The daily gazette., 1883-10-12
A POLITICAL MURDER.
FATAL FIGHT BETWEEN POLL
TICiANS.
RESULT OF PARTISAN JEALOUSY
A Row I'm the Streets of Baltimore That
Would Do Credit to a City in tho Far
SOuthwest--A Bystander Wounded

BALTIMORE, Nd, Oct. 11.--James +.
Busey, well-known Democratic politician.
was shot and mortally wounded ia front Of
the City Hall to-day. The man who shot
was William I. Harig, Fifteenth ward
rounder.
The shooting was peculiarly tragic, and
the affair has caueed more excitement here
than any event since the Tivoli disaster last
summer. Buscy is the superintendent of
streets for the Western district, having al
most constantly been in office for the last 10
years. He visited the City Hall this morn-
ing for the purpose of submitting his report
as district superintendent to Commissioner
Barte e. Smith, head of the City Street
Cleaning Department Busey, while In the
office, chatted pleasantly, and seemed to be
In the best OF humor. There was 10 excite
ment of manner about him, and after a
few moments of quiet conversation he left
the office.
When he reached the North street pave
ment he met several Democratic friends and
began talking over the sherifalty primaries
OF the day previous. Busey had been work
ing for Joyce, who had been successful.
Among those In the crowd was Washington
Ihater, South Baltimore heeler, who had
been opposed to Joyce. Pusey and Thater
began to quarrel, when Harig stepped up
and mingled in the dispute The discussion
became spirited, when a blow was struck by
one of the parties.
Busey and Harlg, at the came instant,
drew pistols and began firing on each other
In rapid succession. There was a large
crowd In the neighborhood at the time and
the fusilade was so fierce that that no one
dared to approach the combatants to sepa-
rate them. Busey seemed to fire wildly, as
none of his balls took effect on his antaeo-
mist. He himself, however, was struck and
began retreating across North street,
towards the old No. 4 engine house, Harig
following closely, firing his revolver until
the chambers were all emptied.
BEATING HIS DYING VICTIM.
He then seized Busey by the lapel of his
| coat with his left hand, and began beating
him on the head with the butt of his
| weapon. In the meantime Busey was told
ing him with both hands by the lapel of
his coat About this time one Of the by
ISLANDERS ran up and, ,seizing Harig, ,wrenched
the pistol from his hand. The noise of the
shooting and the screams of several ladies
who were passing at the time attracted the
attention OF Captain John Lannan, of the
Central Station, and Detective Mark Logan,
who, Fastening to the scene, arrested Harig
and took him to the Central Station, where
he was at once locked up. Previous to this
he remarked that he had a pistol and in-
tended to protect himself.
Dusey was also taken TO the station house
and 1t was found he had been hit four times
once In the abdomen, once in the left side,
/ and twice In the left arm. The wound In
the abdomen is likely to prove fatal. AL
though Busey is believed by his followers to
possess charme life, the last rites of the
Catholic Church were administered to him
soon after the shooting.
There has been long feud between these
men, which originated in political quarrel
some 10 or IL years ago, and was further in
tensifed by the election of William F.. Nc
Kewen as clerk of the Criminal Court in
1879. Busey was an active partisan OF Nc
Kewen, having been one of his most bitter
opponents. The usual charges of crooked
work were made by Harig, the champion of
the defeated candidates. Accusations and
recriminations followed thick and fast, and
the two men, enemies for years, fell to
hating each other with G. eater malice than
ever.
Harig was fireman In the City Hall until
few months ago. The police record shows
that Busey has been arrested over so times
within the last 10 years for assaults upon
inofensiVe persons upon the streets and at
the polls. The Criminal Court records chow
that he was never punished but once, and
then with $40 fine.
Busey is the brother of Billy Carroll, the
prize fighter, who once had mill with Sam
Collier. Carroll changed his name from
Busey when his mother married the second
time. Busey is rela.ed by this marriage to
Judge Carroll, of the Orphans Court.