New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-15
AN OFFICERS FATAL SHOTS
HUSBAND AND WIFE KILLED BY HIS BUr.
LET'S
HE SAYS THE TWO ATTACKED HIM AND N
ScTED IN sELFDEFEScE-THE TRAGEDY
AT A WEDDING MERRYMAKING.

AT WEDDING MERRYMAKIgG.
Policeman John B. Ryerson shot and killed VILLA.
Brennan and the latters wife Lizzie. at 10 20 a. M
yesterday, at their home In Jersey CITY The tragedy
was the closing act Of wedding reception. IN.
Brcnnans lived at No. % Gray-st., Jersey City, wher
not In Jail. On July Miss Mary Bouger anl
Christopher Wilson were married. The bridegroom
was employed by Dodd q Child's Express Company
and Oh Monday night his fellow workmen conclndoi
to give the couple a greeting Accordingly then
went to the house IN body and took with them sevesd
instruments more noisy than musical. and hkewis
several kegs Of beer. These placed In lot a.
Joining the house.
The guests danced ard sang and made merry nntu
they observed Billy Brennan and his wife. Th.v
kept clear Of them as much as possible With tAs
Brennans was John Lawlor. The DrcnDans manirs.
lated the beer keg until they we're thoroughly IN.
toxicated Lawlor With them each time a dnnb
taken, and he became intoxicated. He quavrllsA
with John Coyne. Of No 33i feminist, and VIII,
Coyne protested about the language he used Lav,o-
seized a bottle and struck him OH the head A tght
cnsued, and Patrolman John %. Ryerson Who WA
on that post, attracted by the violent languace
TO the place. by vigorous Of his night sick ana
apparent determination 30 arrest every one ne sue
ceeded in establishing order.
Soon aftelward Brennan lnterfered with the pollos
man, and did Lawior. Ryerson attempted IA
arrest the latter but he fled into small alley adiotn
ing Brennans house. RyersOn followed and when bs
reached Lawl0r Brennan seized him and held tia
poiceman's arms tightly that he could not frea
himself until he had made severe struggle. When
he did so he followed Lawlor 10 the kitchen Of Bren
mans house. and, forcing open the door, he seized
Lawlor and attempted 10 take him from the room. Al
this tuncture Brennan, who had followed Ryerson IN
terfered. He was drunk and CIled with ugllness
LawlOr, exclalmng Now have got Won and am
going 10 kill you kicked the policeman, and sns
ceeded in holding his that he could DO nohins
in the way Of resistance. and Brennan struck hi ia
the face.
The kicking end striking were repeated. and then
Mrs Brennan took hand in the fight She pounded
Ryerson with a heavy stick Of wood about the face
Both his eyes were dscolOred his nose and mouth
were cut, and both ears were bruised and acerated
The intoxicated woman beat the policeman until 10
broke away and ran into the hall Lawlor and the
Brennans followed him and the fight continued
The policeman used his club, but he ovcrpowered
lie was knocked down. His club torn from him,
and the woman cutcled his throat while Brennan
continued to beat him.
Tile patrolman then drew his revolver. II vas q
forty-four calibre weapon and was self-cocldng He
discharged it at Brennan, and the bali penetrated
vital spot. Brennan fell and died soon aftervard.
Mrs. Brennan at this time choking the policeman
and she too was shot, The woman screamed and fell
on the floor near her husband. moment later and
Policemen Gallagher Kiburn. Greed and Murphy
entered the house. They sent the dead man to the
Morgue and the wounded woman 10 the City Hospital,
where she died at about p. Ryerson went 10 the
Seventh Police Precinct Station and said TO the
geant Il believed my life 10 he in danger and only
used my pistol as last resource. Brennan weighed
200 pounds, and had no show with him. You can
see my head where Mrs. Brennan cut me with her
club, while Lawlor and her husband held my arms
The policeman was placed under arrest and charged
with manslaughter. He not confined, and his
arrest is purely formal affair When superintendent
Smith called Mrs. Brennan at the hospital TO learn
her version Of the affair she said "Ryerson shot ne
in the kitchen. lie fired two shots at me. He was
drunk when he shot me. I went in the house 10 save
Lawor. don't know why Ryerson does not like mo-
1 did not hit him. did not strike him with a sOne'
Several policemen placed in front Of the dying
woman's bed, one Of whom Ryerson. she
asked 10 pick him out, but failed and when Ryerson
was pointed out the man who shot her she said it
was not Robert McCully, one Of the serensders,
told the superintendent that he had heard Brennan
you now" John b. Hughes said also that he saw
Brennan hold RyersOn while Mrs. Brennan hit nm
several times with stick Hughes was arrested Us
q witness and so Edward Mctiinness, Of No. go
Eighth St; Robert McCully and Thomas Lee They
were committed as witnesses yesterday by Justice Kim
merly ~
brennan was for years foe of the police He
was thirty years old. He was arrested dozen
often. When drunk he was always quarrelsome, and
IL he could find one else TO fight would attack M
wife. The nelghborS said that the couple continually
fought each other. The wife drank as nard as het
appointed on the police force November /, 1885, and
his fbd0rd Is good.