New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-17
WAS J. j. FLOOD MURDERED?
HE WAS FOUND WITH A SKULL FRACTURED.
A DEPUTY CORONER SAYS THAT TIE FRACTURE
WAS CAUSED BY BLOWS FROM
AN INSTRUMENT.

AN INSTRUMENT.
That John J. Flood messenger in the Depart
ment OF Public Works was killed in a fight just
after q mxed-ale party, and by the use of billy,
a club, q bunsstarter or other heavy instrument,
on January z, seems to be certain. Captain
Pickett and the detectives of the Twentyseventh
Precinct who have been at work on he case for
more than week. have been unable as yet to
lay their hands on the man, or men. who frac-
turcd Floods skull. To judge from present
Indications 1t seems probable that his assailants
will escape from justice.
Flood was married and had lived with his wife
at Observation-Disclosures and Second-ave. On
the night Of Friday, January 8, he spent several
hours at the home Of his aunt. Mrs. Duffy. at
Scventy-nnth-st. and 1hird-ave, IL was just
II o'clock when he left tine house and walked TO
Qulgey's liquor store, n few yards away. With
him were his brother Willie Flood, and his uncle,
Michael J. Mcdonald. There the three men re-
manned drinking for two hours When they left
the bar however all three, according to Quigley,
were sober 4 few minutes later Flood re-en-
tered the store and told William Reed. the bar
tender. that he had got an advance of salary in
the Public Works Department Flood, says Reed
drank vlchy and milk and went away That
was the last lie saw of him. Willie Flood and
Mcdonald had said goodnight TO John Flood
outside tho door Of the store and gone home
That is their statement but it has yet received
no Confederation.
A short time after he left Qugley's store Flood
staggered into Schroeders liquor store at Eighty
fourth-st and First-ave., and shouting to some
unseen companion. tried to 90 upstairs. When
half way up the stairs he turned and walked out
of the stom Schroeder at that time was sure
that Flood had been drinking freely. The next
person 70 meet him. as far as the police have
been able TO learn, man named COmerford.
In Eighty -ffth-st, just outside the liquor store
| kept by James MorrisSey, Flood asked Comerford
/ to drink with him. This was about ? 80. Conner
ford is an intimate friend of Morrissey. From
| that time until o'clock Floods movements are
| involved in mystery. But il was at o'clock
| that Policeman Ward. patrolling Eighty-iith-st.
| near Second-avc, heard crash of glass. The
sound seemed 10 from the First-ave. end of
| the street. A minute later, he stood outside the
door Of Norrisscys store, looking at the shattered
| glass of the little sidcdoor. The glass had been
| evidently shattered by blow. On the other side
| Of the street. man clad only in shirt,
| pair of trousers and "a pair OF rubber boots. IL
| was Flood His jacket, his waistcoat, his over
| coat and hat which he had worn when
seen by Quigley, Reed Schroeder and
| Comerford were gone. 1t did not occur TO Ward
| whether Flood had broken the glass. No,
mumbled Flood. Five minutes later Policeman
TAYLOR passing the house. No. 339 East Eighty
| eiphth-st saw the same man lying back with
his head resting on the sidewalk and his feet on
| the lower steps Of the house The position in
| which Flood lay seemed to indicate that he had
| slipped while mounting the steps. and had fallen
| backward striking the pavement with his head.
| He was unconscious
| The man was carried to the East Eigllty-ci9h'i-
II station and then, after hasty examination
| IA, an ambulance surgeon, 10 the Presbyterian
! Iosptol Six hours later lie dead. III"
| ,n,buIoncc surgeon thought that the fracture az
| th, has, Of Floods skull might have been caused
bv q fall but the autopsy on the body proved 10
! ,he satisfaction of Deputy Coroner Weston tha'
| thc fracture had been caused 10y several hea'H
| hlow. from blunt instrument
| T., on urcaway. one door from MOrrlSs'N SioI',
| -n,oi, Ickett found the de?G mans oVercoa'
ard Jacket. both spotted with blood HIS nai,
crushed of slap'. lay IN the gutter ie" Sa''N
| from where Flnod was found. ,,.. .
| Tn IN last night the polio" ef the 1w"nty-seV
| o,,h Precinct had made little progress In tlr
scorch after Floods murderrrs 40 lar me polrr :
| have made no effort 10 trlr" tie movements, V,
Will, Flood and Mcdonald IN the thTS' hours '.a
,Innsnd brtw,rn the time they left Flood ana ti'
| ,;"'n M which he was found by Taylor.
| Nr No,i sscy says that his store was closed ~
| o,clook olthorrh h. is unable 10 account TOT sl',
| hro,,nn rlags in the little sie door That warn
| move morp of the than he has YET tea Is at
least possible 1t is scarcely ronr"vaple ,.a' ,a,s
cane noIiccman seeing man latless, clath'Ss' ana
| annorentlv iazrd with drink. would allow Nun u
| wander through the streets unchecked.
Z