New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-05
THE STORY OF sCANNELL'S CRIME.
HOW HE MURDERED THOMAS DoNAnrE AND
ESCAPED JUSTICE.

HOW HE MURDERED THOMAS DoNAHCE AND
ESCAPED JUSTICE
John = scspncn when he was appointed Fire
Commissioner Yesterday by Mayor Gllroy, reached the
goal toward which his ambition lad been directed '"r
manv years Ever since he was released from an
insane ASYLUM, where n successfully worried "insanl'y
dodge had saved him from mciit"d d"a'h Tor 'he
Murder od Thomas Donahuc, on November ., -12. he
has wanted this Office. lie killed Donane In John
sons poolroom liquor shop In the basement OF 'h'
building at the northwest corner Of Broadway ana
Twenty. cightist. The bluc! record oil chine IN tms
great city does not show murder more d~iu'rh'c
and cold blooded nor one in which his victim had been
so persistenly hunted to his death by his slayer IL
wns m act CT revenge, remors"ic.siy and ptiicsSy
carried out D0lahuc, as the Evidence in the trial
shovel, shot Down while trying I, esn" from MS
n,rs,er in a room crowded with 300 or 800 gamblers
and politicians bidding fr the purchase Of pools on the
result Of the Presidential election. Which was TO TAR"
place three dnys nftcrwnrd. lie fell with bullet
through his brain. and ecannell stood and empd Tour
more chambers of his revolver Into tie body vi 'he
prostr t. and dying man.
The origin OF the tragedy the killing OF Florence
scannen, Johns brother. IN Il fight In Donah,es
LIQUOR store, NJ Seconds ave and twenty au
John scanncls belief that II WAS Donahuc who had sio
his brother. On December %. 1ed0 crowd OF
men, headed by Florence Scannell. then cahdd"'e
for Alderman entered Donahues place. which was the
HEADQUARTERS OF John Ncsl'. the rival candlda'" pr
Alderman. The Scannells suspected that N"sD'' hod
eecrcted several "rcpcatcrs' In RON back OF the
liquor store A fight followed between the friends q"
the candidates: several mcn drew knives ana "'h'rN
pistols. While the firing at lis height fi'r'icr
scHnnc sank 10 the Hocr, cNclalminG HAT ne WAS
SHIT. The wounded man was tnkcn to belevuc Hos
pta, where he died.
Donahue arrested charg" OF having S'"'
scann'l. but no evidence could be fo!ni against him
and lie acquitted. John j. Scanrc!i continued
20 assert that Donaluc lad murdered his brother agd
10 utter threats o; vengeance. The police mt ,hr
time were themselves Of The opinion that John had
shot Florence inasmuch arrcsting him after the
ura> In the liquor store II was discovered that he
lad fired six chambers OF his pistol Eeariy year
passed and the sranncil murder had been almost fbr
gotten when It's memory revived by the attempt
OF an unknown man 20 murder Donahue IA hc Wa,
returning home late at night on september 10. 1870.
As the unknown man hci, after shooting Donaluc In
the left breast. he recognized II alleged,
,hn J. scanDcll by two spectators o: the attempted
murder. Donahuc recovered in spite OF his ugly
wornd while Scanne fled from the ci;y ard WIS
absent nine months lie then brought before n
court, and upon giving bonds b keep the peace with
ECnahue released.
| Donahue however, Rad no faith Ia Scanncll .
prorises and lived in constant fear Of assassination.
Finally, at the request OF friends, he determined u
quit the city. anl engaged passage on steamer for
Cuba intending 10 sail tie day af:e: election OF No
ycmbcr 1879. on saturday evening before the clcc-
lion With one or two friends he vert 10 Johnson ;
poolrooni. Lcaning against the bar at the extreme
end of the room stood John J. scarncl. D0nlhlir
when In the midst OF the crowd saw his enemy. and
his face became pale. lie halted as II parayze1 Win
| fear The testimony showed that he turned ana
sought 70 escape tie place, but scannril hnd seen
| him. 10th men were armed but weapon WAS use
| loss in Donahue's Dervele,s hand.
movement Of The crowd hid sconnell Tor a moment
| from Donahue and the latter. after telling fiicnd
| thai lie had an engagement which prevented his stay
ing longer tuned around and started 10 50 up me
| .i,rway into the street Then there was Sudden
huzz INA the place, and cries OF anger arUsr from The
crowd. Several men, said 70 DE- frenis OF "cannell
stroye TO get 10 the door, ana they were fOnGhly re
nOns.rated with by the men they jo>tlcd Foremost
| among those who we're doing the pushing was Jcli
| J. Scunnell. and he quickly reached hc door. III,
| lonQ-deferred revenge was at hand his piI'ut hal
| ended lie sto0f behind DOnahne for a second nid
drew his big navy revolver and raised 1t on the lrNe
! With Iionabgcs head. IjOnahue turned his face
! nnG Scanner frd in,O II. It's victim i"li to me
! 1ocr with a bullet in his brain. scannel standing
over him fred four more shots into the BODY 'hosc
present said that shifted lis position to make sure
Inst the bullet, did enter the snm2 place tw,c
AS he fired the crowd shrlnk away from him INTO 'ie
| pooroom. not one Of the men present made An
| attempt to dsarm him.
| when he fred the fifth shot scanncl ran I'D the