New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-05
NETWORK, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER
SLAIN BY A BRUTAL FARMER.
AN INNOCENT BOY SHOT DEAD
THE MISCREANT,,S SECOND VICTIM LIES
SERIOUSLY WOUNDED.

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
DELIBERATELY AIMING HIS SHOTGUN AT A
GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS, THE ANGRY MAN
FIREs-LITTLE JOHNNY EAGAN, HIS
BREAST FILLED WITH BUCKsHoT
GIVES CRY FOR HIS MOTHER AND
ExPIREs-THE MURDERER MAR
| EJwLY ESCAPES LYNCHING BY
THE FRENZIED MOBILE
SAYS THE YOUTHS IN HIS
PASTURE ANNOYED HIM.
The large pasture common adjoining Calvary
Cemetery, known as Whites Farm, In Long
Island City. was the scene of a tragedy shortly
after o'clock yesterday afternoon. William Bar
rett dairyman of Maspeth. shot and killed
Thomas Egan OF No. 70 Greenpoint-ave, Bliss
Thomas Eagen OF No. 70 Greenpoint-ave, Bliss
VILE. with shotgun, and severely wounded thir-
n-year-old David Crawford, Of No. 81 Green
point-ave Had It not been for the prompt action
OF Policeman Haggerty Of the Long lsiand City
/ force, who arrested Barrett, and begged that the
law might be allowed take its course the MUIR
derer would have been ynched within the gates
| of Calvary Cemetery. As it was, before the man
was lodged in the Second Precinct police station
his skull was fractured, and he had been beaten
badly
Barrett Is forty-hve years old and wealthy. In
May last he secured possession OF the White Farm
as a cattle pasture The ground was secured from
Superintendent Moore OF Calvary Cemetery. John
D. Crimmlns. a trustee. opposed to renting
the farm TO Barrett He wished to rerent the place
to Alderman Patrick White. of Blissville. but Mr.
Moore vetoed Mr.. Crimminss resolution and IN
stalled Barrett a tenant at small yearly rental
No sooner had Barrett secured possession OF the
common than he drove fourteen head OF cattle upon
IT, and warned the people OF BssvIlle to keep their
horses and goats from trespassing the grounds.
He was particularly severe in his admoniton to
Jack McGec whose horse used to frequent the
pasture
Yesterday Barrett visited the farm armei with
a shotgun and an ugly-ookIng English bulldog re-
volver To Henry Roach, Of Greenpoint-ave.' who
met him near the entrance Of the cemetery, Bar
rett said:
Il am looking for Jack McGee, and II catch
him II will be the last OF him; and any other sim
ner catch on that grass I'll blow his brains out"
After leaving Roach. Barrett walked up the
ridge Of the hill on the Bllssvile side Of the grave
ward. overlooking the farm A number Of boys
were playing ball on it. Their ages ranged from
eleven TO thirteen years Among the number were
little David Crawford Johnnie Eagan, William
Mcbride. Harry Kearney and Jacob Smith.
psryett set on a rock. apparently gazing Mt
them for a while. Suddenly he jumped up and
according to Adolph Fowitz, pointed the gun at
the youngsters. Fowtz says two or three Of
the little fellows picked up few stones and threw
them at Barrett when he did this and shouted
- him to stop and leave them alone.
Barrett then advanced toward the group Of
little ball-players When within twenty feet of
them. he raised his gun. deliberately took aim
and fired
All the boys except Johnny Eagan and Crawford
fed Johnny tried to scale the fence into Calvary
Cemetery. but fell to the ground with his hands
above his head. and cried
Take me mother"
Crawford fell where he had been standing. badly
wounded
The news Of the shooting spread quickly and
Barry and Kennedy came quickly. Little Eagan
dead before they arrived. w MI" the doctors
were dressing Crawford's wounds large crowds of
men women and boys arrived from Blissville
whore the news OF the shooting had been carried
The crowd was greatly excited when they arrived
but when they the gaping wound in Eagan's
body became wild. Lynch him" 'Where
is the murderer" Hang the coward" |
After firing the fatal shot Barrett. with the gun
on hls shoulder tried to avoid the crowd by pass
ing through Calvary Cemetery. AdOlph FOwitz
aud a number OF other eye-witnesses Of the
crime followed him closely. By this time mob. |
led by Thomas Eagan. the father of the murdered
boy surrounded Barrett. Some OF them dragged |
him out into the pasture kill him. while others
rained blow after blow upon his head They would !
have hanged him to tree. but for the timely /
arrival OF Policeman Haggerty. When searched /
at the police station "A loaded revolver found /
in the prisoners pocket. Barrett said that the
Blissvlle boys were pcrsstently annoying him. |
and that he did not intend to shoot any one. Il
merely fired the gun to scare them" he said.
Mrs Schalf. of No 1903 Grecnpoint- ave. said last
night: II saved a German boy from being killed 10y /
Barrett fifteen years ago. | saw the assault ana
was the only witness at the trial who could testify
10 the facts He was tried for assault with intent
10 Kill but managed to escape with small fine
The body Of little Eagan was taken home Ills |
mother went into Mysteries on hearing of her son : |
death Young Crawford the doctors say. will re-
cover one grain OF the shot pierced hs left car |
and eight more entered his left breast rear the
shoulder blade Five OF these were extracted last
night.
TNDER ELECTRIC car UHEELS.