New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-21
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
rvp.cuFPy AMONG THIEVES.
A PIER wA1CHMAN sHOT AMONG FRIENDS OF MET

. PIER wA1cHMAN SHOT AMONG FRIENDS OF MEN
HE HAD HELPED TO CONVICT OF CRIME.
Captain S,mers of the schooner William H. van
Name which was lying at Pier No. OF East hH0i,
was awakened early on July 20 by the SCUM ~
footsteps stealing softly over the deck lie "eIV "
the cabin window and saw three thieves wrencmng
Of the iron bar that guarded the door OF the room
where all the merchandise was stored lie ra'seu
his gun and fired, and moment later pllhu
eroan was heard. One OF the thieves hao peon
shot and rs he writhed in pain he tried TO follow
the retreating steps of his companions. When he
moved the blood flowed freely from the wound
and marked the course which the thieves had
taken. On the pier that morning was watch
man named Thomas Mcclure. HIS attention
was attracted by the report of the gun and ne
fastened to the schooner TO ascertain the cause,
As he reached the side of the vessel there jumped
by him the two thieves bearing their conrade; the
men escaped, but John Moran the wornded man
subsequently died in St. Francis Hospital.
Mcclure, the watohman, had at one time been
amember of the 4" border gang which Is known u
the police as the largest gang OF thieves III the CITY,
Their rendezvous is the river front near Gouver-
neur and Jackson-sts. They plumber the shlps' TOD
unprotected pedestrians at any hour Of the day or
nicbt and break into any house that Is
known to contain vauables that can reSuLy
he converted into cash. lt was members Oh thIs
weeks AGO and liberated the BlackwePs island
prisoners. Recently Mcguire reformed his ,moIaIs;
and although he associated win the gang ne Usv
10 earn his living honestly. Nhen ne sa"
the two thieves Jump from the schooner. ne Iecoe-
pized them as John COnroy and Francis GILLESPIE
members OF the border gang lie INFORMED lne
Dohce and n was altogether through his evidence
that the thieves were captured aud hed LOT tfial.
The bad blood of the gang combined VIVID eQudlly
had whiskey has been seeking Tor revenge ever
since Delegations from the gang nave frequently
been 10 see Mcclure 10 inform him that they IN
tended "to get square WIN n trots oDd wanv
times he has told the police of the danger e was IN
Yesterday morning the Waterman appeared IN , ne
ncighborhood where the thieves lounge during me
cav. He began drinking at q. M. ana AT . a. m
was very much intoxicated. After drinking IN sew
eral places. he finally visited the SALOON 9 htPy
sts which is frequented by the thieves;
He there met one of the gang named jim
Perry At the sight of Perry, McGulre became
NOISY, quareSome and unmanageaDie lie Wahteu
To fight everybody in the bar-roOm ana as many
more as could I've gathered from the edJol4Ing
streets He told Perry that It was aslmpi, Iaek 20
Wbip him and II any Of the border gang wanted
TO rctaate for his actions, he perfectly ready to
satisfy their craving. Those who were IN the sa-
loon al the fine saw that Perry at first tried 10 Keep
away from Mcclure, but that finally ne tanned the
watchman with being a sneak and an mtormer, aud
You're no GOOD you're no good to yourself or
70 any one else" ~,
At THIS Mcclure left the room and joined the
young thieves who were seated along the pier I'M
med ately in front Of the saloon. There were no
PERSONS passing at the time except an occasional
woman on her way 90 the free bath-house at the
foot of the street. Perry followed Mcclure as far
as the pier. What transpred there Is only known
to the thieves, and they are not likely TO tell.
An animated discussion held on the pier;
then five or six pistol shots in rapid succession at
fractad the attention of Officer Brennan, of the
Tive fth Precinct, who had been detailed 10 the
free bath. The officer rushed TO the spot
and found pistol in McGures hands
and near by the air WAS filled with
smoke. AS the officer apr ached, be saw
Mcclure fall 10 the ground, ana the crowd when
had surrounded him dispersed. No other weapon
was found. and no other person was seen 70 shoot.
The wounded man was taken to the seventh
Precinct Station-house. but he was 100
much intoxicated to give any information.
" nen asked if he knew who shot him,
he sld il was Perry. general alarm was sent out
Tor Perry aud seven detectives were specially de-
tailed on the case. Mcclure was removed to the
New-Y0rk Hospital, one wound was found IN
tie right side Just below the ribs. At
late hour last evening he had not recov-
cred from his debauch. The physicians are
unwilling to probe for the ball, they tear II might
result fatally The bail entered at place where II
Is likely to affect any Of the organs, aud tDe DeleI
of the physicians Is that ne will die.
The theory Is advanced that McGu1re shot nm
self By carelessy handling the pistol, but IL is
thought that Perry Il int and absence are evidence
of Eis guilt. Mcclure has a wife and six children
He is twenty-elght years old, and resides at No
6sS Water-st. Al late hour last night he was I'M
conscious, but alive.
Perry is a thickset man, about feet inches
high and weighs nearly 40 pounds. He Is OF DARK
complexion, and has a closely shaven face.