New-York tribune., 1891-08-27
A YOUNG REPUBLIcAN SHOT DEAD.
JOSEPH, THE SECOND son OF THE LATE JOHN
j. o'BRIEN. KILLED BY ACCIDENT

JOSEPH, THE SECOND SON OF THE LAlh '0H-'
j. o'BREN, KILLED BY ACCIDENT.
Joseph o'HrIen, the second Of the late John D..
OBrcn, Of this city, was accidentIy shot ana hieu
yesterday evening by License Collector James W. crop
sey of Gravesend. The shooting occurred on tLe
grounds Of the Atlantic Rod and Gun Club when arc
directly in front OF the main entrance 10 the Brighton
Beach racetrack. Yesterday the monthly meet
ing OF the club for the Egeman and Boudon badges
and a largo number OF members was present. Al ehe
close of the clubshoot a proposition was made LOT
sweepstakes OF all classes.
The proposition received with acclamatlon anu
O,Bren and Under-sherG Mclaughlin, of Kings Coun-
ty: Dr. j. F. Hill and strykcr Williamson were among
the competitors for the prize.
O'Brien fired at two pigeons and purposely misseu
them to give his friend, Dr. Hill, with whom ne
tied the honor OF the shoot This action on the part
OF O'Bren aroused much laughter among the mem
hers present. At this stage Of the game lew
of the spectators stood dangerously near the lhe'
and Charles T. Morris remarked: "stop fooiing
and get back" At this juncture Under-sherih NC
LaughlIn fired at bird, preparatory to going In
for n chance at the prize The bird got away
and aIirhted on top Of the clubhouse. Young OBren
Dr. Hill. stryker Williamson and few others were
sitting close by the side OF each other at the tlmc'
Cropsey stepped ont to the line with few cartridges
in one hand and a gun thu other, when Mr. Will
lamson remarked: "Put those cartridges away. You
don't want them" at is my turn to shoot next
rop,or r,,cd Cropsey. Mr. williamson then turned
around in tho direction of the clubhouse on which the
pigeon aghted.
Suddenly Cropseys gun went off, and the shot
struck OBrien directly in the face, tearing away the
whole countenance.
Had il not been for the manner in which Mr.. Will
hanson turned his head in the direction OF the bird
and thus got out of the Of the n he too would
have been shot AS it happened part OF the shot
truck Dr. Hill on the forehead, but inflicted no serious
lniurv. George Crane, Hans Croniker and william
Webber also received part OF the charge, while Mr.
Wiliamsons hat coat and shrtfront were all bespat-
t.rod with O'Brlen's blood O'Bren uttered word
or made no motion after being struck, but sudden
bend of the head on the side of the chair in which nc
sat showed that his life had ebbed away.
"My God stryker, l have done it!' shouted crop
sey 10 stryker Williamson, as he saw OBrien sweler
ing in his blood. Take me-" he muttered, and Mr
Williamson led him to Chief of Police John Y. Nc
Kane of Coney Island. On their way to tho police
station the pair met Mrs. O'Bren in front OF Plpers
West End Casino. Her children were playing Dy her
side and she looked the picture Of happiness. " MY
| God his poor wife and Children" again exclaimed
Cropsey to his companion. who was still dazed from
! the fright and narrow escape which he had
Coroner Rooney was Informed.
O'Brlen was the proprietor Of a Photographic gal
lery at No. oO5 Bowery, which he purchased three
years ago. few years ago he married the daughter
of ex-Assemblyman Daniel Patterson by whom he had
! two children. He twenty-five years OF age
Cropscy bears an excellent reputation, and IS one OF
| the most popular men in Gravesend. He is about
thirty-five years old and unmarried.
| Young O'Bmcn had, among Republicans on the
East Side inherited good deal Of his fathers popu
arity. AT time he was a student OF tne COlulnDa
College School of Mines. He took leading part in
the John j. OBrien Association His older brother
John L., IS assistant in the Office Of the Cor
! poratOn Counsel