New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20
THORNTON'S SLAYER HELD.
roMLINsoN. WHO ADMITS HIS CfiME'
ARRESTED IN NETWORK.
cav. THAT TUE srApRING WAS DONE IN
srIr-pErENcE-IN COURT HE PLEADS
NOT orILTy-A SUBSCRIPTION FOR
THE WIDOW WHO is LEFT

NOT GriLTY-A SUBSCRIPTION ~"
THE WIDOW WHO is LEFT
WITH FIVE CHILDREN.
Thomas Tornlinson. who fatally s'aooeo
Michael Thornton on Saturday night AZ ne''o-
cratic meeting held at No o2o huinpoiu'-s"'
BROOKLYN f. D.. was arrested al an carry "ou.
Yesterday morning in lodgng-house at NJ II
Franklin-st.. New-York. by Detectives bon'a'
md Finnegan Of the 1Iubert-st. ponce s'a''o''
He admitted the stabbng. but SAID u YVES zone
IN self-defence. Tomnson is carpenter hiS
I'VE wears old and until few weeks ago hNeu
with his wife and grown children AT NO "f'
Nassau-aye Their separation was brought
about by quarrel with his wife over sonc
property Tomlinson had made over to her since
then he has lived in the Franklin-st lodging
house occasionally visiting the neighborhooo Oh
his home. where ne had lived for twenty years
Recently he joined the Socalistic Labor party
declaring that neither the Republican nor Demo-
cratic party any good to the workins peo-
pie On Saturday afternoon Tomlirs son went 10
the Eastern District to look after some goods
ordered from factory in Driggs-ave Tor the
firm of Durham, Buckley Co, wholesale dry
goods dealers at No $40 Broadway New-AorN'
where he is employed After attending to his
business
his family lived and drank several glasses OF beer
Shortly before 9 o'clock Tomlinson started Tor
New-York. He walked along Humboldtst. but
when he reached the hall where the Jefferson
Democratic Club was holding the first mass
meeting of the campaign he entered the haIi'
William Pickett was then addressing the gath
erinC Tomlinson took a seat in the rear OF the
hail and at once began TO interrupt the speaker
nv his loud talking and denunCiations OF the
Democratic and Republican parties. He was re-
ouested TO keep quiet. This made him angry,
and he got I'D from his seat and walked down
the steps leading from the hall irto room. lux
10 off the saloon, which is in the front OF the
building but which is unoccupied. Thornton,
who was the sergeant-at-arms OF the ciup was
In the room That fellow is being paid for that
sreech" said Tomlinson land don't believe
word he said"
HOW THE sTABBING OCCURRED.
Thornton had a gruff way Of talking, but was
ALWAYS good -natured and charitable He at once
replied to Tomlinson's remark by telling him to
leave the hall If the speech didn't suit him.
Angry words followed between the two men.
and Tomlinson declares that Thornton struck
him in the eye with his fist. This so angered
him that he says. he drew pocket-knife and
stabbed Thornton. After the stabbing Tom!in-
son says he left the place and hurried toward
Cr.enpoint and took Tenth-st ferryboat
for New-York. and walked to his lode ing-house
Thornton then staggered out of the room and
cried TO those about him that he had been
stabbed. Willing hands assisted the man TO the
street where he fell unconscious TO the side
walk. He died shortly after reaching st. CATH
crimes Hospital.
An examination of the wound showed that the
abdominal cavity in the right inguinal region
had been entered to a depth OF six inches, and
half an inch wide. The murdered man was
thirty-three years old and lived in the apart
ment-house at No. 81 Herbert-st. with his wife
and FIVE children. Michael, john Mamie, Thomas
and Richard ten eight. six. four and two years
old respectively. He a laborer. employed
by Port Warden Edward S. Scott as stevedore
for the Havemeyer sugar refinery.
When II became known that Thornton had
been killed much excitement followed in the
neighborhood. and had Tomlinson been captured
q few minutes after the crime he would have
been roughly handled by the excited crowds
which gathered about the police station.
THoRNTON's WIFE MAY DIE.
When the news Vt Thorntons death was re-
ceived by the mans wife she became hysterical
and it is feared that the shock will result fatally
She is in a delicate condition.
The woman, with her little children. has been
left penniess. and yesterday a subscription for
her relief was started In the neighborhood, which
was literally responded to- The Jeffers on Club
will hold a meeting tonight at their clubhouse,
No ST. Humboldt-st. directly opposite the hall
where the crime occurred, and fund Will be
raised for the widow.
The scene Of the crime adjoins the Herbert
81. police station. 1t was not Until Tomnson
was about to be taken to the Even Street Police
Court that ne was told that Thornton was dead
He turned deathly white, and exclaimed, MY
God this is a nice position for me to be i'm He
then refused to talk any further about the stab
bling When asked what he had done with the
knife he told the police that he threw II away.
II il believed he dropped II overheard whlie
crossing the river Through his counsel, VIII
fam A. Tighe q plea of not guilty was entered
and he was committed to Jail to await the re,
suit OF the Coroner's inquest, which Will be heio
tonight. D.. .,
The body Of Thornton has been removed 70 MS
late home