The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-27
Statements From Both
Men, but the Woman
Is Silent.
The Story Of Buckridge's
Shady Career, and His
Infatuation for Mary
Fortune.

The shooting of Joe Buckridge by Pat
rick McQuade in the latter's saloon at
First and Monmouth streets last night is
the reigning sensation of the hour. Buck
ridge is well known man about town, OF
none too savory reputation. He is fond
of women, and his weakness has brought
him into other throuble than that which
has now come upon him. He allied him
self with Mary Fortune-Miss Fortune in
more senses than one-and her demands
upon his purse have in times past led him
into crime. While he was in the service
of Mcbride, the tea man, he embezzled
his employers money and went to State
Prison for a term, but was pardoned be-
fore he had served his full term.
When he afterwards found employment
with Adams on Gregory street, he robbed
him, too, and went to the penitentiary
when he was caught.
Since his release he has been made q
city sealer of weights and measures by
the Board OF Aldermen, and has been al
lowed to figure with considerable activity
in political circles He is now the SER
geant-at-arms of the O'Neill Association.
Then, it is said that he has been en-
ployed as an advance agent for McEvoy's
Hibernicon. He has done some work in
that line, but the managers say that it is
only casual, while, on the other hand, it
is stoutly maintained that he has ar
ranged most of the dates for it's winters
tour.
MARY FORTUNE.
Mary Fortune was a pretty girl when
Buckridge first met her. She is pretty
yet, for the matter of that. But she is
railfoad hagman, she became the COM
panion of railroad men, and foated
away from them till she brought up in
the saloons.
She was one of the ladies of honor in
the 'tSenate'' when Jerry Mcdonald ran
it, and she is known at many other bars
BucKridge never married her; but of late
he has lived with her at No. 298 Sixth
street, and he admits his parentage of
Mary's seven months old babe.
Chief Murphy says that she is dan
gerous and uuscrupulous woman. He
has often predicted that Joe's relations
with her would bring him to his grave
eventually At six o'clock last evening
rhe chiefs prediction came perilously
near to realization, when Joe was shot
down by Tom McQuade in McQuades sa-
loon.
THE SHOOTING
Two shots were fired, one taking effect
in the back of the neck and the other in
the left breast about twoiinches below the
heart The latter took a downward
course and made way through the intes-
tines. The wounds are pronounced dan
gerous DIR. Smith. who, residing a few
doors from the saloon, was first sum-
moned.
There were no witnesses to the shoot
ing for the men were alone. From the
location of the wounds it would seem
that Buckridge was shot while his back
was turned and then voluntarily faced
orSreeled around in front of his assailant.
Buckridge staggered out Of the saloon
and crossed the street to the house occu-
pied by Annie Fortune, a sister of Mary
Fortune.
A ROW OVER THE WOMAN.
McQnade, it seems, was found by
Buckridge with this woman in his
Buckridge's) apartments the night
before, and row ensued. McQuade
escaped from the wrath of Buckridge,
(who drew revolver) by the aid of Mary
Fortune and several other women, one of
whom is supposed TO be her sister, Mrs.
Maggie McNulty, who occupies apart
ments adjoining those OF Buckridge in
the house on Sixth street.
Buckridge is said to have daily busi-
ness at the Clifton race tracks. On his
return yesterday afternoon he entered
McQuade's saloon, apparently to settle
the dispute of the night before. The
shooting occurred a few moments after
his entrance.
At the house across the street, to which
Bnckridge staggered, was Mary Fortune.
the woman who caused the trouble, who
with her sister, Mrs McNulty were visit
ing Annie Fortune. How the three
sisters came to be together at this pre-
carious moment could nat be ascertained
last night, as all three maintained strict
reticence about the affair
After DIR. Smith had probed unSuccesS-
fully for the lower bullet Buckridge was
sent to st. Francis Hospital.