The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-04
Country .COnstableS and
the BicyCliStS.
A Murderer Who Escaped and
Has Never Come Back.
What Peter Hackett Told Friends
About Irons Murder.

The bicycle scorcher ought to be sup
pressed. He is a menace to life and limb
and q nuisance generally, but only
small fraction OF the big army OF wheel
men indulge in that reckless and danger
Gus practice. The enforcement OF the
laws against rapid riding which have
been passed by about every City and
Town Council, will ere long put stop
to scorching. With the manner in which
these regulations are enforced In some OF
the towns wheelmen are indignant, and
not without good cause. Down in the
Pawtuxet valley the methods OF the con-
stables are of such a character as Ia war
rant the suspicion that they are animated
moro by cesire for personal profit tnan
by purpose to protect the public from
reckless riders These country consta bles
make every Sunday harvest day, laying
In wait on unfrequented roads to seize
the unwary bicyclist who happens 10 run
his wheel over the paths on the sides
which bumptious law enforcers claim are
siuewalks. The reason for this activity
on the part of the constables is that they
they are "out for the stuff," as they gen.
orally are on Sunday, they are not very
particular In the matter OF waiting for an
actual breach of the law before making
an arrest. One of these thrifty constab bles
10 In trouble for his high handed pro-
ceedin9s and there are several others
along the Pawtuxet valley who could be
III. x..stL <xfa
tinr. gain to tho public welfare
It is now a little more than eight years
since Waterman Irons was murdered I'm
bis little leather shop on High street, by
Denis, better known as 'Spiker" Murphy,
and Peter Hackett. Murphy, who was ar
sested the day after the tragedy, was sub
sequently convicted, and is now serving
Q life sentence at Cranston, where he has
earned the reputation of being one of the
most desperate and dangerous criminals
ever committed 10 the instit alton. Hackett
slipped through the fingers of the police
and has never been captured since. The
Irons murder was particularly brutal and
cold biooded one, the victim being s2
years Of sge and feeble, when the two
burly bandits made the assault upon him.
IT was on the afternoon of Aug. "a, 1883,
that the crime was committed. On the
preceding day Murphy and Hackett paid
. visit to the little shop on the pretense OF
buying . piece of leather, bat really for
the purpose OF getting a view OF the wal
let which Mr.. Irons was reputed to carry
with him ut all times.
The next day they returned and the
plan to rob was carried out with SO much
brutal force that Mr.. Irons died OF his
injuries the following morning. The po-
lice mad very little to work upon at the
outset, put Detective Parker obtained
from persons in the vicinity about the
time Of the murder, a description which
convinced him that one of the criminals
was Peter Hackett. On the night follow
ing the murder Murphy and Hackett were
yeen in company on Fountain street.
Hackett left Murphy for the purpose of
getting q $40 bill changed, and while he
was gone the police arrested Murphy.
Hackett, however, witnessed the arrest
and lied, so tho police did not capture
him. When Hackett hurried of on see-
ing his companion In crime in the clutches
OF the police, ne went directly to friends
to whom he told the whole story Of tbs
crime, and asked their assistance in get
ting away.
no1 AZ IN 81 ~ tg
friends, which was closely kept for
some time, told OF two visits made to
Irons shop for the purpose OF getting a
sight OF the old mans pocket book. On |
the day fixed for. the robbery they started |
about noon from the house at 1872 South |
street for the leather shop. A woman
waiting on the sidewalk near the shop
caused the robbers to delay operations
and Hackett urged Murphy to give up |
the enterprise. But Murphy meant rob-
berry and calling to Hackett to follow he |
entered the store Murphy asked for |
some leather, wnen Mr.. Irons said he old |
not wish TO take the leather down unless !
they intended to buy. Murphy answered
that they wanted to buy. AS the old man
turned 10 take the leather Murphy seized |
him and pushed him into the back part
OF the shop. The aged man made des-
perste resistance but NJ urphy threw him
down, jammed a side ,of leather over his
head and face and crushed him with his
knees. Then MIR. Irons ceased 10 resist
and Jumping up Murphy gave the old
man parting kick and retreated out to
join Hsckett, who had taken the pocket
book which had fallen to tie floor dur
ting the struggle.
The -obbere passed through Summer