The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-02-05
a Doom cd Family.

A few nights ago Edward Soanncll,
SHOT and dangerously wounded Henry
wilson, in a low GROCERY in New York. The
male members Of tho family seem born to
misfortune. which is IL mild word TO ex-
press what hes, at times, been tinged with
crime. In the fall election Of 1868 Flor
encc Scannell was a candidate for Assistant
Alderman. A few nights before the elect
ton he was in Thomas Donohue's saloon,
at Twcnty-third street and Second avenue.
The place was crowded, and much heated!
dlcussion on politics took place. Hot words
led to blows during the fracas some one
fired pistol, The bullet lodged in Flor
! ence Scanncll's spine. After lingering for
few days he died in Bellevue Hospital.
john Scannell accused Donohue Of shooting
his brother, although the charge was not
made until several days afterwards, Moth
ing could be proved against Donohuo, and
the charge fell to the ground. Indeed, it
WAS said at the time. and it is current
among politicians and sporting men, that
John Scannell himself fired the shot, in.
tending to hit another man. BE this as it
may, John Scanncll profcssed to believe
that Donohue wns his brothers murderer,
and then determined to slay him. Dono-
hue was shot at once in First avenue, and
an endcavor was made to show that Scan
nell had mado the attempt to assassinate
him, but the evidence was not sufficient to
fastcn the crime OH him. All that could
be proved was that man In disguise had
shot at Donohue. -Four years passed and
Donohuc still lived, but Scannell had not
relinquishcd his purpose. Instead, his do
termination grew stronger with time, and
eventually consumed every other desire it
became n mania, which controlled his wa
king thoughts and dreaming hours. On the
eve of the Presidential election, in Novcm-
Der, 1872, the pool rooms in this city were
crowded by cugcr investors on tho result.
One of the most noted places at that time
was II. b. Johuson's at Broadway and
Twenty eight street, On tho Saturday
preceding the day of election that place
was literally packed. Standing near the
door was Thomas Donohuc, with no thought
or care apparently for anything else than
investing his money in the election pools
AS he was turning to speak to friend,
John Scannell went down the stairs and
suw him. Without warninr. hr drew his
pistol, and pointing it at l onohue., began
firing, rcmarlling, "I havcyuu now" DON
Ohuc fell At the first fire, and Scannci thcu
eniptied the remaining shots in his pistol
into the body Of the fallen man. Death
onsucd almost Immediately, and Scannell
was arrested and indicted for murder. On
his first trial hc was sentenced TO be huug ::
the case was appealed, new trial granted
and by n jury of physicians Scanncll was
declared insane. lie was sent to the State
Asylum at Utica, and after short contino-
ment there, was released on a writ OF habcas
corpus, the courts which declared him in
sane then declaring him sane. At the time
Donohuc was shot Edward Scnnneil was at
Fordhnm College. it was the desire Of the
family that he should be educated for tho
priesthood. His brothers crime barred
him out from SO ambitious cnll ng, and
from that day no changed from a moral
youth to reckless man. When John
Scanncll was released from the asylum he
entered at once upon the life Of o profess
ional sporting man. He became, and is
now part owner of a gambling saloon in
Barclay street aud another noar Thirticth
and Broadway. In both of these places
his younger brother, Led. Scannell, was
dealer for faro game, 9