Wilmington argus. (Wilmington, Del.) 1880-18??, 1880-01-14
A Doomed Family.

A few nights ago Edward Soannell
shot and dangerously wounded Henr
Wilson, in low GROCERY in New York. Th
male members of the family seem born +
misfortune. which is mild word to ex
press what has, at times, been tinged wit
crime. In the fall election Of 1868 Flo1
ence Scannell was candidate for Assistan
Alderman. A few nights before the elect
tion he was in Thomas Donohue's saloon
at Twenty-third street and Second avenue
The place was crowded, and much heatet
dicussion on politics took place. Hot word
led to blows during the fracas some on,
fired pistol, The bullet lodged in Flor
ence Scannell's spine. After lingering fo
few days he died in Bellevue Hospital
John Scannell accused Donohue of shooting
his brother, although the charge was no
made until several days afterwards, Moth
ing could be proved against Donohue, and
the charge fell to the ground. Indeed, il
was said at the time. and it is current
among politicians and sporting men, thai
John scannell himself fired the shot, in
tending to hit another man. Be this as il
may, John Scannell professed to believe
that Donohue was his brothers murderer,
and then determined TO slay him. Dono.
hue was shot at once in First avenue, and
an endeavor was made to show that Scan.
nell had made the attempt to assassinatC
him, but the evidence was not sufficient to
fasten the crime on him. All that could
be proved was that man in disguise had
shot at Donohue. -Four years passed and
'Donohue still lived, but Scannell had not
relinquished his purpose. Instead, his de-
termination grew stronger with time, and
eventually consumed every other desire il
became mania, which controlled his wa
king thoughts and dreaming hours. On the
eve of the Presidential election, in Novem-
Der, 1872, the pool rooms in this city were
crowded by eager investors on the result.
One of the most noted places at that time
was t. b. Johnson's at Broadway and
Twenty-eight street, On the Saturday
preceding the day of election that place
was literally packed. Standing near the
door was Thomas Donohue, 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
saw him. Without warning he drew his
pistol, and pointing it at Gonohue., began
firing, remarking, 81 have you uow.' DON
ohue fell at the first fire, and Scanuell then
emptied the remaining shots in his pistol
into the body of The fallen man. Death
ensued almost Immediately, and Scannell
was arrested and indicted for murder. On
his first trial he was sentenced to be huug I:
the case was appealed, new trial granted,
and by a jury of physicians Scannell was
declared insane. He was sent to the State
Asylum at Utica, and after short confine-
ment there, was released on a writ of habeas
corpus, the courts which declared him in
sane then declaring him sane. At the time
Donohue was shot Edward Scanneil was at
Fordham College. 1t wasthssdesire of the
family that he should be educated FOR the
priesthood. His brothers. crime. barred
.biin-ajit from So sYiljiti5i;s call ;5 and
rs arnfhat dav hs changed fr,ss moral
youth to a RECKLESS man. Whsn Jonn
Scannell was released from the asylum he
entered at once upon the life Of profess
ienal sporting man. He became, and is
now part owner of gambling saloon in
Barclay street aud another near Thirtieth
and Broadway. In both of these places
his younger brother, Ed. Scannell, was
dealer for faro game,