The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-23
Coburn's Attempt, in New York. to
Murder Police Officers.

New YORK HERALD, February IL
Officer William E. Tobias states that about
l o'clock yesterday morning his suspicious
were aroused by a hack which he had no.
ticed standing in front of Coburn's saloon,
No. 1,2S6 Broadway, for nearly an hour,
without driver. Opening the door of the
vehicle and finding no one inside he rap
ped At the door of the saloon with his club,
and then putting his head into the room,
asked if the driver of the hack was there.
Coburn, who was present, replied in an in
sinuating manner, and ordered the officer to
take his damned nose out of that or be
would mash it for him" The officer said
ne wanted to have no trouble with Coburn,
but that if the driver did not come out
and take charge of his hack he would do so
himself Some other words were exehaDg-
ed to the same effect and the officer closed
the door and moved away. Coburn imme-
diately came out, followed by five of his
! friends, and used abusive language towards
| Tobias, who walked down Broadway, fol-
| lowed by the crowd. When he reached
| Thirty-third street.-The next cOrner-he
| stopped and told Coburn again that he
wished to have no trouble with him and
ordered him to go about his business or he
would arrest him. A scuffie thereupon en-
sued. Coburn attacking the officer. The
latter was getting the better of his assail-
ant, when Coburn, swinging clear of the
officer, drew a heavy fve-barreled self
cooking revolver, carrying ball half an
inch in diameter, and placing it against the
LETT breast of Tobias, fired. The ball for
tunately had to pass through the heavy
uniform coat outside, an inside coat, two
vests and buckskin chest protector before
reaching the officers body, and its forct
was so far spent that it only inflicted {
slight flesh wound. Losing his hold upor
Coburn on account of the shock the office
then attempted to draw his own revolver
Before he could do so, however, a secont
: shot from the murderous pistol struck hi
= right arm below the elbow, rendering i
helpless, Another victim, Patrolman 'Jer
J fies, Of the same precinct, who was on hi
beat at the corner of Sixth avenue ant
Thirty-third street, heard the firing ant
! Immediately rushed to the scene, rappini
his club for assistance as he ran. When b
reached the spot Coburn turned upon hin
suddenly and saying, "You son b-h, II
: kill you anyhow" fired. The ball entere'
e the officers breast just below the heart, an
l inflicted a very serious wound. Jer6e
r however, closed in upon Coburn. who ha
now emptied all the chambers of his revoI
:, yer, and desperate struggle ensued, in tn
e course Of which the officers head was bal
tered in with the square, sharp connere
J butt of the heavy frearm, piled by tn
strong arm of the pugillst. Roundsma
O'Neil and several other officers arrived o
u the scene while the struggle was in pre-
IS gress. When O'Neil came up Jerfes VIZ
o a few feet distant from his antagonist, wh
was holding his pistol as if taking aim
Y fire, at him again. Rushing up benin
% Coburn the roundsman brought his clu
7 into play vigorously, and with the help
: the Officers, who arrived Simultaneous
Il the would be murderer was, after despe
Z ate struggle, taken into custody.