Evening journal., 1890-10-25
LAST EDITION
KILLED IN A SALOON.
With One Blow John D. Farra
Kills James Devine.
ONLY TOOK HIS FRIENDS PART.

Mhnslayor rlrst Knocks Down Ono man
and Then with single Blow Kills
His Companion-He Gives Himself Up
to the Polics-committed by Judgs
Ball to Await the Coroner's Action.
John Devine an employe of the Clapp
and Jones Engine Company, OF Hudson,
N. Y, who had been in this city repair
ing the engine Of the Phoenix Steam
Fire Engine Company, was killed by a
blow dealt him by Jonn d. Farra, of the
firm of Farra & Company. No, 106 East
Front street, in the Pennsylvania House
bar room, about 40 o'clock last even
ing.
About $50 o'cloek last evening
Devine, in company with Harry F.
Sparks, who boarded at No. 406 Taylor
street, entered the bar room of the Penn
sylvania House and called for drinks.
Joseph Baumann. the proprietor. and
Caspar Conrad, the bar tender, were In
the bar room at the time t. Is alleged
that both men had been drinking Devine
took sarsaparilla and Sparks soda
water. John d. Farra was in the saloon
at the time the others entered, and was
drinking glass of beer.
After Devine and Sparks had finished
their drinks, Sparks addressing Joseph
Baumann, the proprietor, asked If Devine
could be accommodated with lodgings
for the night. Baumann answered that
the hotel rooms were all full, but
directed him to boarding house opposite
where lodging could be procured. This
answer appeared to displease Sparks, who
retorted hotly that hs and his companion
were not buns but willing to pay for
their expenses.
During this time Farra, who was
in the bar room, and had not taken
any part in the conversation called
Devine to him, and requested him to
settle small bill which Sparks had owed
him for some time. The bill amounted
TO few do,lsrs, and was due to Farra,
on account of Devine having at one time
hired carriage from the livery stable of
Farra & Co. Devine replied that he was
not ready to pay the bill then, whereupon
Farrs demanded when will you pay it?'
Devine answered when | am ready, or
something to that effect. A few more
words ensued when it Is alleged that
FaTra struck Sparks a tremendous blow
and sent him sprawling In the sawdust
Sparks scrambled to his feet and ran
toward the dining room, which at the
time was filed with guests, who were at
supper. Upon seeing his companion
knocked down, Devine approached
Farra. shook his finger threateninely and
muttered something about his being a
villaln-the exact words are not known
when Farra, who was now thoroughly
angerec, struck Devina terrific blow on
the neck or face and dashed him to the
ground in heap. Baunann and his bar
tender, Caspar Conrad then picked up
Devine and laid him in corner. His
body was limp, but life was not vet
extinct. Neither of the men thought
Devine had received severe injuries, and
believed he was only drunk. In the
meantime, Sparks escaped from the
saloon and ran toward the +. w. B.
station. Meeting Detective Jones, he
told him that row was in progress at
the Pennsylvania House Mr. Jones
looked at his broken hand, and said that
he was in no condition for quelling a
row.
The detective telephoned to the police
station and asked that some officers be
sent to the Pennsylvania House to quell
disturbance there. Having done so, be
hurried to the saloon aud found Devine
lying In the corner, where Baumann and
his bartender had laid him Life was not
yet extinct. Mr.. Jones at once ordered
physician to be sent for, and q messen
ger was Immediately dispatched for DR..
Morrison. Before the arrival of the phy.
sician the detective pronounced that
Devine was. When Dr. Morrison
arrived he confirmed the detectives
announcement that the man was dead
By this time the patrol wagon had az
rived. Devine's body was placed in it and
conveyed to the police station,
After Chief Swlggett viewed the body
he ordered that it be removed "a
the morgue, where it was taken and
placed In charge of Deputy Coroner
Barnhill.
In the midst of the excitement Farra
walked quietly out Of the bar room, and
when he was wanted could not be found.
The police were at once sent on his trail
the railway stations were guarded, the
town secured, but no trace of him could
be found The police were still hunting
for the prisoner when a few minutes
after o'clock he walked quietly into the
police station and said that he wished tc
give himself up. Oficer Burleigh. who
was in the station, at once took him III
charge and he was locked up.
About an hour afterwards Harry
Sparks, Devine's companion, came to the
police station and asked for a warrant
for assault and battery for FarrR He
was arrested and locked up as a witness
to await the coroner's jury. John Con
rad, an employe of the firm OF Farra &
CO., was also arrested. as well as Caspar
Conrad, Baumann's bartender The wit
nesses were subsequently released after
giving bonds to appear before the eoro.
ner's jury
Harry Sparks gave the following YER
sion OF the affair to a reporter: "Devine
and walked down to the Pennsylvania a
House shortly after o'clock to get a
drink. Neither Of us was drunk After
taking our drinks, | paid for them and
still held the change ia my hand Farra,
who had been standing near the end OF
the bar, then called me to him and asked
me If was prepared to pay him the
money l owed him. l replied that the
change in my hand was all
l possessed, aud that he could
have 1t If he wanted. He called
me dirty cur and other hard names anc
striking me blow on the face Knocked
me to the ground. I Jumped to nv feet
struck him, and put him TO the ground
he and the bar tender then jumped me
We pulled and hauled each othel
towards the entry door when got away
from them. l ran towards the dining
room, but returned just as Dsvine ap.
preached Farrs and began to talk with
him about it. Farra said What tbe
d--l have you got to do with in anC
with that he struck Devine a tremendou,
blow under the jaw aud dropped him