The New York herald., 1879-12-25
SHOT IN THE HEAD.
Probably Fatal Conflict in a Third
Avenue Liquor Store.
EDWARD SCANNELL'S STEADY AIM
The Record of a Family Notorious for
Its Love of Fighting


Florence scannsll received his death wound ten
years ago from pistol shot in the back while
gagged in an election free fight In liquor store
at the corner of Twenty-third street and Second
avenue. Three years subsequently John Scannell.
brother of deceased emptied the contents of Colts
five chamber navy revolver into the body OF Thomas
Donohue. liquor dealer. whom he charged with
having slain his brother. Yesterday morning the
police of the Twenty-arst precinct reported that
during alteration in a liquor store at No. d54
Third avenue. Henry Wilson. barber. of No. 81
Water street. shot twice in the face by Edward
Scannell of No. 317 East Twcntyseventh street. and
seriously wounded. The Edward Scannell in ques-
ton is younger brother of Florence and John
Scannell. above referred to. The origin of the
present shooting has been the result of dissi
pated habits ana evil companions. Cooke
McCahe are the proprietors OF Q liquor store
at No. 654 Third avenue. It is frame
building. one story and half high.
On the ground floor, front. is small bsrroom, with
partition enclosing rear room, which Is used by
CHING Of young men who nightly congregate there.
play cards and continue their carousals to early
hour in the morning. The place has been .
Of solicitude to the police of the Twen
ty-frst precinct and Captain Murphy. has recently
caused the barkeeper to be arrested for keeping .
NASSASSAAJ ~@ASASS
SONG AND DANCE.
About half past-one yesterday morning q crowd Of
these youthful rowdies. usual, assembled in
the back room of tho saloon. They conducted them
selves in free and easy style. Some playing
cards. others drinking and smoking ard few more
singing. Among the latter . boy who
regaling the company with song and dance.
Scannell. who was playing cards. became annoyed
at the noise occasioned by the falsetto voice and
double shuttle OF the festive youth, and in pc
remptory he ordered the lad to stop his noise.
The boy paid attention to tho command. but
changed his song to one that required constant
repetition OF the top note. Scannc lost his temper
aud struck the boy in tho face. The latter at
changed his musical note to prolonged howl. The
lad was denizen Of the Fourth ward. and he was
not without his hackers. Wilson. who also hailed
from the Fourth. could not bear to see his youth
full neighbor harshly treated He tainted
Scannell with striking boy. and this
led to the interchange of hot words and
personal remarks. Wilson suddenly struck Scannell
q blow in the mouth. knocking out o few Of his
teeth. Scannel at first made effort to retaliate.
He went to the back Of the room, spit out mouth
full OF blood bathed the injured parts 81 the hyant
and then returned to the card table. There the
quarrel between himself and Wilson was renewed,
Tho two men, both full of liquor. stood face
garing at one another. They were tul Of fight and
wanted to renew the quarrel there and then. Their
friends. however. interposed and kept them apart.
Scannell as alleged his revolver presented it
at the head of Wilson and fred twice0dn rapid sue.
cession The balls took effect one In the side of the
and the other In the check. the latter lodging
in the side Of the neck Scannell disappeared.
AFTER THE SHOOTING.
Those who remained were apprehensive Of the ar
rival of the police and the bartender hastily closed
the place. The wounded man remained in the back
room OF she liquor store, fearing to go into the
street. He was apprehensive that Scannell was wait
ing outside to finish tho murderous assault. Find
ing himself. however, rapidly growing faint from
loss OF blood. he ventured forth and presented him
self at the Twenty-frst precinct station. bleeding
profusey There he reported the particulars of his
injuries: Captain Murphy ordered tho police SUR
geon to be sent for and the mans injuries were OK
moved to Bellevue Hospital. where his wounds were
pronounced dangerous. Captain Murphy detailed a
number OF his men TO go IN search OF the fugitive
The bartender claims that scannel was the ag-
gressor and the sole cause of the quarrel. He pro-
voked Wilson to strike him. and then to be avenged
deliberately shot his sssailant. The same authority
is also responsible for the statcment that about week
ago young Scannell had q somewhat similar adven-
ture with another man In the saloon. On that
sion alleged he drew his revolver and presented
1t head OF the stranger The proprietor struck
down his arm thereby causing the bullet to perorate
the edge Of the counter aud narrowly miss finding
Judgement III the body of the bartender.
A WARD POLITICIANS END.
The story of the tragic death OF Florence Scannell
ten years ago is still fresh in the public memory
fayortc in the ward Re usvs stsus
in ward politics. aud had been elected to the Assem-
bly,. He was identified with the Young Democracy.
and considered o formidable opponent in the
district to the Tammany leaders, Possessed of more
than the average education. and having plenty of
money. which he spent lavishly. ho soon had con-
siderable following. He was withal fearless and
intrepid. Among tho hard-hsted ''bruisers who in
terested themselves In primary politics "Flory" was
always regarded a. . dangerous man to Interfere
with.
In Donohuc's barroom. at Twenty third street and
Second avenue the Sd of December, 1869. several
ward politicians assembled. A place OF regis
traton open In tue ncighborhood. and Florence,
with his brother John and number of political
friends. entered the barroom to break up the meet
Ing which was attended. as claimed, by numerous
repeatcrs In the free tight which followed Flor
euce shot In the back. the ball lodging in his
spine. lie was removed to bellevue Hospital. where
he expired the beginning of the following July. He
literally died by inches. 1t was marvel among his
medical attendants that he survived long. whilo
he lay his deathbed John his half brother. knclt
By the bedside and there swore that he would take the
The friends of the lattor maintained that it was
John Scanuel who discharged the pistol which
pcratsd John and added to the poignancy of his
grief The brothers had becn devotedy attached to
each other. An inquest was held on July H. 1870.
the verdict being that deceased to his death by
q pistol shot wound at the hands of Thomas Dono-
hue. Tho latter. however,. was never brought to
trial.
vow ruLrrLLEp.
In the meantime John did not forget his vow.
About six months after the demise OF his brother
he disguised himself by wearing false whskcrs. and
lying in wait 1t the corner of Eighteenth street and
Third avenue. there shot Thomas Donohue. Tho
latter recovered John fed and remained away from
the city about six months until the excite
ment blew On the 81 of December, 1874, he
succeeded in carrying out his long cherished threat
of vengeance. Meeting Douohue in Johnson's pool
room, at Twenty y-eighth street and Broadway. no
ired vo shots into his body. killing him Instantly
He arrested Sixth avenue by Captain
Mcllvan. OF the Twentieth precinct. and subse-
Quently placed trial. lls escaped conviction on
the plea OF insanity and was sent to lunatic asy
luin. from which place he discharged after n
years incarceration being restored to his normal
mental condition. Since then he has lived in tho
hotel. which ho owns. at Third avenue and Twenty
fourth street. Recently he Interested himself in
pedestrian matches and was Mcrritts backer at the
lato walk for tho Ashley belt.