New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-30
KILLED BY A BROTHER-IN-LAW
THE RESULT OF AFAMILY oUARREL-sEvEN WOUNDS
INFLICTED WITH KEEN KNIFE-THREE OF

THE RESULT OF AFAMlLf QUARREL-SEVEN WOUNDS
INFLICTED WITH KEEN KNIFE-THREE OF
THEM FATAL
james Riley, a young shoemaker living at Dutch
Kills. which Is part of Long Island City, was
lodged in the Queens County Jail at an early hour
yesterday morning charged with the murder of his
brother-in-law. Robert Desmond. Riley Is slender
young Engishman, twenty-seven years old, who
married Emily Desmond four years ago. The Des-
monds live a quarter OF mile from Rileys house in
the direction of Hunters Point. Rileys father-in-
law, Michael Desmond, is q well-tO-dO shoemaker,
who does a thriving business in Wa-st., New
York. Michael Desmond has been in this country
eighteen years. James Riley became an apprentice
to Desmond, and having grown to be an excellent
workman, he married his employers daughter
Emily. Riley was able 10 make as much as S35 and
$40 a week. but being of an indolent disposition
and fond of the pot he worked at his last very
rreguarly, and was more often penniless than 9TH
erwise Young Desmond was also employed in his
fathers workshop. Riley and his wife were both
addicted to drink and Mrs Riley. who is said to have
been a comely girl had lost all claim 20 good looks.
She is a small woman, whose personal appearances
is seldom neat, and who is well known IN the neigh
borhOOd as drunken and noisy person
Of whom few have anything good to
say. Riley and mis- wife quarreed constant
ly, and while she poured delugs OF words
upon him, he was IN the habit of answering with
blows. Robert Desmond, or Bob" as he was gem
orally called often demonstrated With his brother
ln-law. but to little purpose The violence and the
complaints still went on.
On Monday night young Desmond went 10 Riey's
house to pass the evening. Tie house is a small
white building only one story height, with
Hat roof and containing a sittng-room, kitchen
and two small bedrooms in one Of which Mrs. Riley
was accustomed to sew the uppers for the shoes
which her husband was making. This house Is just
off from Jackson-aye., near Shllman-aye. About
8 o'clock Riley and his wife got In a wran gle and
Mrs. Riley, having overcome 4er husband with
yItuperation was rewarded by him with black
eye. She then left the house followed by her broth.
CT, who advised her to lodge complaint against her
husband. They went 70 the police station, bur for
some reason the officers would no. iut sri"rc te-
turning TO the house they found hIey teIe aud sat
down peaceably enough until the subject OF the
recent quarrel was wed, when the two brotaers-
In-law, who were probably Att!e the worse tor
beer, began to grow violent, Desmond abused
Riley and Riley replied with interest Both men
rose 10 their feet seized whatever came To hand
and clInohed. moment latcr Desmond lay dead
upon tue iOOT, pierced Dy seven hlIe-%Ddnls, one
Of which penetrated the heart and another the
This was twenty minutes before midnight. A:
soon rs Mrs. Riley saw the men engaged IN MUIR
derOus struggle she rushed out OF Tie house and
ran to the home Ol Dr.. Dewitt HitcAcock, a lew
rods distant in JacksOn-ave., where she had often
before resorted to escape her husband, yio-
lenee. She did not stop TO fra; ing
hs sleep by screaming that her husband was being
murdered. Hurriedly dressing BlIlaelI, the doctor
called his cOachman and woke ). n. iauszig,
Hungarian apOthccary who has a shop uillei the
DOCTORS apartments. DR.. Illtchcock went back 10
get his revolver, and then followed Mrs; Idey and
Inc coachulan to the Of the murder Ihere
they found Dcsmonds Uody bathed IA blood, and
his sister standing beside II. wrInging her hands and
moaning bitterly. Riley stlll held ia his hand tho
long sharp knife with which H. had coniml Ted the
murder IL was more than foot III length. Ihe
floor and the walls were spattered with blood, and
there were other signs Oh fierce and violent
struggle. The body was bleeding proiusely ana
two Or three crimson puddies had already formed
Dr. Hitchcock sent his coachman 10 tie police sta
ton at Hunters PoIdt nearly TWO miles distant, TO
bring poIlce officer but 1t was an hOur and half
before he returned. Meanwhile Dr. Hitchcock with
his hand on his revolver kept watch OF the house TO
that the murderer dad not escape. II. Hart
mann, Il clerk employed Dy the druggist was with
INN. Tauszlg who had now arrived, MAS dlspatcned
by the dOcioI to look for policeman The eXcltaDle
Hungarian, longer able to contain himself,
rushed from the house dlscnaTgng his pistol Two OF
three times into the air 10 rouse the neighDohOod,
shouting III the same time and blowing a snrhl
whistle which he carried as loudly as MS Iungs
would permit There was no police Olleer detailed
for Duch Kills that nignt, out Iauszg succeeded az
last Iii hndmg City Constable Merra, who CHANGED
to oe on stTeet-car which was just passing. ihIs
was the las car Tor the night running from uuIi.
teJs Point to Astoria. MeTTa arrested hley and
took INN TO the Second Prec cIct station, where he
was removed at , O'clock a. III. to the Queens
Comfy Jail. After all had become quiet, the
polce officers who had been sent for arrived and
took Mrs. Riley III custody as witness. Joseph
Meeks a Trend OF Riley, who lives near by, and
vino was present at the beginning OF the night was
also arrested. lie seems To nave been IN the house
when the quarrel took place, but hearing the not
unfamiliar sound OF curses and blows lie withdrew
ana took further notice OF the Trouble Ofnceis
Fantry and ObrIen found Meeks III bed. lie ac-
knowed edged that he had been IN the house thag
evening denied all knowledge OF the results OF
The body Of the murdered man was
james Robinson, who keeps drinking
shop at hunters Point, was informed OF DesmonPs
death aud yesterday morning he enpanneIed
iury of nlne, who viewed the body at the house OF
Michael Desmond. The inquest was aeJourned
Mira Riley and of Meeks were taken. Riley said
that AT the beginning of the quarrel Robert Des
he Thought he stabbed Desmond. The wife
corroborated this statement. Two knives, however,
were found III the room, one Oh them hnch shorter
than the one with which the stabolng was done.
TnIs shorter knife was under Desmonds body.
Meeks in his deposition, declared that he out
be saw a knife In Desmond's hand with blade
less than two inches long. lie also soid
that Re had "a,o heard Eey Drs9SyernIs% SAY GeiSTS
Tn raw hlm for his interference IN the family
Germs 1t appears however, that Idle tnreats OF that
kind had oiUen been made by both. MIS-. kuey AYERS
thar her brothers deatn was owing 10 MS own
fanlt and that her husband acted solely IN seifde-
Ape post-mortem examination OF the dead body vas
- ~ 'nennler of hunters Point. Seven wounds
Mcre w. found upon the body, three OF which were
mortal The heart was slit open. aud the liver
nenetrnted and one wound had pierced the aDdoInl-
ppoI cavity. The knife which inflicted the stabs is
Known AS a French trimming knie. IL Is an inch
wide dou ole-edseo, and very sharp. Inc clothing
on Desmond's body was cut almost 10 shreds. No
Syeapon WAS found III his possession except the
short knife that was Oh the floor beside hIn.
UTrTEn ON TaE ELEV1TlD TRACK