The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-16
He SET A SPRING GUN.
Bourke's Burglar Trap Killed His
Son. in-Law at South Beach.
1t Is Reported that They QuarreIled
Early This Morning.
And that tho Victim Left the House
and Was Shot ON His Return.


Bergman, a plumber, thirty years old,
son-in-law of Thomas Bourke. WAS shot
and killed at 1l.SO o'clock to-day at the
extreme end of South Beach. where he
lived with his wife and father-in. Jaw.
IL seems that Bourke had rigged up a
shotgun over the door leading into the
house. with a pulley attached TO it.
This gun was loaded with buckshot. II
could be set at will. and when set would
"a of as soon as any one opened the
door.
This morning Bergman entered the
house. just as he swung open the door
there was loud explosion and Bergman
fell to the floor The charge of heavy
shot tore a large hole in his side. Berg
man lived an hour after the accident.
The shooting attracted the attention
of some OF the neighbors. and word was
at once sent to Police Headquarters. An
officer WAS sent to the beach and Bourke
was placed under arrest, pending the
Coroner's investigation Coroner James
Halloran was notified and went to the
beach and took charge of the case
The shooting is u peculiar one. 1t is
reported that Burke and his son-in-law
were ON bad terms. and had had fire.
quent quarrels. 1t Is stated that they
quarrelled early this morning. and that
Bergman went away, and on his return
he met his death as above stated
Bourke, when questioned at the police
citation, denied that he had set the gun
to kill his son-in-law, but had done SO
to protect his property. as people have
entered his home when he was away
and carried Off his provisions.
Charles c. Clogget. collector. who
, lives In Brooklyn. was within fifty feet
of Burke's house when the gun exploded
Mr. CioSget said this afternoon: .
! Bergman threw up his hands ant
sank down, with the blood pouring from
q great hole, In his side. A he. fell h,
cried out: He shot me- Bourke mad,
I no attempt to escape when Policeman
Michael Cannon went to arrest him.
MRS. Bergman, the dead mans mother
told me that there had been trouble be-
tween her son and Bourke. and that
they had been at odds for several years
The origin Of the trouble was, she said,
Bergman's refusal to shoot a man named
John Foley, who claimed some property
at South Beach, which Bourke said wus
his"
Mrs. Bergman. who lives at 1876 Chrys-
tie street, this city, told Clogget that the
trouble to-day was caused by her son
expostulating with Bourke for making
noise white Bergman's child, which
died last night, lay within few feet OF
where Bourke was mailing some boards
on the eide of the house. Bourke's only
reply was: '"rhe child can't hear it."
This angered Bergman. and high words
passed between the men. In less than
an hour Bergman's body lay beside that
Of his dead baby.
BergmAn's wife said that her husband
was not aware OF the gun being over
the door. She said sne knew about 1t.
but she was sure that he did not know
of 1t.
Bourke has lived at South Beach all
his life. He IL seventy-six years old and
10 q veteran OF the evil war. Three
years ago bergman married his only
daughter. She Is now thirty years old
About q year ago bergman and mis- fath-
er-in-law mad frequent quarrels which
were kept up at intervals until to-day.
Besides the gun-trap rugged up At the
front door, Bourke had a heavy iron
bar suspended over the back door. and
SO arranged that 1t would drop Oh the
head Of any person who entered, provid-
Ing latch string was pulled by some
one inside.
A trap was also set in the chicken
coop which would catch and hold any
bouy who tried to enter.
Bergmans mother says that Bourka
had threatened TO shoot her son several