St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-07
PAT MEALY. ONE OF THE
"BIG FOUR" FATALLY
SHOT AND OTHERS
WOUNDED.

SHOT AND OTHERS
WOUNDED.
At LILO O'Clock last Sunday morn
ing . shooting afrray occurred in
Johnson's barroom, 81 st. Charles
street. New Orleans. which result
ed in Pat Mealy, Commissioner OF
Public Works and Buildings, being
shot in the abdomen and fatally
wounded; Mike Walsh, shot in the
breast and shoulder; Dan Markey.
shot in the mouth; W. j. Delaney,
cut in the right hand.
For some time before the ehoot-
ing Mr.. Mealy and about fourteen
others had been chatting and drink
ing at Johnson's bar; at the time
mentioned above. . number of new
arrivals. consisting OF Louis Glare,
John Gibson, and several others
entered the saloon and mingled
with those at the bar. A general
conversation was carried on, and
all those present seemed to be more
or less under the influence of the
New Years festivities.
An argument finally arose be-
tween Claire and Mealy. They
left the crowd and we're standing
some distance away when suddenly
shots were heard. Five or six shots
were fred altogether. when quiet
was restored. Il was then found
that Mealy. Walsh and Markey
were shot. The ambulance was
summoned and the wounded men
conveyed to the hospital; AIealy
was placed in cab. which broke
down. aud he was the. last to ar
rive.
Claire and Gibson were arrested,
charged with the shooting.
Mealy died from his wound Sun
day afternoon, at 2 o'clock. The
only statement he made was. 'Claire
shot me. and for nothing"
STATEMENT OF WITNESSES.
We publish the following state
ments Of two Of the witnesses, the
others being about the same in SUBJ
stance:
EDWARD M'oABE
Myself. Louis Claire, VIM. Fee
han, John Gibson and John Nc
C0rmick came down town. got out
Of the chr. wen. into Johnson's and
took . drink. We came out and
went to the corner, stood there q
few minutes aud went to take ano-
Their drink; We walked ont. and re.
turning took another drink; when
We returned from the third drink
we met Mr.. Meaiy and walked to
st. Charles and Canal streets and
stood there; We came back to John
sons and met Mealy and bis friends
taking . drink; we walked about
six feet away from his crowd. drank
and returned to the banquette; we
were standing there a few minutes
when whistles began blowing. and
Ne wished each other a happy New
Year. Feehan wishing John Dris-
coll ard Mr.. Mealy . happy New
Year.
At this time Pat Mealy and his
friends were standin. OH the BAN
quette in front of Johnson's; wo
went in there to get a drink. and
Mr.. Mesly's friends also; we went
to the far end Of the bar; We were
in there about fifteen minutes when
some one in Mealy's crowd hallooed
"Hurrah for Nichols" aud they all
cheered
Mr.. Parker, Of the Picoyune, who
had been pointed out to me. yelled
out, "Hurrah for the biggest Of the
Big Four" his friends all cheering.
McCaffery. looking straight at
our crowd. yelled. 4 am Nichols
man"
About that time Richard Behan
came in with Jockey White, and
Capt. McCaffery said to Behan,
"Hello. Dick" and spoke to him.
Mr.. johnson said. Il want to close
up the saloon" and some one in
the crowd said, "Let us get another
drinks" Capt. John Mccartney said
something to johnson and waved
his hand across his face. which /
took to mean it was all right; about
that time both crowds were at the
bar, our crowd being in the rear
about five feet away. waiting the
drinks which We had ordered.
Mealy was talking to Feehan; I
don't know what he was saying to
him; I heard Thomas Fannla say,
81 won't drink with two in that
gang" at that time Feehan backed
away from Mealy. and two or three
Of Mealy's crowd rushed toward ua;
Mealey showed them away; Dono-
van came to me and said. "What's
the matter? I am your friend;" /
said. Il want no trouble; I am q
friend Of everybody"
There had been 70 trouble on the
aida Of 0ur cs0wd aud did not