New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-18
SHOTIN THE BA OK.
A CowARDLY MURDER IN BROOKLYN.

The lower part of the Fifth Ward of Brooklyn
was the scene early yesterday morning. OF what
appears to be an unprovoked murder, Patrick NC
Dermott of No. 81 HudsOn-ave., receiving 1a'ai
wound in the back at the hands OF Nlcholas Mey-
ners. who lives in the same house. Officer James
RYAN. of the York Street Police, while on duty at
Hudson-ave. and Plymouth-st. at a. m''
was startled by the loud report oil gun
discharged within hundred feet of him. Look
ing in the direction of the river, he saw man fan
on the sidewalk. The officer fastened TO the spot
and found McDermott, who kept grocery store on
the first floor of No. 81 lIudson-ave, bleeding
from a wound on the left side Of the small OF the
back. In a very short space of time large crowd
of people collected. The officer was informed that
McDermott had been shot by Meyners, German.
who keeps a small cabinet shop in the basement or
the house, RYAN tried to open the door of the
basement, but found it locked. and was compelled
TO force an entrance. Meyners found within,
with a long old-fashloned musket near HIM. lie
was in his shirt sleeves and looked pale and excited
He protested that the shooting accidental, and
SAID that he only intended to discharge an old load
that was in the musket
The officer started TO conduct his prisoner to the
police station. but no sooner had he opened the
door than the rapidly increasing crowd gave vent
to threats of the most violent SORT number
asserted that they had Meyners shoot Me-
Dermott in cowardly way. and as the injured
man was an Irishman, while his assalant was q
German the prejudice of nationality was aroused
and cries of Lynch himW Hang him" were
freely uttered. Officer Ryan perceived his
prisoners danger, and with presence of mind
forced Meyners back into his shop. and closed
the door against the Infatuated mob In a few
minutes Officer Koran arrived on the scene,
and with his assistance the prisoner was safely con-
yeyed to the station, at York and Jay-sts He said
that he was thirty-three years OF age and the
charge preferred against him was that OF felonlous
assault with intent TO kill.
In the meantime NcDermott carefully re-
moved from the sidewalk to his house. The am
bulance arrived wi hout delay and Surgeon Plymp-
ton, who examined the injured man, declared that
il would be impossible for him to 1--we to reach the
CITY Hospital, to which 1t was decided to remove
him. The physicians at the hospital also said that
he could not survive long The bullet had
passed into his body and lodged in his
intestlnes When Captain Crafts learned that Me-
Dermott was sinking fast he took Meyners in
carriage to the hospital where he identified by
McDermott as his assaiant Coroner Smms Wis
tied the hospital at a. IN and the wounded man
made the following statement:
This morning about 6 O'Clock taking down the
front shutters Of my store WINDOW, No "a ludsouaSe
and the of tying rope around the upright OF
an awning To hold up the shutters when heard tue
discharge a rearm and felt self shot III The back.
The report from the cellar or my store believe
that | was shot by Meyners. whO win his wife,
lives at No. 81 Huds0n-dve. l did not see him
shoot me, bat him IN the cellar Tuesday, about
d. IN. Meyners was beating his wife with suck in
nv kitchen She asked me TO protect her, and took
the stick rom him. did not see MIN again until
O'clock this morning. He then IN his cellar. did
Meyners after was shot but believe he is the
man who snot me. had no words WIN him yesterday
when the stick from him. ola not see Meyners
come from the cellar after was shOi.
McDermott continued to grow weaker and weaker
until 1880 p. M, when he died. lie had
wife and two children, and lived In the
rear of his store. He was a sober in
dnstriOus and har1workng. lie was thlrty-two
years OF age. Meyners was taken before Justice
Walsh after leaving the hospital, and was COM
mited to the Raymond street jail 10 await the re-
suit of McDermotPs injuries. Meyners has occu-
ped the shop No. 81 fiudson-ave. for about three
months. He gave his age as tmrtythree, out seems
to be several years Older. He has wife.
who is older than he, but has no children.
whiskers. He is said to be of quarre lsome dispo-
sifion as he has been in the habit OF beating and
abusing his wife, and is also addicted 10 drinking.
The gun which he used was loaded with mimic
ball.
Captain Crafts carefully collected the statements
of ali the persons who had knowledge OF the trag-
edy and presented full report of TIE case TO SUI
perintendent Campbell early III the day. The pris-
oneT, Meyners. said that he went into ms shop be-
tween 4 and Il. III. He had an old musket IN the
to discharge il i'll order 10 load II again. he opened
the front door to fire 1t into the air, wnen the
went of prematurely. lie had no intention OF shoot
ing or niuring any person, and dd not see the per-
son who was shot He had not had any difficulty
or quarrel with McDermott and there was no i'll
feeling between them The shooting was purely
accidental. On Wednesday he was drunk, and he
did not know whether or not he mad quarrel with
his wife on that dav, nor did be know whether or
not McDermott reproved him for beating his wife.
Mrs. Kate McDermott, the wife OF the murdered
man, SAID that her husband, who nad been working
hard, came home about y. ~. Wednesday, and
went to bed About an hour later he was disturbed
by McyUers and his wife quarreillng III the hail.
Mrs. McDermOtt demonstrated with them, ard after
ward her husband got M and said TO them
" Mr.. Meyners, It is shame for !, an
ners and his wife, however, continued to quarrel.
and Meyners said to Mrs. Costello, who lives the
third floor " will Tx parties in the house for
this Mrs. McDeTmOtt sand that her husband was
shot while he was taking down the shutters OF the
store. No words passed between the two men.
McDermott called out: Kate. the Dutchman
dOwnstaTs has shot me-"
Meyner,'s wife declared that her husband had
been drinking for the past fourteen days On
"Wednesday he was beating her when McDer-
mott came down stairs and told him that
it shame for HIM TO beat an
old woman i Ike her. Some words passed between
the men, and McDemott struck Meyners III the
eye. Yesterday morning she saw her husband
take his gun down 10 the basement.
Mrs. Catherine Donovan, WHO occupies rooms on
the second floor OF No. "a fludsOn-ave., was sitting
on the dewalk IN front of the house when tue
shooting occurred. She saw Meyners come to the
basement door while McDermott was work on
the sidewalk. She heard the report of a musket,
and saw smoke come from the basement door. Mr..
McDermott fell into the street and she called out
that he had been shot. Meyners was often drunk,
and frequently beat his wife, so that she would
have to sleep out IN the hallway; she afraid to
stay her own rooms.
Mrs. Bridget Costello confirmed the other state
ment in regard to Meyners beating his wife on
Wednesday aud said that on Wednesday evening
she heard Meyners say, while passing her door u
will settle some one in this house"
THE PHILOLOGLSTS AT NEWPORT
A LARGE NUMBER OF PAPERS READ BY EMINENT