The New York herald., 1878-08-17
DESPERATE DEMPSEY.
He Tries to Shoot Sew eral Peopla
on Staten Island.
ONE WOMAN WOUNDED.
The Authorities Efforts to Protect the
Prisoner from the Crowd

One Of the beautiful eminenecs which make New
Brighton Staten Island. iavonte resort is Hamilton
Park Tho owner OF the property, Mr.. G. n Hamil'
toa improved the place aud erected line residences
at a time when roal estate men were Wild with spocu-
latiou. He layishsd his money on the buildings
with the expectation Of raising cent per cent
within decade OF years But no was
doomed TO share the common loss when men were
partially wholly ruined by the depreciation 10 she
value OF real estate. The houses sought fol
desirable residences, and IL found necsssaryn u
employ person 10 tako charge OF tnem. Mr.. Franz
Langori, with "A family consisting OF q wife and
Two children, entrusted with the charge
OF tho properly. L,ng,ord is paintcs
and during his working hours his wife the sole
custodian OF the park. The position must have boon
a lucrative one tor It nciied groat competition.
Among the rivals OF Mr. and Mrs Langford was John
Dempsey formerly a hack drver tor Coroner Jamca
Dempsey. HIS disappointment seems to have lred hin
with resentment, and hts exploits Thursday night
may lead very trouble perusal OF the facts
VIII show that he acted with sregard OF hu-
lie. and to the last moment before his capture
was thrstng for blood. That he did not succeed 10
taking Ito most providentiaL
FIEEp.
The story Is ths:-A man named P. J. Fallon
coming along First street from his work about
eight O'Clock on tho evening In question when he
heard the crack OF a pistol He suddenly turned
s"s arm an 's S"on ereS ' wSo
you firing ai?' and the only answer ne received
missed Ho then rushed Tor tho scoundrei, ana (
lively chase onsued through New York avenue,
Wnso be arose Ike woaa.Do assassin had d. gained
great hcaaway, and the chase was kept up
nzsd as John Dempsey. Tho pursuit became SO hoe
that Dempsey Jumped over tence into the villa oil
through the shrupoery made his escape. Falon lost
time in reporting the case 60 tho police. but was
n% nS'mea Saess " he 'Apy Syocuroa arraS rns:
| Is queer law said Fallon; 1.-THE man has tried
If ne should succeed In Killing me OF VIVA, use would
| a warrant bef' But Tho police inexorsble, and
he would take care 70 protect himself and sesx no
aid from an indifferent police force. Fearing further
home Two men wno had heard mis- story v,un-
toered to accompany BIN, but he declined tho oner,
sey could not close upon him TIN no reached place
! whore he could tako him at disadvantage. All this
| Is tho singular ~ Faon denies that Jhcre
| any ili-iecling between him and Dempsey Be this
AZ II may the latter did not further pursue him.
| ANOTHER ArrKhPT.
| After tho chase New York and the escape
OF Dempsey the Inter coov went into the store Of
hi,ard l. hartey and bought a box OF cartridges,
and going outside, reloaded his revolver Hts strange
movements in the store attracted no particular
attention; but when . ne , reached the side. .ia..
walked In the direction OF Hamilton Park. All trace
was thon lost OF him from this quarter. AS soon
ho reached tho OF Hamilton Park he crouchcd
down aud pscrsd around for several moments. Two
little boys who happened be the opposite side Of
| the street noticed his movements ana startsd OH.
| Dempsey fired two shots at them as thoy ran rncn,
as he found that he secure fron obsorva-
| ton, no advaucod and took ms position In front Of
Mr. Langiords residence Al this point II may bs
woil state that Mrs Lansfo about to become
| mother and was frequently visitod by mcmbers OF
her family Al about len minutes 10 nine O'CLOCK
there were seated IN the front room OF the house
MS Laugiord. ber orother's wife, Mrs. Buraeid aud
|
Langiord SAT with her back to the door, which opens
upon She Park, and through which delightful breeze
WAS waited. The boy the soia facing the door.
Mrs Bur1sid sat on tho opposite sde OF the table
from MrG L,pgord, and directly facing the door,
! LAXGFoRD WOUNDED.
The rest OF the story Is best told by Mrs. Bur.
ohatting, heard a suap a, iron, revolver looked
through the door und saw the lorm Of man with his
hand raised and thrust through the Failing second
click snap followed, bat the weapon missed again.
Mrs. Langiord hearing tho noise ana observing
Knowing hsr dsloate state of boal,h l was deter.
miuod to her fIom any excitement aud replied,
esusn. her BY IN tho arms - draw draw her % away from
tho line oil Inc door. sho became 70
witch nSt ses %
the lett breast, tho ball passing ou through tho lett
shoulder blade. sho screamed ana ! savo a lo.A
through the door, when l the
change his directly toward me- He
must have been exaspsra.ed at my effort: 70
The chair, unc white dong so tho man nred vt me
and missed. At this moment the little boy looked
through tho door and cried out, 'Oh. m smma that's
Johnny Dempsey Finding that ho Recognised
the took to his heels"
An alarm once given and Information
conveyed TO Coroner Dempsey, VINO WAS speedily on
hand. Dr. Van Rcnssolaer was also summoned and
did everything In his power to neuraiizs the effects
OF tho shock Mrs. Langiord had sustained. Mean
While the cry OF "Murderi" bad been ringing
through tho bnsemeot Of the house Tor fully
twenty inmates Doforo my aid arrived.
Dempsey was pursued and captured by ON ;ers
sh ci and Romcr three quarters OF hour niior tha
occurrence iu . gambling den Kept by Que sheridan.
He was lockoa up In the village nail Tor the night. bus
great the ind gn1ton aroused against him a.
soon - tho news spread abroad that u was found
necessary TO have special guard placed at the hall
during the night.
'sit the people who turned out had only caughs
him," said Coroner Dempsey, emphauoaiiy 'tney
would have made short work with him"
TuE pRisoyNks DENIAL
Dempsey was Drought u" Tor cxAmiuasion ocfore
Judge Corbett Yesterday morning. Eight Witnesses
wero ,xamined; but Mrs. Langord, who IL IN
u prostraic copd,on, aud Mr.. Bu' Geld, VINO
Is In attendance her, could nos 10
present Dr. Vat Rensselaer, testified that while
Tho wound issei not necessarily fatal tho
s,queuces OF the shock ia Mrs. Lanxiords delicst0
condition could not be ioretoId. la answer TO the
questions Dempsey denied he charge and st the
conclusion OF tue examination Judge Cobctt commit
ted hin TO The Rchmoni County Jaii 20 await the ac
ton OF the Grand jury.
Dempsey at ono tino deck hand on the North
shore icrryboats and bears no relationship to the
family OF Coroner Dempsey which ~ quite numerous
on sta,cn Island. HIS counsel protested yesterday
la most vehement manner against tho
sIandcr circulated TO prejudice pubic opinion
| against Dsmpscy that the i,ttcr was notorious
Gcashil wrsstior" rhis appcllatoo, no asserts be-
longs ony TO indivdu, kno~n In this city niteen
years ago AS "Lynay Brackcn.'
Mrs- Langiord was somewhat improved last even.
| leg