The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-15
BFRNES's POLICE CLUE.
How Arthur McGovern Came 60 he in Roose-
welt Hospital with - Broken Les.

At about o'clock on Tuesday evening,
Arthur McGovern was carried to the Forty
seventh street police station. whore he
was charged by Policeman Byrnes with
being drunk and disorderly Mt his house. ! %
West Forty street. McGovern was taken
from tho police station TO the Roosevelt Hos
pital. where he lay yesterday with badly frac-
tured leg and cut head. injuries received while
the arrest was being made
The story told by Policeman Byrnes Is that. at
about o'clock on Tuesday evening. he was
asked by n man TO arrest drunken woman
who WIS killing her children In the rear OF l43
West Forty-nnth street. Hc saw the woman.
but she was sober. and was not molesting her
children. He did not think 1t case
for an arrest. and he was going back
through the yard on his way to the front house
when he was accosted by McGovern. who was
very drunk and swore nj him. What business
have you here. you - loaterf' ne asked;
arrest him. upon which McGoyern said: III
get the poker and fix YOU" and ran up stnlrs
The officer pursued him. and met him ut the
top of the stairs coming down. He had short
iron poker in his hand. with which he struck
nercely ut the officer. who parted several blows
with his club. md finally struck his nssallant on
the head. suhduing him. He took away the
poker. and was leading his prisoner down the
ward and fell down the entire flight he lay 90
the bottom. grooming and disabled. and the ON.
Ger summoned assistance and had him carried
to the police station where II WIS nscertalned
that his beg WIS broken near the ankle.
AS McGoVern lay upon his cot in tho ltoose,
up and n protector over his injured leg. he
told story widely different In tho essential
points from that related by Byrnes., He Is
very large man, with immense development
OF chrst' ana apparently possessing Ereh,
strength. His face is rudy. and indicative OF
good humor and good living he snld:,
have wife and six young children. for whose
support Tor long time have worked as
street car dryer, and my family live IN N ne
front OF li3 West Forty ninth street, ana n Mr..
Doughcrty and his wife have, room in the
rear. On Tuesday evening Doughcrty was
drunk. and he went into tho street and asked
an officer to arrest his wife ! know
that Mrs. Dougherty was an honest, hard.
working woman. and when the oiilc'r came into
the house | asked him not To- arrest her. had
my Youngest child in my arms when spoke TO
Byrues. for did not think thcrc was any
danger o. his attacking. me. Heasked me what
business had 90 interfere, and said he would
take me in IL didn't hold my tongue. ! was
angry. OF course. when he spoke thht way 10 NE.
and don't know exactly what said, but before
could say much he cut my head open with his
club. He struck me again and again, Tor could
make no defence with the child In my arms. He
hit the hqby. too. and then | Thought ! had a
right to defend myself and my child. was al
most blind with the blood that was pouring over
my face. but ran NJ stairs and got the poker.
LETT the child IN the room. aud had gone rs iar
n the head Of the stairs when he met me again.
hand hc hit me on the head and knocked me to
the bottom ot the stairs. tried TO get up but
my leg WAS broken. ana ! could not move.
told him 50. but he paid no attention 10 what
said, out hit mo on the shoulder with his club
as | lay On the ground until thought my arm
was dislocated. | don't know how | was taken
T. the police station. or brought mere. Tor was
almost unconscious from pain aud loss Of blood
but know ! was not In the least drunk"
McGuverns story is corrOboTuted. to n great
extent. 10y his fellow inmates OF the tenement
house in which he lived. He is an honest.
hardworking sober man, they say. and his
only offence WAS 10 ask the officer not to arrest
Mrs. DouEhcrty on her drunken husband =
complaint. \ tailor. who lives on the lower
floor. says he Is prepared To testify that No
Govern was perfectly sober. and that tho officer
struck the child A. well as the father.
q" When McGovcrn was lying helpless al the
bottom Of the stairs" he said. he told the
officer that his leg was broken; but the Inter
came down, dubbed him again. and told IAN 10
get up
The house surgeon 81 tho Roosevelt Hospital
says that while the wounds on McGoveru's head
are not very serious the injury to the leg.
should IL develop into compound facture.
may cost him the limb.