The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-08-18
OUR LETTER FROM BROADBRIM.

Fefo de Sc of Senior Isarca-An Uuroman
tic Murder and Suicide-New Jersey Jus
tice Oyertakes % New York Criminal
| Frank hangs Mistale-Sfatie and Sull;
van, Board of Aldermen, Dennis Tkearn,
and Other Rougl, Characters-Coney Is
lands Deterioration. Etc.
| New YORK. August H. 1888.
EDITOR CHIEF:
| Considering that we are almost in the dos
days, and as said last week, "that every
body who is anybody is out of town." We
have had q pretty lively time. One feature
of the weeks excitement do not like, and
| that is that we are credited with good deal
! OF sin which does not properly belong to
us. For instance the Spanish Minister
wants to commit suicide. Instead of stop
ping in Washington where he properly be-
longs, he comes to New York, and when the
announcement is made all the papers come
out with startling head lines: Frightful sui
| eide in New York. Signor Barca was well
known and highly esteemed in New York
society, where he and Signora Baaca were
universal favorites. No suicide had oc-
CURED for years which appears SO utterly
causeless. It is hard to speak ill Of the
dead, but what ever led him to take his life
can be no justification for the shocking
cruelty he has inflicted on those he leaves
behind. The grief OF his heart-broken wife
is said to have been terrible to behold The
city was still dazed with the shock when we
were startled again with the report of q
double crime on Twenty Second street, not
a rifle shot from where Signor Barca lay
murder and a suicide. Neither of these
parties properly belong in New York. MIR.
Sheppard was from Connecticut, and Mrs.
Vallou Or O'Brien had lived a sort of mis-
cellaneous life since the death of her hus-
band, fifteen years ago. There was but
little romance about this last murder and
suicide.
Mrs. Sheppard was old enough to be the
mother Of the man who was said to be her
husband. His age is entered at thirty three
and she has a son by her first husband who
IS now over thirty years of age. Mr.. Shep-
pard was young man very much liked by
those who knew him, previous to getting
with this unfortunate woman.
Two families are plunged in grief by the
terrible act of the suicide, and it really
seems as If we we're now going through one
Of those suicidal cyclones for which this
year mas been remarkable. But if we have
sometimes to shoulder The sins of outsiders,
we occasionly unload & batch supon our
neighbors, which proves the just law of
No doubt but New Jersey has as fine q
crop Of scoundrels and thieves as she re-
luires; but a week ago we unloaded a cargo
upon her which she will have reason to re-
member for some time to como. John Nu-
gent, the highway robber and would-be
who got trippsd up by Jersey
ust1ce this week, was natural born thief,
md his appointmenton the New York police
shows the danger to which we are constantly !
by the present system of appoint
nents. He was not only policeman, but a
having charge of q number Of |
policemen below him. Twice while he was |
n this position he was indicted for bur
5lary, or completely in burglary, but each |
ime he had sufficient influence to get off.
1t last came the Manhattan bank robbery,
where two millions in cash and securities
we're taken out of the vaults in open day
light, between seven and eight o'clock in
he morning, while thousands of people
we're passing along the sidewalk in full
ight of the burglars. Johny Hope one of
he gang, walked about the office with a
Gather duster in his hand, dusting off the
and the desks while John Nugent,
7ho was the policeman on the beat leaned
p against the side of the bank keeping
7atci,. The rest of the gang were behind
nc counter working away at the vaults.
When the crib was cracked, two millions in
ash and valuable securities were passed
ut by johnny Hope to the policeman John
LUCENT, who wrapped them up in the skirts
his coat, and walked off with them to his
ouse. Johnny Hope attempted to sell one
f the .. S. bonds few months afterwards
/ Philadelphia, and on his apprehension
10 whole story came out, and Hope went
or long term to States prison. The jan
or of the bank, who had been employed
lere for years, was found to be in with the
lieves. Policeman Nugent was proven on
is trial to have been consorting for months
18th the Williams who robbed the bank The
vldence was conclusive; neither the judge
or the prosecuting attorney had the slight
st doubt Of his conviction; when, to the
reat establishment Of everybody, the jury
rought in verdict of ''not guilty." He {
len turned around and sued the city for
is salary as q policeman while he was i'm J
risoned awaiting his trial for the robbery, !
nd with his usual good luck he recovered {
judgment for the full amount He then
oened saloon in one Of the vilest quarters
New York. At once it became the head s
1arters of all the footpads, low gamblers, i
lrlots and burglars in the vicinity. Busi-
ass was rushing, and Mr.. Nugent made
oney. At last he tried to murder his bar
eeper, and even the ru11ians who frequen- :
d his place began to be afraid of one who :
as even q more hardened william than
enselves. Business fell off, and Mr.. Nu- E
mt felt the need Or money: and the des- !
srate character of the man is best under
ood by the means he took to get it. He
oldiy took the post of danger and ateleven
clock in the day attacked his victim, the :
shier Of the Orange Bank, in car crow
d with people, and might have robbed
I'd murdered him right there if It had not c
IN for the hralerN of q sir ole ,1,ar1. .gI.n {