Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-16
A BLOODY AFFRAY.

York, Thursday night between two men
Larry O'Brien and Geo. Truman-which, for
bloodthrstiness, equals anything ever heard
of. O'Brien is what is known in that city
as curb-stone broker, while the latter IS Il
druggist, it seems, by profession, but oil late
has been hanging around New York enjoy
ing the reputation Of being good card
PLAYER. He is man about six feet tall and
large in proportion, and O'Bren is slender
but wiry.
1t seems that O'Brien had charged Tru
man with circulating some damaging re-
ports regarding one of his (O'BrIen's)
friends The two men, upon meeting, en-
gagged in an animated conversation for
few minutes, and finally began applying
disgusting epithets to each other, when
O'Brien dealt Truman singing blow il
the face. Truman reeled from the blow and
almost fell to the sidewalk. Springins UP
again be dashed back at O'Brien aud was
met with a blow from a heavy silver headed
cane which O'Brien had in his hand. The
cane cut through Truman's hat and inlilcL
ed long scalp wound, from which the
blood at once strcamed down his cheek.
Once more Truman returned to the assault
and again the cane struck him ringing
blow on the left side of the head just over
the ear, when the half dazed Truman put
his hand behind him and drew from his hip
pocket a murderous looking knife-ha!f
dirk, half bowe-and with his face gleam
ing with frenzy flung himself full ct
O'Bren's chest, swinging the knife across
it. Truman made second lunge at him,
when O'Bren caught the blade in his hand.
His antagonist pulled it away like flash
5o Co.
At this instant Policeman Nelson, who
had arrived on the scene, clutched Truman
by the arm and held him for moment.
the prisoner struggled to use the dirk again,
and at the same instant O'Brien drew q gilt
tering revolver from his hip pocket and
cooking it aimed it full at Truman's face.
The policeman endeavored to prevent
O'Brien from firing, but the latter yelled,
"He has cut my stomach out! Let him go;
I'll shoot him like dogw
AT the sight of O'Brien's revolver Truman
became palsied with fear. He crouched be.
hind the officer and tried to interpose him
between himself and the revolver.
With two or three nimbe steps O'Brlen
closed on the policeman, and reaching
around his shoulder fired ST Truman and al
tempted to repeat his shot. Fer moment
there was triangular struggle, O'Brien
striving to wreak vengeance on his adver-
sary, Truman struggling 10 free himsefa and
the policeman trying to protect him. The
bullet took effect in Truman's arm and ac'
tually grazed the officers coat sleeve.
By this time Truman was helpless with
terror, and the officer fearing nothing from
him released him in order to seize O'Brien.
O'Brieu jumped away from the policeman,
and Truman fled across thestreet. Passing
behind two or three persons O'Brien jump.
ed from the sidewalk and pursued the flee
ing man. Just as Truman reached the mid
die of the street O'Brien was at the curb,
aimed again and sent a second bullet into
his back between the shoulders. The shock
staggered Truman momentarity, and again
be ran toward the door leading into an art
gallery opposite.
By this time O'Brien had gained Oh him
and was close at his heels. Truman opened
the door when O'Brien again raised the pis-
tol and would have sent a bullet into his
head, but at that instant Policeman Nelson
cutched his wrist, and with quick twist
disarmed him. Truman managed to get
inside the inner closed doors, still retaining
the knife in his hand. Closing the doors
behind him he fell to the floor in the ball.
way.
Both combatants were brought to the sta
ton house at about the same time. They
were taken into back room and allowed to
recline in chairs. O'Brien regained su[h-
cient strength to rise in the chair and make
movement as if about to attack Truman
again. His weapon had also been taken
from him, but on account of his evident
anger two officers were ordered by Captain
Williams to remain between the men.
O'Brien's fingers, which had been cut ward
ing off the second attempt to stab him, bled
profusely, and he asked for basin to wash
them. It was given to him, and while en-
gagged in washing his hands he remarked
scornfully: Look, what a big man that
was to draw knife on me. Why, he Is
twice as big as I am. But I guess he found
his match"
Truman Strengthened himself at this and
replied hotly, 81 am not dead yet, God d
YOU: nor won't be until after you are
stretched"
Neither groan nor word of complaint
escaped them, though both suffered terribly,
and before the ambulance arrived visible
faintness overshadowed their features and
both began to show signs of the effect of
their friehtful wounds. A surgeon soon
arrived, and frat directed his attention to
O'Brien, whose strength was fast leaving
him with his life blood. After removing
the wounded mans clothes the surgeon
found a frightful cash, fully eight inches
long and very deep. Hastily checking the
hemorrhage and leaving others to cover the
cash with sheets of court plaster, the sur.
geon remarked, II don't see how he lives so
/, long," and then passed to Truman The
wound iu his left arm was merely super
fetal. O'Brien's second bullet had done
more effective work 1t had penetrated the
back of his body under the right shoulde!
/ hIada and his shifting of blood indicat ed