Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-04
FATAL SHOOTING
This Time It, is Done iii Self
lGfenSe,
A SUNDAY MORNING HORROR.

Life-He Poured Water in the Piano and
Ruined tn Parlor Furniture, and
When Accused He Acted Like Des-
peradO-An Almost Incredible Tale
1he Knife and the Revolver Both Play
Their Part-Ex-Register and Recorder
James Griffin Badly Used Up-A Pro-
ceeding without Precedent,
Another homicide swels Johnstown's
already lengthy list. 1t happened Sun
day morning about o'clock.
The scene was at the house of Mr.. Ed
ward Brady, No. 26 Singer street, Ninth
ward. Mrs. Brady keeps several board
ers, and has her house very nicely fur
nished, fine piano and an elegant tapes
try suite being some of the parlor furnish
ings. Why anyone should seek to destroy
the piano and furniture is certainly mys-
terry. But nevertheless an attempt to do
so led to murder as will be seen.
The family of Mr.. Brady consists of
himse +, his wife and two daughters,
Annie and Ella. The former is the we'll
known vocalist, and was not at home at
the time. Having been at Morrellville at
concert the evening previous, she re-
NAMED at Conway's Hotel all night
AS nearly as could be ascertained the
particulars are as follows:
About o'clock yesterday morning a
uoise IN the parlor, which proved to be
the upsetting of the piano stool by some
ones falling over it, aroused Miss Nellie
the younger daughter. She at once went
to the scene of the noise, coming down
the front stairway without light. She
went to the parlor door, which opens into
the hall at the foot of the stairs, and was
startled on opening it to hear the trickling
and bubbling of water. She also heard
footsteps in the dining room and thought
some one ran up the back stairs. She ran
back up stairs 10 inform her mother that
something was wrong. The two then
proceeded with a light to the parlor,
where they were astOunded to find the
piano full of water, the carpet and much
of the furniture soaking wet. For mo.
ment they were dazed with astoDishment
Returning up stairs they aroused the
boarders. all of whom came down,
and in a short time the water was poured
off and out of the piano as well as could
be done. Everyone present expressed his
aaY,t NJ ha hoY
ing.
Mention should be made here of two of
the boarders. They were James O'Con-
nor and John Pfieger. James Griffin,
ex-Reglster and Recorder was another
boarder.
0'Connor came to Brady's about six
months ago, and was employed as a
stone mason, some say plasterer. He
claimed to hail from Washington, D. G,
He is known to have done some drinking,
but never, while here, was seen much un-
der the influence of liquor. His age he
gave as forty-two years. He had always
deported himself properly while about
the house,and elsewhere so far as is know.
Phieger came to Johnstown from Ohio
about the last of October, and has boarded
at Brady's ever since. He is carpenter
and worked for Michael Kist, the con.
tractor. He is much esteemed by those
who know him and has many warm
friends.
Mr.. Griffin is too well known in this
vicinity to need have anything said about
him.
And now, TO return to the scene in the
parloE.: The piano was quickly opened
and part of it taken apart to admit of rap
idly drying it, in the hope that it might
be saved from what seemed inevitable
ruin. On the keyboard was found some
blood, and this further excited those
present. On the floor near the piano was
found carpet slipper such as the boarder
OConnor was known to wear. He was
suspected, but nothing was then said.
Proceeding to the kitchen bucket was
found filled with water ready, it is pre-
sumed, to be poured over the things in
the parlor.
The boarders again went upstairs, and
Mrs. Brady sought to solve the mystery.
The slipper was in her mind a ell-tale.
She examined more closely. She found
wet tracks leading from the parlor.
These were traced to the door of the room
occupied by O'Connor and some others.
She accused him of destroying her furni-
ture and piano, whereupon he grew indig-
nant. MIR. Brady was sleeping on a
lounge, and his pockets were turned in
side out as if he had been robbed. Mrs.
Brady also accused O'Connor of having
robbed her husband. He became abus-
i've, and Mr.. Griffin, who occupied bed
in the same room spoke up. O'Connor
made at him with knife, slashing him in
the face and about the head. Others in
terfered to save Mr. Grifin's
. life, foremost among whom was