The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-06-26
A BLOODY EVENT.
TWO MEN CUT WITH KNIFE IN THE HANDS
or A DESPERATE MAN

On Saturday afternoon last tho ool -i..-a
after the ceremonies of the crossing of the
Delaware were celebrated in the way of a
Centennial anniversary, an occurrence hap
pened in New Hope that shocked all lovers of
peace and harmony. Three men were found
to be engaged in conflict that will almost, if
not quite, result in death to at least one of
the aforesaid party. The names of the per-
sons referred to are as follows James Nc
Guigan, Ephriam Dorsey, and JOS Holbert
| Where the most blame is to be attached we
do not pretend to state, but, suffice it to say,
that had not Constable john benson, Elias
Masteu and John Pickett been near at hand
and stopped the murderous attack that Nc
Guigan was making, and lodged two of them
i'll the lookup, we would now most likely be
compelled to chronicle the event as of even
more serious consequences than we are now
called upon to do. The facts gained from diff
ferent, and we believe perfectly reliable
sources, show that McGuigau had shown him
self to be very unruly and somewhat intoxi-
Gated during the day, and that Dorsey and
Elolbert had also been inbibiug to q consider
two occasions during the day the three had
quarreled. The conflict happened near the
town hall. The two colored men were on
their way home Whether they were follow
ed and oyertaken 10y McGuigan, or whether
they met accidentally, we are unable to say.
Who struck the first blow is as yet not known
but this much is known that when they were
first seen and arrested, McGuigan had a
knife, or some other very sharp instrument
and was playing fearful havoc with the two
colored particularly Dorsey. He was
cutting right aud left. Dorsey was cut
over the temple and ON the head in ter
ribe manner, and had long cut that glanced
his shoulder sleeve, cutting through his coat
and shirt, and just peeing off the skin under
meath. Holbert was cut over the eye, how
ever not very seriously just here it may be
but justice to say that person who saw the
fracas from afar believes that Holbert was
trying to play the part of the "peacemaker "
at the time he was injured, Elias Masten
seized Michigan in time to prevent his doing
any further harm, and says that he saw his
prisoner ''double mp whatever he did the cut
ting with and put it in his pocket" and be-
ieved it to have been knife. Dorsey was
found to be dangerously wounded, --the cuts
being very deep-and the blood streaming
from the gaping wounds to the ground, pre-
sented picture, CHASTITY in the extreme. He
was taken charge of by Dir. r. G. Foulke,
who dressed the wounds, but the man lost
great quantity of blood before his (the doc.
tors services were secured. Againin taking
him to his home the bleeding began afresh
and it was with much difficulty that it was
stopped.
Holbert and Michigan were placed in the
lookup. The knife could not be found eth
er on McGugan's person or elsewhere.
Later in the evening" Holbert, being wound
ed was allowed to go to his home.
On Sunday morning hearing was had be-
fore Squire Johnson. The prisoner said he
did the cutting with an inch rule which he
carried in his pocket and that he had had no
knife about him during that day. Witnesses
were produced that made it appear that it
was a knife, and that the clean cuts inflicted
were proof that it must have been something
very sharp. Dir. r. G. Foulke considered
Dorsey in a very critical condition and the
justice postponed the hearing until next morn
ing. On Monday morning, Dorsey's condi-
ton was not changed aud the Doctors boubt-
full apprehensions of Dorsey's wounds, just-
fled Justice johnson in ordering MeGnigan tn
be taken to the nnylestnwn Jail. According
ly Constable John benson took the prisoner
to Doyestown and delivered him over to the
authorities, there to await future develop
ments in the case of the man whom he nearly
murdered.