New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-13
MURDERED BY A BLOW ON THE HEA
A YOUNG MAN FOUND DYING IN THE
GUTTER.
A CASE THAT THE POLICE AT FIRST MADE LIGHT
OF-TwO ARRESTS MADE.

A CASE THAT THE POLICE AT FIRST MADE LIGHT
OF-TwO ARRESTS MADE.
Two Young men awoke John Mason. Of No 312 East
Twentiethst., at midnight on Saturday by ringing vig
orously at his door-bell He tried TO find out what
was the matter from the window, but the young
mon refused to answer When Mr.. Mason
came to the the young told him that his son
Joseph was lyug-in the gutter at Fifteenth-st and
Thri-ave and he seemed to be unconscious MI Mason
hastily dressed and the place Indicated His son
was there, as he had been told. lie ucd 10
arouse him by vigorous shaking Finding that he could
not he called carriage put his son into 1t and was d'en
rapidly to his house.
Mr. Mason thought at first that his had been drink
ing too mucn and put him bed. His mother. however
had noticed blood his clothes she Kept close
watch upon him during the night Toward morning
she found him breathing heavily and unnaturaily.
There was ghastly pallor his face that alarmed her,
and she called husband who shared his wifes alarm
and FASTENED for the family physician. DR. Courtney OF
near Secondave The doctor found that the
skull was fractured and the young could not I've
II medical aid ha been summoned sooner there might
skull About halfpast O'Clock In the morning ne died
DR. Courtney was present, and In short time after the
death OF Mason he made more thorough examination oil
the SKULL found what appeared to be deep
in the II 1t had been struck by heavy blunt 10,
strument The point OF finger could be placed In the
hole DR. Courtney to the conclusion that a blow
had been struck by some one which nad resulted ~
Masons DEATH Dr. Courtney reported the racs 10 tne
sergeant at the Twenty second Street Station. giving his
oninion that Ii was q OF homicide An entry was
made in the botter TO the effect simply that Joseph
Mason had died at his home from q wound In the
hack OF his head, which he had received by
falling and striking his head This report was sent to
Police Headquarters and also 10 the Coroner's office.
Young Mason's father not satiofed with the police
action and sent Coroner Nugen who friend OF MT
Mason and asked the to investigate the case Ut
OMeagher Coroner Nugents deputy. made an autopsy
Yesterday afternoon When the scalp had been cut away
the ipdentaton in the skull plainly seen In the opin
ion of DR. OMeagher, 1t made by q blow from
a small blunt instrument. violently given from behind
Coroner Nugent finding that the indications OF homicide
saw Captain Cnchy and told him that there had been
serious mistake. The was undoubtedly one OF muir
der ,,.
Captain Cnchy put Detectives Carey and Mccarthy OF
the case They found that there had been quarrel II
McCanns iquor store Thfrave. and Thirteenth st.
between John sheriden, age twentytbree. OF No ~
First-ave James Mcdonald. printer or NO. So4 Las
TwenIiethst and Mason. The detectives arrested
Sheridan on suspicion Of having struck the blow tina
assaulted him. and that Mcdonald knocked out one OF nj
teeth He denies that he struck Mason After the guar
rel Mason did show any marks OF injury Mccain
went out of his barroOm about ii o'clock Mason wa
still inside McCann Sheridan In front of the store
standing as II he waiting for somebody to come OUT
The detectives believe that sheridan waited there anu
Mason came out and then struck him. Mcdonnell WA
also arrested by the detectives later III the evening"
the charge Of Sheridan:
Mason was twentysx years old and worked FOR bis un
cle. who are awning manufacturers at Fourthave an.
Thrteenths His father has held several poticai posi-
tions one OF his brothers was formerly In the sure
gates Office Joseph a member OF the Repuolicai
General Committed of the Sixteenth Assembly District
He was married.