New-York tribune., 1891-12-19
A MADMAN KILLS A FRIEND.
THE LUNATIC THEN COMMITS SUICIDE.
TWO OTHERS SHOT AND THIRD INJURED-rEN
n,ys oIrr or AN INSANE A-YLJJM

The double crime of murder and suicide was
committed by madman in Brooklyn yesterday.
The man was Michael Harvey unmarried, thirty
four years DID, and his crime was committed at
No. 1873 Van Dyke-st, at noon. He shot and
killed John Connaughton, who in the house
at the time, wounded Samuel Dickinson and his
sster-in-law, Mrs Mary Dickinson, and then
killed himself The crimes were committed In
the heart of a densely populated tenement house
region and there was intense excitement for
hours So great tragedy has not occurred IN
South Brooklyn for years.
The last insane patient at the County Asylum
who committed murder was James Doughertys
who shot DR.. Lloyd, one of the physicians at the
institution, to which he returned after escaping.
Recently Frank Cowley, dangerous lunatic, es-
caped, but was rccaptured before he had done any
harm. Harvey, who had been confined in the
asylum was not regarded as dangerous
lunatic About year ago he became ainicted
with melancholia and he gradually grew worse.
He finally became seriously afflicted. and com.
planned of hearing spirit voices, and would run
out of the house, crying that persons were chas-
ing him.
On March 4, 1891, he committed to the
asylum, but at his examination by the physicians
Of the Charities Department. he was declared
harmless patient. He was quiet and tractable
while in the institution, and assisted in caring
for the hall in which his room was. lie grad
ually improved, and finally said that he no longer
heard the voices which had been troubling him.
About ten days ago he was allowed to leave the
institution at the request Of his friends upon
pass, which permitted his return at any time to
the institution. lie not discharged. BY the
terms of the pass he was in the custody Of his
friends and they required to report his con-
dtion at regular intervals.
He uuia nd hle ar he hOrne Of
Catharne Duffy his sister, where he went to live.
and on Monday his sister reported that he was inn
proving. But on Thursday she noticed q change.
He began to act so strangely that she took pains
to lock up her husbands razOrs. In the evening
he showed some ill-fecling toward his brother-in-
law and said to him:
If you were not married and situated just a.
You are would kill you, for you are no good"
Duffy and his wife began to think ii unsafe 10
have him in the house, and it was decided to send
word to the asylum After Duffy went to his
work yesterday morning Mrs. Duffy got Mrs Dick
inson and her brother-in-law, who live at No.
57s Clinton-st and are related to her by marriage.
to come and stay with her About 1 o'clock she
teephoned to the asylum that her brother was
much worse and asked that some one be sent to
take him back to the institution. Two keepers
started at once but they did not reach the house
until after the tragedy.
When Mrs. Duffy had prepared dinner in her
kitchen. Harvey sat down and ate. with him az
the table were his sister, Mrs Dickinson, ana her
brothern-law, and John Connaughton, friend OF
Harvey, who had formerly worked with him, ana
who had called to see him. Harvey seemed quiet
and ate as usual, joining in the conversation.
Whether he suspected that it was intended 70
send him back 10 the asylum or not Is not known!
He left the table before the others and said ne
would 90 into the front room. His sister hastened
TO carry easy chair for MN, puo ne saiu he
would lie on the lounge.
His sister left him there and returned to the
Kitchen. and she was cOngratulating herself upon
the quiet demeanor of her brother. when he APP
peared at the door suddenly branishing revolver
and indulging in manacal laughter. The
women screamed with terror. Connaughton
sprang toward the insane man, who nred the
weapon full in his face, and the bullet entered
his brain just above the right ear The mur-
dered man fell TO the floor and Harvey fired again
at Young Dickinson and wounded him in the right
arm.
Dickinson sprang through the window to es-
cape and landed in the yard. lie was followed
by Mrs. Duffy who sprained her ankle by the
fall. The lunatic was continuing his fusillade and
wounded Mrs. Dickinson in the hand, but she
managed to get out of the window. He then had
one bullet left in the revolver, and he turned
hack into the front room, and putting the muz-
zle of the smoking revolver in his mouth, fired
it into his BRAIN killing himself instantly. The
noise of the shooting aroused other inmates OF the
house, and assistance was immediately secured
from the police and an ambulance surgeon. The
two wounded persons and Mrs. Duffy were taken
to the Long Island College Hospital, where their
injuries were attended to- The bodies of the TWO
dead men viewed by corOners jury en-
paneed TO hold the inquest.
The murdered man, John Connaughton, was
thirty-eight years old and lived in DiKeman-et.
lie came TO this country six years ago. He leaves
wife and three children, who are now visiting
in England. The revolver with which the shoot
ing was done purchased by Harvey on Thurs
day afternoon. He went out for walk and in
his absence pawned his watch and purchased the
weapon A few minutes after the shooting, the
keepers from the asylum arrived who were to
take Harvey back to the institution.
Colonel b. i. Gott president Of the Board OF
Commissioners of Charities and Corrections was
asked Yesterday by reporter about the custom
of permitting patients to go out OF the asylum
on passes c.,-., -,.., a.. A..
same in other institutions IL patients i'm
prove and are getting well we let them go out
in of their friends passes, and then If they
grow worse they can be placed in the Institution
again without d formal commitment. This dis
penscs with a second examination. IL patient
out on a pass continues 10 improve, he or she IL
finally discharged. The temporary absence from
the institution leads TO permanent release unless
a patient becomes dangerous, when he or she IL
again confined in the institution Harvey was
suffering from mcancholla and was not regarded
as showing any symptoms of becoming danger
Gus or of homcidal mania. Before he left the
institution he said that he no longer heard the
voices which had troubled him. and he. didn't
know what had allied him formerly
Harvey was bOiler-maker by trade, and IL is
cident TO his trade after he had been kicked by
a horse He was of medium height, of somewhat
slight built, and wore mustache and goatee. Mrs.
Dufys four children were downstairs at the time
OF the shooting. as she deemed it advisable To
keep them out of the way Of their uncle. The
house where the shooting occurred is a three
region of the city. The Duhys occupy the rear
OF the second floor.