New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-30
AQUEDUCT CRIMINALS CAUGHT.
CONFESSION OF THE NEGRO ASSASSIN.
MURPHY. WHO SHOT TWO NEGROES AT DoBBss
FERRY, FOUND IN THE CITY,

MURPHY, WHO SHOT TWO NEGROES AT DoBBs
FFRRY, FOUND IN THE CITY.
The row which took place in Ftzpatrick's Hote',
shaft No IS OF tho new Aqueduct, on Saturday
likely TO result I'm tho death OF two colored meh'
named Patrick Tyler and william Hart, who were
shot by another NJ sro, Smith Murphy. 1t was GRO
neousy reported that Tyler had been killed almost
instantly. Murphy, who comes from Washington
d. c.. Is known In IarUtown and Dobbs Ferry as 3
gambler who has been In the habit Of appearing al
tho resorts frequcned by tho Aqueduct employees ou
pay day for the purpose of neecng the men OF their
money. Murphy was at Ftzpatricks when 1yior
ard Hart quarrelled with him. and before many blows
struck Murphy whipped out rev Oliver and point
ing 1t at Tyler fired. Tyler staggered against the
baf, exclalmlng smthy, you've dOno mo up."' Muf
ply, without responding, fired al Hart, who fell over
a chair During tho excitement Murphy made LIS
escape
Public Ovcrseer Tice Francis was summoned TO
look after tho wounded men, and finding that both
men wero dangerously wounded he sent for
Coroner Mitchell Of Yonkers When the coroner
arrived no found the two men apparently in dying
con litlon and no took their anti-morem statements
Eoh claim that they were shot down by Murphy With
ont provocaton. As the bullet in each caso was sup
rosed TO have penetrated the lungs tho doctors dd
not attempt to probo the wounds. Yesterday morn
ing they were taken to the County Aims House at
Fast Tarrytown Their condition is regarded az ex
tremcly critical.
Ip.pectsr Byrnes made the first arrests yesterday In
the effort to crash criminal classes that nave
long been the tsrrsr Of people living along
the line Of tho new Aqusduct inspector
Byrnes received a dispatch from the Dobos Ferry
police infernng him OF the murder and asking his as
sstance in catching the murderer Smith Murphy ana
his companion Thomas Geary Both havea long bst OF
crimes laid at their door and have committed many
eutrag-s al the Aqueiuct without being punished MUIR
phy and Geary walked away after the fight About
hundred them 60 but did not offer to stop then
Detectives Crowley and Mcclure, who have Deen al
work on the Aqueduct for several weeks to run dewh
several noted desperadoss we're sent to Dobos
Ferry, and Detectives savercool and Har-
old, OF the Eighth Precinct, were sent
to make tour in the negro quarters la this city looking
for new arrivals Yesterday afternoon TIVE negroes
went into a lodging ghsuse in Bl"eckerst, ant In few
moments detectives followed and arrested them
Thoy feGsore and weary ard had evidenty
walked the city. They locked up at Police Head
quarters IN separate cells and gave their names as
Murphy and Gcary.
After little manipulation with the "undorrround
machinery Geary seat word to the Inspector that he
wanted TO mako statement lie tsld the story 0f inc
night in Fzpatrcks lqnorstsre ana said that Murphy
shot both Of the men during quarrel Murphy
afterward admitted that he did the shooting.
The prisoners will be arraigned in the Jefferson Market
Court this mernng The pistol that the shooting was
done with pa wned At the Blceckerst lodging house
for fifty cents. Geary ideatihed lhs pistol