Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01
A Midnight Tragedy.

Midnight Tragedy.
PROFESSIONAL THIEF KILLED BY A BOOKSELLER
FOR A wOMAN's SAKE.
From the New York Herald Nov 80
On the sidewalk nearly opposite No. 10
Blocker street.-the scene of double tragedy
ten years ago-three young men were dlsputing
few minutes after midnight this morning.
One of them was overheard to say: 'No man
should go between her and me. Another re-
piled: You're mistaken, man. if you think I'm
doing anything of the kind" Then the first man
exclaimed: I'm bad man; I'm a crook and a
fighter, and can lick any one that attempts to
do So" AS the man finished he stepped back
and drew what was supposed to be knife from
his pocket. A similar movement was made by
another of the trio. while the third backed to
the wall of the house with his hands in his over
coat pockets. The two men then approached
the latter as If to attack him. He told them to
keep back, but as they seemed to pay no heed
TO his order he whipped revolver out OF his
pocket and fired q shot at one of his wOuld-be
assailants. One of the two assailarts fell to the
sidewalk eXclaimng, "Oh God Oh God" His
companion fed into Elizabeth street, and the
man who discharged the revolver darted Oft
toward the BOwery.
THE MURDERER CAPTURED.
Patrolman Herman, Of the Mulberry-street
station, was on the Bowery and heard the shot,
and as he turned to see where it came from the
murderer dashed past him. Herman saw the
CLEAN of the revolver in the mans hand. and ran
after him. The murderer was finally overtaken
as he was about to turn into east 4th street. He
offered no resistance. and quietly surrendered
the weapon with which he had fired the fatal
shot. The man admitted the shooting. and
said that he had done it in self-defense While
the chase was going on the wounded man was
lifted into passing vender's wagon and driven
rapidly to the Mulberry-street station-house
Upon his arrival there it was discovered that he
had been shot in the left breast. He was uncon-
scious. and. after few convulsive gasps. died
Detective Hart, who was in the station-house at
the time, recognized the dead man as Frank
Gordon, professional thief. who had served
three terms in prison for burglary and grand
larceny. He had just breathed his last as his
murderer was brought into the station-house.
IN SELF DEFENSE.
The latter gave his name as Jas. w. McDickar
said he was a BOOKSELLER and lived at No. a
Great Jones street He told Sergeant Maloney
that he used his pistol to defend himself against
two desperate men who had attacked him with
knives. When informed that his victim was
dead McDickar said he was sorry, but that IL he
had to defend himself again he would do ex-
actly as he had done. He was cool and col
with the crime. McDickar said that shortly be-
fore midnight as he was passing along Blocker
street. he met a young woman named Ida Nor
ris, and went with her into John Condron's sa-
loon, on the corner of Blocker and Elizabeth
streets. While there he was introduced to two
men, one Of whom was Gordon. The other. he
said, was James Davis, alias Smith, alias 'Shee-
ney Mike No. g." Gordon professed to be the
husband of another woman in the saloon, and
became jealous when McDickar made asjoking
remark to her. After treating all in the saloon
the BOOKSELLER went out. He was followed by
Gordon and Davis, and then occurred the con-
ing. Davis later came to the station house and
was put under arrest. Ida Morris and Annie
Davis were held as witnesses. The dead man
was about twenty-seven years of age and Nc
Dickar is two years younger. The accused is
the son Of respectable parents living in Califor-
MIA He is not known to the police and says
that he is not criminal. He is an invalid, be-
Ing am icted with consumption.