Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-30
STRUCK DEAD At one BLOW
James Devine of Hudson, ".
Y, Instantly Killed,
BY LIVERYMAN JOHN D. FARRA
The Slayer Surrenders and is
Held for Court.


by the Clapp & Jones Engine Company of
Hudson, New York, was killed little be-
fore z o'clock Friday evening by John D.
Farra, a livery stable keeper of No. 106
East Front street. during an alteration in
the bar-room of the Pennsylvania House.
There were several witnesses of the oc-
currence and there seems to be no question
as TO the main facts of the case, which are
as follows: Farra was standing at the bar
when Harry f. Sparks of No. 4U6 Taylor
street, entered, accompanied by James
Devine. The men called for drinks. Spar ks
then inquired Of the proprietor, joseph A.
Baumann, whether his friend, Devine,
could be accommodated with a room for
the night. Mr.. Baumann said not, and
indicated loding house across the street
where Devine might stay. Farra then got
into conversation with Sparks, asking him
about small account due him for livery
hire. Sparks told Farra he hadn' the money
with him. A warm alteration ensued,
both men using harsh words. Farra sud
denly felled Sparks to the ground
The latter freed himself and ran
out of the saloon, as he states,
In search of an officer. Devine then
walked up to Farra, angrily demonstrating
with him for his treatment of Sparks. He
shook his fist in Farra's face. The latter
Immediately struck Devine a straight blow
in the face. Devine dropped as if stunned
by the terrific lunge. The proprietor, Mr..
Baumann, and Bartender Casper Conrad
had hardly time to rush around to separate
the combatants before the fatal blow was
struck. They picked Devine up and
placed him on settee in the corner of a
bar-room. They thought he was drunk
and had no suspicion whatever that the
blow was fatal one. Just at this moment
Detective William T. Jones appeared. 1t
was discovered to everyone's horror that
the man was dying. DR.. n. H. Morrison,
the nearest physician was sent. for, but
when he arrived Devine was dead.
Farra went to the police station and sur
rendered himself to Chief Swiggett. As
soon as he knew the terrible results Of his
deed, he went directly to the police station
and was locked up.
Joseph A. Baumann, proprietor of the
Pennsylvania House, stated positively to a
representative of the GAZETTE Saturday
morning that both Devine and Sparks
were drunk. Sparks was crazy drunk
and Deyine was so intoxicated that he was
heavy and stupid. He was in a much
worse condition than Sparks. They called
for drinks Devine took sarsaparilla and
Sparks called for soda water. Neither of
them drank what they called for. Mr..
Baumann then related the story substan-
TALLY as above corroborating the statement
of the alteration which terminated in
Deyine's death.
A clear and succinct statement of the
whole case was given Friday morning by
Editor Frederick L. Herr of the Stddts
ZcitNng, who with the business manager
of the paper and some other friends were
seated at the time of the incident in the
parlor which opens out into the bar-room.
Mr.. Herz's attention was drawn by the
noise of quarreling and discussion. He
overheard talk about lodging. The speak
ers were Mr.. Baumann and Sparks.
II took no particular notice of i at the
time" he continued, II heard Mr.. Bau-
mann refuse Sparks request, telling him
to 20 away or something to that effect
Suddenly heard a man fall. Going out
into the bar-room / saw Sparks on the
ground. He got up again and tried to run
behind the bar. He was bowling and yell
ing like mailman. Farra was i'll chase
of him apparently ready to strike another
There is no doubt of 1t. But he had his
senses about him. Devine at the time was
standing quietly about half way down the
length of the bar. He was stupidity drunk.
He could hardly stand straight and bal
anced himself by leaning against the conn-
ter.
This was the critical moment when the
death blow was struck. Sparks, as said,
was rushing behind the bar for refuge from
Earra. The latter had just got to the corner
of ii, ready to follow around, when | saw
Devine move forward. He had step or
two only to take when he was close up to
Farra. This was Devine's first movement.
Farra heard him behind him, and sway
ing around without making any step for
ward towards Devine, struck him fair in
the face. Deyine fell flat outstretched
on his back, his head striking the floor
with loud blow. The sound of the blow
given by Farra was very distinct, but he
being between me and Devine, and it being
delivered so quickly, could not say where
the face Farra, Immediately on delivering
the blow, swung around again to strike
Sparks. But his man had fled back be-
hind the bar into the dining room. AS |
saw the occurrence II seemed to me that
Farra, while after Sparks, feared an attack
from behind, and halted to protect himself
in that direction, intending then to follow
up Sparks
mo one had any idea that Devine was
fatally hurt. Undoubtedly Farra did not
suspect it. Baumann and Conrad took
what they supposed the unconsciously
drunken man into a corner and placed
him on settee. That was all. Seeing
walked up and down the bar-room for sew
eral minutes. He came into the parlor
also Then some time after addressing
a good-by remark which / could not en-
tirely catch, but which ! think was I
guess I'll go home-it's getting late, he
left.
'That is the whole plain statement of
the killing, with the exception that Sparks
continued raging around the dining room
and private apartments of the hotel. Mr..
Baunann and Conrad had to go and eXpel
him. Sparks struck both of them. Mr..
Baumann has the scar of Sparks hands on
his neck. At last they managed to eXpel
him. subsequently the Officers appeared,
and also the doctor, when it was ascer-
tanned to every ones surprise and horror
that Devine was dead"
The body was taken in the police van to
!, the station al, l afterwards given into the
charge of De.Mty-coroner Barnhill who
placed it in the. tprgue,
The story as gwen above is circumstan-
TALLY corroborated by Bartender Caspar
Conrad. The latter positively states that
both Sparks and Devine were drunk. the
latter benny in worse condition than
Sparks.
Sparks on the contrary, emphaticaily
denies that either he or Devine was drunk.
He admits that Farra asked him to pay up
0 long-overdue bill. This, it is understood,
amounts to So and has been owing for the
past year. Sparks offered Farra Is cents:
The dead man, James Devine, arrived
here from Hudson, N. Y, on Sunday week
He was to have returned home on Friday,
but changed his mind in order to be pres
ent at the welcome home of the members
of the Friendship Engine Company from
the York, Pa, firemen's celebration
The dead body was seen at the morgue
Saturday morning There is very emphatic
question as to the assertion that his neck is
broken. The physical symptoms attending
such termination of life have not been
verified. The body indicates the usual rigor
morris, while the spinal column at the
neck does not show any Of that limpness
attending the breaking of it at that point,
In the dead mans pocket was found a
Urging him to hurry up and come home"
Devine's employers, the clapp 4 Jones