The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-06-06
MURDER AFLOAT.
Horrible Scenes at the
Alleged Police Ex-
curSion.
TOUGHS REIGNED SUPREME.
One Man Dying and Three Held
for His Killing---Was 1t Run
for the Bar?

Edward O'Grady. painter. twenty
eight years old, of No. 256 Erie street,
lies in St. Francis Hospital dying from
wounds received during drunken brawl
on the free excursion which left this city
from the Morris street dock yesterday
morning. The excursion was announced
as complimentary excursion rendered
to the police and fire departments of the
city py Captain J. B. DAILY, an empIoye Of
John N. Starin. Tickets Of one color
were printed bearing such an announce
ment, while it is alleged that tickets Of
another color were distributed among
several SO called social organizations that
frequent the vicinity Of the sugar house
and long dock. At any rate, when the
excursion sailed away yesterday morn
ing on the steamer Lenox and the barges
Nelson and Sumner, it was composed Of
an element which caused the policeman
who saw it depart to shake his head and
predict trouble before its return Not
one policeman was on board and only one
member of the Fire Department..
1t was expected that the excursion
would return to the dock about nine
O'Clock, and a policeman was sent down
to await it. The policeman kept his
weary vigil until midnight before any
thing was seen Of the excursion. Assoon
as the boats were made fast. the captain
hurried ashore and told the policeman
that there had been fight on board and
one man had been badly cut up. The
policeman sent to headquarters for help,
and refused to let anyone land.
WHAT THEY FOUND.
Sergeant Cox and squad of men soon
drove on to the wharf In 'Benson's
PRIDE and hurried aboard the boats
They found OpGrady lying on the upper
deck of one of the barges in semi con-
scious condition and bleeding profuseiv
from deep cash in the forehead and two
cuts in the left side. An investigation
was begun; but it was exceedingly diff.
cult to obtain any information. Every
one denied seeing the fight or the manner
in which O'Grady was hurt
When the excursion left in the morning
it started for Grand View Park. new
grove on the Sound, not far from Glen
Island. During the trip the bar did
thriving business, and more than one Of
the excursionlsts was soon under the in
1uence of liquor. Quarrels with the wait
ers and among themselves followed.
Among the most quarrelsome. tits said,
were Thomas McGovern, q youth OF
twenty-one years; James Smith, twenty
three years, and John Dolan. twenty
four, all of No. 1874 Essex street.
One of the witnesses says they were in
broils with the walters during almost the
entire trip and went about looking for
fight.
On the return trip the boats laid up
near He'll Gate for about two hours. DUR
ing which time the bar was well patron
ized. 1t was alleged by those in charge
of the excursion that the boats were
aground, but Others allege that the lay
up was in the interest of the bar receipts
THE CLIMAX.
While the boats were there there sud-
denly broke out quarrel on one of the
upper decks. A crowd quickly gathered;
there was much surging to and fro ac-
companied by yells and curses. Almost
as quickly as it started the row was over
and the crowd separated, revealing
O'Grady lying on the deck bleeding from
his wounds. No one seemed to know
how it happened and after making him
as comfortable as possible the captain of
the steamer headed for Jersey City
Upon learning these facts the police ar
rested McGovern, Smith and Dolan and
Terence McGoyern, of No. 81 Sussex
street, for the stabbing. and Patrick Don-
nelly, sixteen years, OF No. 154 Morris
street; John Mccarthy. seventeen years,
of No. 3l4 Henderson street, and John Z.
! Byrne, twenty years, of Morris street, as
witnesses. They were locked up and
O'Grady was taken to ST. Francis Hos
pital. There it was said that his wounds
were mortal and that he could not live
| long. The prisoners were arraigned be-
for Justice Stilsing this morning The
witnesses identified Thomas McGovern,
Smith and Dolan as the men who were
in the fight with O'Grady, but were not
so sure as to Terence McGovern. The lat
ter strenu0usly denied that he was in the
fight, and said he only reached the barge
from the boat when the fight was over.
1t was shown. however, that he had said
that he saw O'Grady kicked when down,
and he was held. The other men said
nothing further than to deny that they
had done the stabbing. Bail was refused
for the mon. AS the fight occurred in
New York waters, the men will ulti-
mately be turned over to the authorities
of the State.
THEY WERE HIS ASSAILANTS-
Inspector Lange took the four prisoners
| to st. Francis Hospital this morning,
and confronted them with O'Grady. He
identified Thomas McGovern, Smith and
Dolan as the men with whom he had the
quarrel and who assaulted him. He said
tnat Terence McGoyern was with the
crowd but did not strike him. He could
not say who stabbed him.
OiGradY is sinking rapidly.