The morning call., 1893-07-01
A DEADLY BULLE i
James Caveny Killed by
little Doc" Meyer.
OUTCOME OF A SALOON ROW
A Refusal to Pay Bill Leads to a
Quarrel, Smashing of Glass
and a Shot.

James Caveny was fatally shot by
George Meyer in the saloon at 1884 Howard
street about 1880 o'clock last night. the
sh FOOTING being the result of en- attack upon
the saloon by Caveny and five friends.
The wounded man was taken to the
Receiving Hospital IN a patrol wagon and
died in less than ten minutes after being
laid on the operating table.
The bullet which caused death entered
the back of Caveny's head near the base of
the skull, passed entirely through the brain
and lodged in the frontal bone just above
the left eye.
The deceased leaves widow and one
child. the later year old. His slayer.
Meyer. is a single man and bears an eX-
celent reputation.
The story of the killing briefly told is as
follows: George Meyer, better known
among the habitues of his brothers. saloon
as Little Doc" went on watch as usual
last night at o'clock. About Z o'clock
six strangers entered the saloon. three of
whom were under the influence of liquor
and the other three: were sober. The whole
crowd called for beer at the bar and were
served with the liquid. The men drank
their beer and then started out. Meyer
said, who is going to pay for those
drinks?" With one accord the crowd
turned back and began to abuse him and
it was evident they were all spelling for a
fight.
In the saloon at the time were Ed Muir
raw, Henry RocKberg, w. II. Ellis, Ed
O'DOnnell and William GaIvin, regular
patrons of the place, and one of these
men said to Meyer to let the strangers go.
Never then ordered the men out and they re-
piled that they would 60 when they pleased.
Another wrangle followed and then the
men started out. Three of the men went
out on the street and Immediately there
was sound OF the breaking of glass. The
men who had gone out OF the street h ad
started to smash the ShoW-WindoW on the
left Of the doorway.
James Caveny and his brother John,
together with another man Of the party.
were still in the saloon when their COM
panlOns broke the show-windOWs on the
street, and then it was that John Caveny
ran to the end of the bar. and tried to
wrench loose cigar-lamp. but it was
screwed fast TO the bar. While he was
trying to yet the lamp loose, with the
avowed intention of throwing it at Meyer,
James Caveny broke the glass in one OF
the front doors OF the saloon. Meyer then
grabbed revolver and fired at the crowd
by the door. He says he attempted &c
shoot over the heads of he men and scare
them, but he killed James Caveny.
After being shot Caveny staggered out
on the sidewalk and fell. his companions
scattering in every direction.
When Caveny was taken to the Receig-
ing Hospital his young wife was notified
by some friend and at once left her home
at $50 Tenth street and hurried to the
hospital. While there and before she
knew that her husbands injuries were
fatal Mrs. Caveny made the following
statement;
my husband has s... been ...us employed IJ in
the asst thirteen years." she said, "a
was o steady and sober workman. We
were married two. years ago, and [ know
he never was of a Quarrelsome disposi ton,
but always avoided trouble. He has been
sick most of his lie, being subject to cpl
leptic fs. and never drank to excess be-
cause he could not stand liquor. When he
drank more than two drinks he always had
an attack. and would fall in the street in a
fit at times"
When tod that her husband was dead,
Mrs. Caveny was with difficulty restrained
from forcing her way into the operating
room. Her cries and means we're pitiful
crazpd. Late last night Officer c. w.
Jones. who was detailed on the case, re-
ported the names of the men who were
with Caveny as follows: John Cavtny,
Matt Kilean. Thomas Monahan. David
O'Brien and man named Francis None
of the Aforementioned partie could be
found either by the reporters or the police.
Caveny. the dead man, was about &c
years old. Up to two years ago he was a
hard drinker. but since his marriage has
been very steady until last night He and
his companions at the sh Zoe factory We're
paid off last night and given four days
holiday, and on his way home he got to
drinking. Caveny and his wife lived with
his motner-in-law at $50 Tenth street. His
father. who Is a machnist at the Union
Iron Works, lives with his wife on Harr-
son avenue.
Late last night the Caveny side
of the story was obtained from
one OF his brothers. 1t is to the
effect that Caveny hid nothing TO
do with the breaking Of the windows, and
when shot WAS being taken out of the sa-
loon by Mat Killean. who was the only So
Der man in the party. 1t seems that two
If the men had been in the saloon earlier
in the evening and had row with the bar
keeper, and it is claimed that there was an
offer made to pay for the drinks before the
row.
Meyer has retained an attorney and re-
fuses TO talk about his case