The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-26
SHOT THROUGH A DOOR.
John S%pel1isy, a Union Hill
Desperate Killed While
Resisting Arrest.
THREATENED TO MURDER HIS WIFE
The Dead Man Had Before Escaped
From the Police at the
Revolver's Mouth.
THREATENED TO MURDER HIS WIFE

John Spellisy, of No. 211 Main street,
Union Hill, a desperate character, was shot
and killed last night by three officers who
carried a warrant for his arrest, and whom
he resisted with a loaded revolver.
1t was shortly after eight o'clock last night
when a woman, hatless and breathless, ran
into Union Hill Police Headquarters, and
between her gasps for breath Informed Act
ing Sergeant Wallum that her husband had
just returned home, and had threatened to
kill her. She was Mrs. John Spellisy, wife
of the dead murdered man. Her husband
three months ago. while in a drunken fit,
almost killed her, and she had a warrant is
sued for his arrest. He ran away and was
not seen again until last night. Then he re-
turned to his home, n as subsequent events
| proved to his death.
When Spellisy met his wife last night he
! began to quarrel with her, and after a few
minutes remarked that she need not put in
! any coal for the winter. When she asked
him why, he replied that he was going to
send her to a place where she would need no
coal. The poor woman became frightened
and ran out of the house. As she was leav-
he made an attempt to catch her but failed.
POLICE ADVANCE ON THE DES-
PERADO.
When Mrs. Spelisy told Wallum that her
husband was home, he directed Officer
O'Brien to take the warrant and arrest
| Spellisy. On the way to the house OBrien
met Sergeant Krieger, and the two proceeded
| together. Krieger knocked at the door and
| Spellisy asked:-
"Who's there? Is that you, Harry?"
"Yes. open the door, answered the Ser
| geant.
mo I won't; it amt Harry; you cam
fool me, damn you, you're an officer and
want to arrest me-"
Sergeant Krieger then ordered Spellisy to
| open the door or they would break it in.
Break in if you dare, curse you" re
| piled Spellisy, I've got a loaded revolver
here, and if you attempt to come in I'll shoot
you"
The policemen tried for fifteen minutes to
coax him out, but without success. They
then sent for Officer Ball, and upon his ar
rival, again tried to get Spellisy out. Spell
lisy only threatened the more to shoot If the
| policemen did not go away.
Officer O'Brien then forced the door open,
| and as it few back, Spellisy discharged the
| revolver in his face. A miracle is all that
| saved O'Brien. As he fired the pistol he
slammed the door hut. At the same time
| O'Brien and Sergeant Krieger fired their re-
| volver at Speliisy and kicked the door open
| again. Again the officers opened fire on the
desperate man who also fred two shots at
| them, at the same time exclaiming, e.
- you, I'll kill you now before | give in.
| III 20 around the back way and fill you full
of lead"
SPELLISY FALLS DEAD.
Pushing the door open softly. Sergeant
Krieger entered the room and saw Speilisy
| standing in the kitchen. Spellisy moved to-
| wards the door, but nae taken only a few
steps when he fell to the floor.
With drawn revolver the officers waited
over ten minutes for Spellisy to make a
move, and then, as he did not stir, they VEN
near they discovered that he was bleeding
| freely from two wounds, one in the neck
| and the other in the mouth. He was IN
| conscious and died about fifteen minutes
later.
The officers think that they hit him when
| they fired first, as the door was all spat-
| tered with blood. All three rooms leading
| to the kitchen where he fell were also blood
stained.
WAS ADESPERATE CRIMINAL.
Spellisy was a desperate criminal, and the
| police of Union Hill have had their hands
| full with him for the past five or six years.
Three years ago when Roundsman Feeney
attempted to arrest him upon a warrant for
assaulting his sister, Spellisy drew a re-
volver and told Feeney to go home. The
officer knew the man he was dealing with
| and went home. The next day he met
Spellisy and chased him to the woods in
Highwood Park. Feeney was accompanied
! by three officers and they soon overlook
| Spelisy. 1t was Of no use, however, as the
| desperate character fired four shots at his
pursuers and escaped He raised any mum
| Der OF disturbances in the town and was
continually fighting and prawling. He led
his poor wife a most miserable existence and
many times threatened her life.
Chief of Police Schleinm said that nc
charge would be entered against the officers
who shot Spellisy, as they did it in self de-
| tense.
1t is not known which one of the officers
| really fired the shot which proved fatal, as
| all the revolvers were of the same calibre.
The door which barred the entrance to the
| house and which was pushed open by
| O'Brien, is literally riddled with bullets.
The body was left in the house and Coro.
ner volk was notified. County Physician
| Cnnuarsa will hold an autnnsY tomorrow.