The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-11
A RURAL TRAGEDY.

INpIscRIMlNATE PISTOL PRACTICE BY NEW
ARK POLICEMAN.
About midnight on Saturday desperate rencontre
took place At Wills, Hotel, Irvington, Newark,
which koy 70 result fatally for one perhaps two,
men, saying nothing Of the accrung consequences tho
chief actor In the affair, GeorgeW Williams,
formerly member Of the detective force Of Newark
and at present doorman at the First precinct station
house. Williams who is now locked mp as prisoner
awaiting the consequences OF his indiscrimnate
pistol practice gives the following version Of the
On Saturday evening" the weather being fine, and
being of duty he accepted the invitation Of friend
named William BonneIl to take carriage ride to
bloomfield VI look at horses Bonnell has there.
ON the way home they came around by Irving.on and
stopped at Wills Hotel there take drink. OBJ
serving rather noisy crowd in the barroom Williams
and his friend went up stairs and there enter
tanned by the landlord, an acquaintance of williams.
Their wants supplied Williams went down stairs to
pay the score, and he states, found party OF six
eight quarreing among themselves. He tried
TO make peace, he says but tho bellgcrents Joined
forces and attacked him. Williams ran TO the street
and pursued by the crowd. They knocked him
down and beat him, he alleges, and then,
while still PROSTATE and self-defcnce, no
pulled out his revolver and fred every
barrel This, as might be expected. scattered tho
ark his friend Bonne having takoD flight before, cot
stopping to look alter his team. Soon after
Williams arrived at the First precinct ono OF the
Houghton party who received a bullet in his left
shoulder, causing an ugly aud dangerous wound,
rived with friend Bonnell's carriage He charged
Williams with intent TO kill Williams placed in a
CELL where he still remains. The wounded man
placed in The hospital HIS friend was detained ~ Q
witness.
OF THE STORY.
A HERALD representative visited Irvington yester-
day afternoon and obtained the other side OF the
story, VIII oh Is as follows:-When Williams entered
the barroom stephen Knight and Frederick Baucrs
quarrelling over small debt Bauers owes smith.
Williams being under tho influence OF liquor inter.
Tered ofciousy, although advised that nc not
teresied IN The dispute. Meanwhile knight
knocked down and then Williams Jumped forward and
placed hts foot the forehead oil tho PROSTATE man. On
being pushed aside by William Brown and demonstrated
with he grew very angry and displaying club and re-
vover dared ybody 10 touch him. Az this point
Myers cleared the party out OF the saloon and Williams
and Bonnel remained inside. On the street the quar-
rel between the lrvingtoniaus was renewed and VIII:
Jams appeared again, club In hand. He LIT number
Of matches and held them to the faces Of different
men, declaring that he was afraid OF none OF them.
ExaspePated at Wiliiams' conduct OF the men adj
vanced aud KIN ocked him down. Then Williams pulled
out mis- revolver and bred A. the crowd with the result
above described. In the middle OF the discharge Will
iams Il 10 alleged by an eyewitness. DAVID knight,
cried out II don't care damn If kill you a One
ball struck stephen knight IN the groin and lodged
IN his bowels and Dr. Medl,n fears the prnycst results
The other man, shot in the shoulder now at the sta
ton house, Is William Wills, brother OF the former
proprietor Of the hotel His wound ~ not considered
fatal Great excitement prevails In lrvinRton
matter and Is the general impression that Williams
10 crminaiy cupabe Tor unnecessary interference,
and the grave consequences following The plea that he
used his pistol sell defence 10 not regarded ms ten
able.
Al ten O'Clock last night Williams admitted to
bail IN 81, 900, Alderman Stats beng his bondsnan
Williams hard, haggard look as lie appeared
court he has been suspended from tho force.