The New York herald., 1879-12-13
ALMOST A MURDER.

| A POLICE SERGEANT SHOT TWICE By DEsPER-
ATE YOUNG RUFFIAN-BURGLARs IMPLEMENTS
FOUND IN THE woULD-BE MuRDERER's POS
SESSION.
The clerks of the New York Sheet Iron Company
were engaged at their books in tho Office Of that firm
at Nos 3ll and 3l3 avenue about half-past four
O'Clock yesterday afternoon when two hard looking
men j.. wearing blue flannel shirts and under
the snauence of liquor. entered. eve want
work." said the younger of the two. he staggered
up to the desk. behind which Mr.. William Brooks
the superintendent Of the establishment. seated;
81 am sorry that cannot give you employment. be-
have all the help we require. :"
answered the gentleman. The men then became
abusive and the superintendent called in Sergeant
Michael Tanning. Of the Eighteenth precinct.
who hsppened to be passing. to eject them. The
Sergeant did SO. and the men left the Office and.
crossing the avenue. won't down Nineteenth street
toward avenue B. Sergeant Tanning proceeded along
ing in few minutes found q crowd
OF boys around the factory door. He
at once surmised that the men had
picions correct He told the two men to leave.
or he would take them into custody. They refused
SO the youngest of the two jumped back. drew
from his coat pocket Smith Il Wesson revolver.
and taking deliberate aim at the officer fired. The
bullet struck the Sergeant in the thigh and inflicted
q wound from which the blood flowed in streams.
Sergeant Tanning sprang at the assassin and was
about to seize him when the revolver discharged
again. This time the bullet buried itself in his right
arm and for q moment stunned him. Recovering
was about to hre again. Although wounded. the
Sergeant fought bravely and in the struggle fell TO
the the clerts and worImen in the building, who.
instead of going to the Sergeants assist
ance. ran pelimen into the street. For
fully FIVE minutes flaming held his ground and
was about wrestling the pistol from the desperados
hand when the mans companion joined in the
assault and kicked the officer in the face The shoot
ing attracted the attention Of Officer Michael Smith.
who hurried to the place and reached the office just
as the second man had Joined in the assault. and
dealt him blow the head which felled him
less the foor Upon the arrival OF assistance The
wounded sergeant managed to regain his feet. as did
latter again Attempted to shoot the sergeant and
ceived blow ON the head from Officer Smiths
Then the men were marched TO the East Twenty
second street station house. where the one who
had shot the sergeant described himself as
james Murphy. aged twenty-three. q japanner.
residng at No. 1l9 avenue A. The other
man gave his name John Connors. claimed to sbe
Cherry street. They were searched. and in Mur-
phys possession was found small burglars JIM
moy. two skeleton keys and letter from u convict
a pick-iock was found. The mon were then
locked up. Sergeant Tanning: who had by this
q coach and driven to his home. No. 1853 East Nine
teenth street. where he was attended by Police
failed to find them. The wounds, although severe,
are not considered fatal.
The letter found on Murphy was addressed to
Dennis Gillespie, No. 23>a Gouverneur street. and
was dated Sing Sing Prison, December T. 1879. There
were several persons mentioned in 1t in general
way. and rhese the police say. are gamblers burg
lars and river pirates belonging to the "Border
gang that recently infested that part OF the Seventh
az d Thirteenth wards known as the "Hook."
The prisoner Murphy had not been positively
identified Denis Gillespie last night, although the
police are satisfied that that is his right name. It
will be remembered that Gillespie, who was pris-
oner on Blackweils Island while in of the guard
boats on the East River last summer. in company
with another convict named John OBrien. over
powered the keeper. John o. 'Brien, and escaped to
the Long Island shore in boat which had been pro-
vided by friends.