New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-25
LEAD SLUGS IN HIS BODY.
SMALL BOY MYSTERIOUSLY BADLY
WOUNDED.
HE WAS STANDING AT THE WINDOW WHEN HE
WAS INJURED-A COMPANION DECLARES
THAT SOME ONE Erred INTO THE
RoOM-A BOMB MAY HAVE
EXPLoDED-TwO MEN
ARRESTED.

Peter MCGOWAN age seven, son Of Thomas MCGOWAN,
who lives AT No 336 East seventy .siXth-st, was
taken to the Presbyterian Hospital yesterday after
noon. suffering from the effects of a dozen lead
slugs which were distributed all over his body. The
left hand Of the boy 50 badly shattered that 1t
VIII probably have to be amputated, and in addition
TWO Of the slugs struck the skull and five or six
entered the abdomen How he received the injuries
Is as yet mystery, but ii is believed that he was
shot by some one in house opposite the one in
which he lived.
The boy and a playfellow, Louis Burke, about
eight years old, were playing In McGOwan's rooms on
the second floor Of the house No. 1886 East
seventy siXh-s about l O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
They finally entered the kitchen, which Is in the
Of the house and faces the of the tenements
In seventy-ffth-st. Mrs. MCGOWAN preparing
dinner, and the boys were In her way she told
them TO go to the window
few minutes later there was a tremendous
port and the boy staggered back from the window
with the blood streaming from his hand and face.
An ambulance at summoned, and the little
f,Low was hurried to the Presbyterian Hospital.
The case was reported at the sixty seventh Street
Police Station and detective sent to make an
investigation
Young Burke says he a young man in the house
across the street point gun at them, and saw IL
discharged named Flaherty lives in this
house. Faherty and his father, who Is night
watchman, live on the same floor.
The police Of the East sixty seventhst station finally
succeeded IN arresting Patrick and James Flaherty,
father and son. from the window OF whose room
young Burke says he saw the gun fired.
The father said he watchman and the son
was stOnecutter. They both deny the shooting.
The father says he was asleep at the time, and the
says he blocks away from the house when the
10y was wounded. People living In McGowans
house say that they the shutters on one Of
the windows Of Flaherty's room close violently after
they heard the report of the Both father and
son bear good reputation In the nelghborhood
When the boy taken TO the hospital the sur
geOns first feared that they could not save his life
He had lost immense quantity Of blood and they
feared the amputation OF his left hand would cause
his death an operation deferred. Three or ms
fingers had been shot Oft The two bullets whlch
struck him above the eyes did not en-
ter the skull as was at FIRST SUP
posed but only inflicted flesh wounds. Thre
bullets however. entered the abdomen, and the
surgeons do not know yet whether be can recover or
not He was at first unconscious, but when he no
Rurie lie did not either OF the Flahcrys or see
the gun. but he heard the report.
The police have another theory. They think thar
young MCGOWAN may have found bomb or a loaded
cartridge and that Il went OIL In his hand The
boy however denies having had anything OF the kind
His father IS labOrer, and IS known As an industrious
and quiet man. lie has no enemies IN the neighDOr
hood and does not know either of the men under
arrest.