The evening world., 1894-08-10
THIS MAY Be MURDER.
Tho Police Say Cornelius 0'Brien
Died as the Result of q Fall.
Witnesses Declare Nc Was Knocked
Down by Samuel Cohen.
And that His Death Was Due to the
Result OF That Blow.

The circumstances attending the death
of Cornelius O'Brien.' of 81 East Broad
way, in GouNerneur Hospital last Tues
day, came to light for the first time to-
day. From facts gathered by an
Evening World" reporter. 1t would ap-
pear that the police of the Madison
street station have deliberately closed
their eyes and ears to certain matters
connected with u'Rr!ens death of which
they should have taken immediate cog
ni2ance.
O'Brien's hrother-n-lsw, Richard Bar
rett Of 24S Hayward street. Brooklyn,
and Thomas O'Rrien. of 80 West Twen.
ty-ninth street, this city. cousin OF
the dead man, are trying to gather suf-
fcient information to enable them to
place the blame for their relatives
death.
1t was learned to-day that imme-
diately before the alleged accident.
which was the reason for OBrien being
taken to Gouverneur Hospital, he had
engaged In fight with Samuel Cohen,
a young man. who lives with his parents
at 81 East broadway. and that Cohen
struck O'Brien a blow in the chest
which knocked him backward against
an iron railing. In falling OBrien
struck his head on the railing, receiv-
ing II severe scalp wound. The fail rem
dered him unconscious and he died with
out recovering his senses.
\ dozen witnesses can be found who
will testify to the correctness Of the
above statement.
The trouble occurred on Sunday even
ing about o'clock. O'Brien, according
70 witnesses. was sitting In the boot
sal on, at the corner of Market street
and East Broadway. 1t Is said that he
was somewhat intoxicated.
Cohen came along. and the two men
ing to bystanders, got out of the chair
and attempted to strike Cohen. The
latter pushed him back into the chair.
oBrlen again got on his feet and
away from his short distance, He
who this time slapped O'Bricn in the
face. o,Brisn still kept coming. and
o'Brien staggered and fell, as before
described.
A crowd gathered and somebody
rang for an ambulance. A young man
Undertaken ]. j. Ryan, Of 70 East
Broadway. ran, to OBrien's side and
O'Brien to his home at 81 East Broad
way next door TO Shiess saloon.
Roundsman Masterson, of the Madison
street station. arrived about this time,
and shortly after the ambulance rat
ted up.
At Gouverneur Hospital the doctors
failed to find any fracture of O'I5rlen $
skull, but he sank slowly and died on
the following Tuesday, never having re-
| gained consciousness.
| Although the trouble between O'Brien
and Cohen was web known to every
body In the neighborhood. no mention
of 1t was ma lie in the police report. The
slip received at Headquarters was as
| follows:
AFT NJ. Cornelius O. Brien. thirty-sevsn year
| old, OF 81 East broadway. fell at East Broadwa!
| and Market street while intoxicated, receiving
wound the back OF his head. He was taker
| to the Gouverneur Hospital
Mrs. Corbett. Of whom O'Brien had
rented room for the last four years
says that she does not know OF her lodsef
having been intoxicated on Sunday; She
OF beer, which he bought in the after
noon. OBrien stayed at his brother in
laws house in Brooklyn on Saturday
night.
MIR. Barrett saws OBr'en was appa eEt-
ly vel. and perfectly sober when he LETT
the house at 736 O'Clock In the morning.
Barrett does not think that O'Brien was
drunk at the time he had the trouble
with Cohen.
O'Brien was halter. and had worked
in 8. Simonson's hat factory at lH
Greene street for twenty-seven years.
He was unmarried.