passing out at the back
Of his head. lodged in the ceiling above. Ho
sank on the stairs, and there he was found by a
man named Gordon. who occupies the lower
portion OF tho house. Ile was made to walk 10
the police station. and thence he was taken TO
-. Michael's Hospital in a dying condition.
He refused to give any explanation OF his con-
duct, and II was not known until hours lator
that he had attempted TO kill Mary Matthews.
In tho mean time the wounded girl fled
through the streets for nearly IA mile. until she
steps. in Cedar street. near Broad There sho
was found by men who took her to GarrigHn's
drug store In Broad street. and afterward to tho
same hospital In which her would-be mur-
dcrer lay dying. Sho said afterward that she
WIS trying TO find her parents. and warn them
not to go home. us she thought that Dcgnan
would kill them.
The fire was cxtinguished by watchman be-
fore the engines reached the spot and search
was instituted for tho missing girl Mary
Matthew'S worked in Balls corset factory, pre-
ferrng thereby to retain her independence.
although her father is possessed Of property
worth $4,000 Her lover brought from Cali
fornia 1900 in gold ass result Of his
tcrday by many friends. none of whom would
see Degnan. As they stood about hes and
breathed threats Of vengeance against him in
case he should recover she begged them not 70
inIure him. but rather to pray for his soul.