The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-06
ITEFFERNAN'S DESPERATION.
BROOKLYN's OLDEST POLTCE C.iPTdIN
SHOT by 4 PiTROLMfM
" This .. Fine Job You Have Put Up on
Me"-One ri~toi bullet Aimed at Joel
smith aud Another ut Sergeant Walsh.

Patrolman Maurice HcfIcrnan walked rap
lilly into the mustnr-room Of the Washington
Street Police Station. Brooklyn. few moments
after 1 O'Clock, yesterday afternoon passed
Captain joel Smith. who was standing by tho
window. and Sergeant Walsh. who was Mt the
desk. without giving the usual salute and went
up stairs TO tho mon, quarters direct. He
was gone about three minutes and just as he
stepped from tho stairway into the mustcr-room
again. Sergeant Walsh turned in his chair and
struck the gong for the mon to answer to the
noon roll-call SO quickly did they respond
that already their tramp was heard on the
stairs. rs II ficrnan. who had quietly crossed
the room and stood leaning over the iron railing
at The desk front said to Captain Smith:
This Is a fine job you have put up on me-"
Tho Captain was leaning on tho telegraph in
strumcnt. thrcc feet distant. with his back to-
ward tho man. IL partly turned his head and
looked over his sprctaelrs to recognize the
tpcnkoranl caught the glcGn Of the pistol which
ll"iTrrnnn was lcVnlling Capt. smith lcap"d
forward and att"mni"d 10 throw himself on the
floor behind the desk for protection. Hrir1rnnn
fred ~ the Captains hands struck the floor.
IN" Captain fell on his ince cNclaiming. am
shot
Sergeant Walsh jumped out Of his chair md
started 10 run out to Tho front Of the dcsk to
clinch with the pntrolman. 4 bullet whiz ID
past his head and lodged IN the woodwork of
closet in corner Of the room; llelI.rnan WINS
I
who headed the plntOon OF men iranplng down
stairs. reached his side, and knocking up his
arm. grdup'cl with him. Onccr Quinn ana
other Numbers Of the platoon threw themselves
upon the struggling officer. dsarmcd him and
held PIN iasi and ilen. at he serGeanis COM
Capt. Smith had. meantime. recovered his
feet and walking into his priynt, room, quiet
ly awaited the arrival 81 Dr. Murdough. tn,
ambulance surgeon. The Doctor ascertaincd
that the bullet had struck the Captain in thc
| hack II the neck ploughed It's way through the
a.
head about four inches from It's point ot on
irancc; II had then cntered M wainscot ing
behind the desk chipping on spintcrs foot in
| length. The d. tor pronuunccd the wnuhd Sc
| vcr", vet not Noe ,s-nrily, dangerous The Cap
tain was removed 10 his home in coach.
Hcncrnan IL addicted to drink. and had been
/ before the tominl--iQncrs for drunkenness
ago, when, M the earnest soiirlt ton oi ,4pt.
| smith tho Comm ~-ioners placed him on pr'ha-
| ton. warning him disimctly. however. ihut tho
| next timr hr appeared before thp bHa!i no
! matter how trivial the charge. hc should h' Dis
! missed from the force. Alter receiving his pay
| list Tuesday morning. li"lernan went on u
police station that he WIS ri i'k DR. linpk ms
| .n8 OF the police surgeons. won't 'o his house at
! II Lawrence street un "Wednesday morning TO
llurn his allmcni. hut could not find him. ON
/ Thursday morning Hen'rnan chllcl on the
cause Of his sickness made charges against
! him IA required by the rules Of the board.
| dhe-r charges were to have been tried next
ON Friday morning Hencrnan went on duty.
/ remaining on during the dny, ana as saturday
/ Was his lay on. he did not report again until
| yesterday morning. II was on his return from
| the morning tour that he made his attack upon
| the Captain. His behavior in the las, three
| days had not been such as to create any sus-
| ricion Of his haying been on spree When he
| went up stairs Le opened the door OF Oniccr
| Ticrney's wardrobe and took down the latter $
| pistol. which was on a shelf.
After being locked up. Hencrnan appeared to
| take the circumstance very cOolly. To Chtcf
Campbell he remarked. referring to Capt.
| Smith; He's - OF u Captain. He makes
charges against his mon. and then goes to the
| Commissioners and bcgs them to let up ON
'rin." II was probably owing 10 his impression
| that Dr Hopkins's charges had bctn insii-
gated 10y the Captain that Hclernnn
was led to attempt his life. Capt.
Smith has on number Of occas ions
interccded with the Commissioners when
charges had been preferred against II flernan.
with the police force since th" first day oi Jan
! uHry. 1851. H. il the oldest Captain in Brook .
| lyn, and has for many years been IN command
| of tho Washington street station. The shout
| ing was tclcgraphcd to the ON 'inls ol the Pu-
| lice Department, and Gen. JOurdan. CommiS-
| sioner Ward. Chief Campbell and Inspector
| Waddy called on the Captain soon after he was
| taken home. The rumor that the shooting was
| fatal drew a large throng 10 the station house
| for Capt. Smith is widely known and very gen
| crallv esteemed.
Heffcrnuu is 10 be arraigncd before Justice
| Walsh thus morning ON charge OF attempt
| 10 murder.