New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-21
KILLED BY A BLOW.
WILLIAM OLIVER THE VICTIM OF AN OLD
GRUDGE

WHEN on HIS WAY HOME FROM WORK lie WAS
MET BY MARTIN o'BRIEN AT OAK AND WEST
sTs.-MARTIN STRUCK HIM on THE
FOREHEAD AND THEN ESCAPED.
William Oliver. forty-six years old an iron
mculder. living with his wife and five children
at No 1O1 Greenpont-ave. was killed yesterday
afternoon by a blow struck by Martin O'Brien.
a slaughter-house worker. living at No. IS oak
St Several witnesses saw O'Brien strike the
blow. and Oliver wheel and fall to the sidewalk
on his face. When an ambulance surgeon ar
rived he was dead and OBren had made his
escape. The tragedy occurred at Oak and West
SITS. and within a short distance OF the homes
of both men. O'Brien is thirty-six years old. and
lives with his mother and sister. He is power
full man. six feet tall, and Weighing more
than 225 pounds while his victim of
medium build and weighed about 165 pounds.
The trouble which led to the fatal blow
CURED in May last when Oliver reproached
O"T3rien for assauting Michael Gynes. fifty years
DID, of No 53 Franklin-st. From that time
O'Brien often. 1t is alleged threatened to get
even with Oliver for interfering with him. and
wherever the two men met Oliver was always
on his guard.
Yesterday morning Oliver left his home to go
Calyer SITS, where he was employed to make
piece Of iron to repair his brothers stove. 1t
was nearly o'clock when the work was com
pleted and he started for his home for dinner.
oliver went along West-st.. and just before
reaching Oak-st. he started TO cross the street
diagonay Standing in front OF Schlichters
saloon, at No 40 West-st OBren. II was
not until Oliver within a few yards of
OBrien that he noticed him standing there
OBr1en had seen the man approaching. and
walked toward him. When they met O'Brien.
1t is said, made some remark and the next In
slant struck oliver a terrific blow In the fore
head with his fist. Oliver was staggered by the
blow and, turning several times. fell 10 the
street between the wheels Of an ice wagon stand
ing alongside the gutter. He struck on his face.
and O'Brien seeing him fall. walked away. 60
ing to Franklin-st-, where he boarded Green
point going toward the Broadway ferries.
Several men ran over to where DIVER was
living and found he was unconscious. Police
man McHenry Of the GreenpOint-avs. station.
scene and was told of the trouble Instead of
following 'Brien, he fastened to telephone
and sent a call for an ambulance. When
Surgeon Keegan. Of St. Catharine's Hospital ar
rived he found the man was dead
Acting Captain Lynch was Informed OF the
case. and at once sent out a general alarm Tor
the arrest of O'Brien
An the ferries were at once closely watched.
bu. nothing could be seen Of the fugitive
The body of oliver was removed TO Nasons I'M
dertaking establishment In Franklin-st. near
by where an examination was made. the only
mark found abrasion on the forehead
Coroner Mason ordered Dr. j. T. valentine to
make autopsy.
Two women who saw the tragedy say that
OBren struck Oliver without any provocation
AT the home Of the dead man his wife told the
police that her husband had OFTEN expressed d
fear that O'Brien would some day kill him for
having interfered wnen he assaulted the old
man Gynes.