New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-13
ALMOST A LYNCHING.
POLICE SAVE A cowARDLY RUFFIAN.
THE CROWD STIRRED TO FRENZY By Hrs
BRUTAL ATTACK ON A BOY.

THE CROWD STIRRED TO FRENZY Bf HDs
BRUTAL ATTACK ON BOY.
Joseph Davis young rufflan, had an experiences
Yesterday which he is likely TO remember for
long time. He narrowly escaped lynching at the
hands of an infuriated crowd of people who wit
messed his cowardly and brutal assault on boy
named Hugh Mooney. Davis was lounging az
Eleventh-ave and Forty-ninthst. shortly after
5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. when Mooney,
who is sixteen years old and lives with his
widowed mother and two brothers at No. 442 Weso
Forty-ninthst., passed by on his way home.
Say, Hughie, go and get some beer for me,
said Davis, with drunken growl, seizing the boy
by the collar. u cannot" answered the lad;
my mother won't allow me TO go into saloons
Davis stepped back pace or two and then
rushing forward, kicked the lad in the stomach
with frightful force. Mooney, who is slight
and delcately framed, fell moaning to the ground.
Then the rutfian began to kick him about the head
In the dusk of fine Sunday afternoon In
spring. that part of Forty y-ninth-st in which the
assault took place is filed with people, the men
smoking at doors and windows, the women goss
slipping on the pavement, and the children play
ing in the roadway. As Davis was kicking the
PROSTATE boy, the crowd, reused to frenzy py tne
sight, made wild rush at him. Davis started
to run, but was caught by John Dollahan, VINO
held him by the collar aud threatened to snooo
him if he attempted to escape. Dollshan had no
pistol but the mention Of the weapon was enough
TO scare Davis into submission. Then Dollahan
sent for policeman.
BY this time a yelling, screaming crowd or
men and women, crazed with indignation and
passion, surrounded Davis and raincd blows on
him from every quarter. Cries Of :" Lynch himh
Hang him!" filled the air. clothesline was
obtained no one seems to know from where, ana
with this in their possession the mob began to
drag Davis toward lamppOst which is within
a few wards of Eleventh-ave. AT the sight OK
the rope Davis turned as white as corpse and
sank to his knees, piteousy whining for mercy
Police officer William DAILY, of the twenty
second Precinct ran up the street and hurled his
powerful form through the surglng, swaylng
mob, and, sezing Davis, kept his captors at bay
until Police Officer Hoare came TO his assistance
IL firmly believe that my arrival saved tne
scoundrel's life" said Daily afterward TO a Tribune
TeDorter, They had the clothesline ready, andi
if | had not come up when l did, they'd have
hanged him, as sure as he's alive
When the crowd saw that Davis could non
escape their ire cooled down and the policemen
were able to take him to the West Forty seventh
St police station without molestatiOn. Davls's
face was covered with the marks Of the blows
which had been rained on him by the crowd:.
His Inns were swelled, his eyes were closed, and
his hands were covered with blood-stains.
Mooney was taken to his home in an unoon'
scious condition After few minutes he re.
covered his senses, and doctor who examfned
him said that he had sustained no injury more
serious than few bad bruises.