The New York herald., 1878-10-07
Mary Lyons Struck Down Before the
Altar " an Assassin.
TERRIBLE SCENE AT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S.
John Carpenters Attempt 10 Murder at
Early Mass.
THE VICTIM BADLY WOUNDED.

In the basement Of st. Francis Xavier's Church,
West Sixteenth street. three hundred souls
begun their devotons yesterday morning. IL was The
earliest OF the Sabbath masses. commencing at half
past 1--WE O'Clock hundred candles before the aliars
supplied with ligh. the low ceed room, into which
the rays Of dawn had scarcely penetrated The cee-
brant Father Thiry. whilo at the side
atars stood Fathers Jouin and 0'Shea.
The quetIde OF the assembly was suddenly
broken by the frighted screams OF woman in the
street without that reached the OF every wor-
shipper There was little stir which the priest
moderated by cautionary gestures, doubtless sug.
gested ny Inc recollection OF panic they had in
the same place not SO very long ago. Then woman
entered hurriedy, yet SO quietly that only those In
tho rear seats saw her terror She followed by
strongly built, coarse-featured man, whose -tlons
deliberate that guessed the "
thoughts behind them.
ASSAULTED PRAYER.
The object Of his pursuit hasteneu ~,i tta 1eain
aisle until sho reached pew in abor ae ts.3at. 81
the church, when she threw nersel l4ua brr xass
and casped her hands in the atlitr da yFaF.r t..
bowed head had scarcely touche. th. ,suny wnsa.
1t rudcy pulled back again the slnle3a or hs
impous rulan. In his right hand he lii. .gas
bladed kniie, and while holding her in o ststtnl
posture made three rapid slashes almost before .Ea
people IN adjoining pews realized his presence.
Smohereu "Ou ~ escaped Inc WOUNDED woman IS lips,
no looscned his grasp she foil forward upon
one knee. her head resting the pew IN front. Tho
desperate cooly shifted the weapon his hand
looked scowlingiy around the and then slowly
paced toward The door. He the outside before
two three who Witnessed the occurrence followed
The cnAsz CAPTURE
One Of these was John Reilly, who chased the now
hurrying man up Sixteenth street, ovsrtaking him
before ne had reached Fiilh avenue With his hand
fastened IN his captivs's collar Reilly marched MIN
down Sixth avenue looking for officer, and see
ing returned to the church. Meantime the
knife mad been picked up from the Sidewalk long
and desperate looking thing, with curved blade and
wooden handle. 1t was such knlfe grocers use
cutting ham cheese, and 1t had the appearance
Of recent sharpening. There blood stains on
Ihe blaac.
THE vIcrIx.
So promptly and 80 steaithiiy had the deed been
committed that not nfty people OF the congregation
knew OF II TIL they saw others gong out The packs
OF the priests were turned upon She scene and the
suppiicattons for mercy continued IN the very pres
ence OF a thrilling crime For several minutes Mary
Lyons-tnat was the wcman's name-isy nalf taiien
grew in dealhiy palIor ihen OF the priests VINO
had been called III IRON the adjoining college
her sue and gently touched ncr upon shoulder.
Without assistance she raised herself up and
walked from the church by his Sevcra: ladies
followed them 70 render her assistance II any were
needed. A. the door the priest inquired II she eit
presently. am wounasd." On Inc s,dewalk ,he
priest pointed 10 her ussuiaut, who was now in tne
custody Of oilicer Lawrence Connolly, and asked:-
"Do you know that man ~
| mo" responded she; Il never saw him until
fifteen inmates snce. when he followed mo from
i ffh avenue down here ~
/ In turn tho assailaut was asked II he know Mary
Lyons, and answered.
| ..No, it's mistake; 1t amt the right party.n
i Tho victim led TO tho New YORK Hospital
when irom 81. Francis Xaviers, wnere ner
| Tnsre was but Que wound which. though by no means
slight, Is not likely 10 result fatally. The knis had
entered tho w0mans sidc, just ABOVE the MP passing
out again The back. FROM inquiries last even.
ing appeared the patient was progressing favoraby.
TnE PRISONER
Officer Connolly took the prisoner to the Twenty
| ninth precinct station, where he gave his name as
Jonn Carpenter, cornor OF Clinton Grand streets
On the WAY 10 The station house be tod the officer
tnat he had attacked the wrong woman, but to the
Sergeant At The desk he denied all knowledge OF using
| "a knie or njuring anybody. IL Is supposed that
mistook Mary Lyons Tor his vile, wlth whom
| has long quArrelled- On MS person were
| found bo.tle Iuil OF whiskey, a large
sizcd pocket knife, and a memorandum BOOK,
| but money. soon alter he Was takon 10 tho JEFF
ierson Market Police Court wnere Judge Morgan Was
! sitiing As witnesses against him shere appeared
John Reilly hs captor Oi northeast corner OF Sixth
avenue anu Tween sixth street. aud Thomas MURRAY
| y painter, OF No. 27i sixth avenue The prisoner
say nothing IN his defence, and Judge Morgan
commi.ied hm ON charge oi ieonious assault. wish
out bail.
INTERVIEW WITH CARPENTER.
HERALD reporter visited Carpenter In hts cell In
black eyes, hair and mu.tacne. The lace cunning
aud cruel He was perfectly cool throughout the
u
sla.ion or regret at what had taken pac.
Ho said he was born In New York
ory tour years ago. ana tor nine years & ne nad been
he was member oil tho Central Park police, but re-
signed alter Two yoars service aud was engaged in
the cartng business up town. Two years ago last
December ne was made janitor oil tho Nathan Build
Ing No. IL wost rweuy-third street. His wife was
janltrcss, aud about this time thoy began 10
quarrel He had been married before and
had Two sons, wnom he said ms vile
com peed 70 Ieave the house. Twice she had hun
last February, ON account OF tue latest Of these
HIS ws had siuce been em pIoyed NO. Z East six
tceDth street, but he had not lived win her, He said
he had done no work from The time he left the
Island, saturday had PLAYED cards ali shl
wnere Fourteenth street, Hc had b. On drinking Dut
was not under the influence OF liquor when he
Xav er's Church. Respecting the uray there the
porter CLEAN very itsle Information from him.
against MIN aad carefully parted all leading quss-
sions about the motives which sd him to church.
taciturn dispositiop:-
"D'd you Know Mary Lyonsf'
"Are you a regular attendant. a, early mass at 81
..No, but 90 thcre sometimesn
"Do you usually i.ei IKE attending mass alter play
ing cards all nghtf"
swell, had nothing better to do"
"Does your wiio attend mass thereW
s'she used TO go there when We lived In West Twcn-
". .third street,
..Did you mistake Mary Lyons for herr"
sway, not at all; they nave not tho same Kind OF
HAIR, aud are different IN other ways"
"ilave you threatened your wife tor sending you 70
the IsandS"
With a snrug OF tho shouidcrs--"Not recently"
.Did you ever Threaten to kill herr
.No.n
allow camo you 10 carry that long kniicf"
~ had no kuiic out a nlte pocket Que"
RESOLVED TO Dg NoNcoAnirrAI-
Carpenter was plainiy resolved upon admitting
nothing oil mis- guilt He Is prety well suown by tue
poiice Not ouiy have ms domestic troubles given
HIM unpleasant notoriety, but ioug before tneir
occurrence he was mealbe OF a volunteer engine
company, aud vas repeatedly engaged In brswl@
Ten Or twelve years ago he snot man in lgnt IN
tue Bank Coffee House, kept by Tony Miller, on Grand
street, near Cintoa.
Lyons CHARACTER
Mary Lyons is twenty-thiee years OF age and has
becn Tor Two years past employed as d iaung ress
tue Hoffman House. Her brotner Frank Is also
nInx. -. hotel and noLh 1--we there. lLcI