New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-11
THE ATTACK ON PHELAN
HIS WOUNDS NOT LIKELY TO BE FATAL.


MANY CALLERS AT THE HOsPITAL-sHORT SENT TO
THE TOMBs-TALK ABOUT THE CASE.
Captain Thomas +. Phelan, the victim of the
savage attack IN the office Of ODonOvan Rossa on
Friday afternoon rested easily Friday night and is
in fair way toward recovery. He has fully re-
covered from the shock of his wounds and be-
yond the danger Of weakness from loss of blood
and possible inflammation there is little fear of his
dying here were q number Of callers on the
wounded man during the day, but few were
admitted to his presence. Ex-Mayor Berline, Of
Kansas City, was among the earliest callers. At
the request Of the house surgeon he merely asked
Phelan how he felt and said nothing in regard to
the tragedy. Another friend whose name could
not be ascertaned called and saw Phelan
The other visitors, Of whom there were
about dozen, were not permitted to
to see tho wounded man. One lad said that he was
a grandson Of Mrs. Phelan who lived in Harlem
one OF whose sons had been missing since the
The missing man had cross pricked on one arm in
lndia ink and on the other was the initials :" f.
F." No such marks were found Oh Captain Phean's
arm, and he said that his mother died some years
ago IN Ireland
dispatch was received at the hospital from
The Saturday Globe. of Utica. asking about
the condition Of the wounded man, and telegram
of similar import was received from one of his
friends whose name could not be ascertained.
Coroner Messemer called at the hospital ID the af-
terno0n in relation to suicide, examined the
wounded man and found that his temperature was
almost nominal, and his pulse better The Coroner
thought that Phelan was man of wonderfully
strong constitution with no faint of disease, and
while he is weak from loss OF blood, there Is little
doubt Of his recovery.
SHORT COMMITTED TO THE TOMBs.
When Justice O'Reilly took his place the bench
in the Tombs Police Court yesterday morning the
seats, contrary to expectation were only partly
filled. II was expected that the court room would
he crowded with the apostles Of the gospel of dyna-
mite, but O'Donoyan Rosa, Patrick Joyce and
other high priests of the "worlds regencrator
were conspicuous by their absence. the only repre-
sentatives of the Irish agitators present was John
Roche whilom treasurer OF the Joe Brady
Emergency Club.
There was a subdued murmur of excitement as
Policeman Wolf Levy conducted Richard short to
the bar aud handed the dagger to the justice.
Justice Reilly carefully examined the knife upon
which the spots of Captain Phelan's blood and
remarked to Clerk McGowan:
"Theres no nonsense about that knife"
al shouldn't want to have an encounter with it,"
said the clerk.
The prisoner stood calmly at the bar, watching
the proceedings. He is not more than five feet six
inches in height deep chesed and broad shonldered,
with a broad forehead, heavy square jaw, and
firmly compressed lips; the bridge OF his nose bends
to the right. and ends in a thin upturned point.
His build and physiognomy showed him 70 be man
of great physical power and determination. lie
was dressed in n navy blue overcoat, which covered
a brown checked suit OF scotch goods.
When the case was called AsseHblynan James
Oliver announced that he appeared fOi the prisoner
aud entering for him plea of not guilty said
that he waived examination. The Attorney for the
state requested that "A daily bulletin from Chambers
Street Hospital should be filed with tho court,
giving sp account Of Phclans condition, and that
Atnr aI.tl hA Ia tratf
the result OF Phelan's injuries. Justice ORcilIY
granted the request, which was put IN the form of
a motion, and Short WAS locked up IN the lombs
before he was taken to his cell he was allowed to
converse for few moments with two women. one
of whom about thirty five years of age. and The
other about twenty three. Who they were could
not be ascertaned. They were well though not
richly dressed.
TALK WITH THE AssAiLANT.
TRIBUNE reporter admitted 10 the
Tombs Prison and found Short on the lower
corridor lie was asked if he would give his
version of the stabbing and replied:
my lawyer has advised me not to say any
thing about H."
"Will you give any account of your past hfcy''
NO can't do that; my lawyer has told me to
say nothing
Captain Phelan Il likely TO recover SAID the re-
porter. aa .ho r,,v as,or rore,, a,
little care il will he to whether he does or not
This concluded the interview, aud as he dsae-
peard in the stairway To the upper corridor he
looked over his shoulder and aughmgly said TO the
reporter. who was compelled % await the return OF
the warden tn pass him ont:
"rIn sorry haven't pass to let you ont o this y
The PRISONERS OFFENCE.
After the proceedings IN court were over John
Roche went To the office Of Howe Il Hummel and
asked that firm to take part in the defence of
Sbort Ia, clark of the firm when
asked by Il TRIBUNE reporter if the firm had been
retained. replied: 1--WE are never retained until
we have the retaining fee. But it is altogether
probable that the firm will be engaged III the de-
fence There is to be meeting at Mr' hummefs
house at O'clock
Francis Oliver, brother Of James
Oliver said: My brother is the attor-
ney OF the League. lie appeared in
case as yet. lie goes to Albany to-ulght, and /
shall probably have charge Of the case, but, of
course under his direction; shall aIG"a,ndi
and then try to learn such other facts al may he OF
Importance professionally. There isno hurry about
IT. When Phelans condition IL improved we shall
make application to admit Short to bail"
One story of the occurrences in Rossa's office,
told by the friends of Short, which will probably
be the basis of his defence, is as follows Snort short
Captain Phelan and kearney entered. lhere were
two other persons in the room with nm. fhelah
and Kearney were talking eXcitedly about the pub
licatlon III the Kansas CITY paper; The two men
in the Office entered into the discussion. while
Short continued to road his newspaper, as he did
not want to get into the discussion, know
ing that Phelan was of an excitabc temperament
and haying heard that he had made threats against
hun. During the talk. either desgnedly or by
accidcnt. Phclan Knocked the paper out OF shorts
hand. when the latter remarked: :" That was not
the act of gentleman" Thercupon Phelar broke
fort into abusive language directed TO Short and
SAID You - = III shoot y0u,' at tho
same time moving his hand toward his hir pocket.
Then Short fearing that Pholan would carry out
his threat, drew his knife and struck III self
defence.
sister IN Ireland.
ROssA's VIEW or THE NATTER.
ODonoyan Rosa was evidently not disturbed by