The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-21
GERRITY's DRBNKGN FREAK.
lis Thrown Down Eyvo FLIGHTS o
Stairs and Eurnps Ensa The Cauai

LIS Thrown Down Two Flights OF
Stairs and Jumps EBse tlse Canal.
Patrick Gerrity, of No. 141 Essex street
is held in nominal bail by Justice Potts
for hearing on charge of attempted
assault. His aceuser Is Mrs. Kate Rohlfs
| of No. 1S5 Warren street. The alleged as
sault is supposed to have taken place
three days ago Mrs Rohlfs gave the po-
lice no information concerning it, and
probably nothing would have been known
of it had not a policeman stumbled over
someone who told of the occurrence. Last
Thursday Gerrfty was drunk He was in
undlsputed possession of some of the
streets down around the sugar house for
an hour or more. He wanted to kill some
one and was not particular who his first
should be.
policeman was finally found by some
of the frightened residents and at their
solicitation he started, in pursuit of the
pugnacious Gerrity. That individual had
disappeared. In his drunken condition he
wandered into the hallway of No. 185 War
rem street, which is a tenement house. His
fighting load had suddenly changed to a
crying one. His Sobs attracted the atten-
ton of Mrs. Rohlfs, who occupies rooms
on the second floor. Geing down stars
she asked Gerrity what troubled him. She
alleges that he made an indecent reply
and attempted to grab her. The woman
D6cAHS frightened anu hurried upstairs.
Gerrity followed her and on the second
landing seized her, she alleges, and at
tempted to throw her down in a vacant
room at the head of the stains. The
woman struggled with him for a few mo-
ments and finding that her strength was
deserving her screamed for help. A male
occupant of the house went to her assist
ance and seizing Grsrrity by the collar
pushed him down flight of stairs.
James Somers, who also lives in the
house, attracted by the commotion, was
hurrying upstairs when he encountered
the drunken Gerrity. He seized him by
the shoulders and fired him down an
other flight of stairs. Badly bruised and
with blood flowing freely from scalp
wounds Gerrity scrambled to his feet and
started on run toward Essex street. A
crowd joined in the chase, small boys taxi
Ing occasion to pelt the fugitive with
stones. A small boy who got in Gerrity
way was struck In the face and sent reel
ing into the street. A block further on a
man attempted to stop ierrity, but to no
avail. Gerrity turned on him, picked up
half a brick and hurled it at him. The
man lodged and the missile crashed
through a window in a candy store kept
by Kate Commit
By this tiqe the neighborhood was in
an uproar. Policeman O'Donnell, who had
heard Of Gerritys escapades an hour be-
FORE Joined in the chase. Gerrity, sobered
by his experience in the Warren street
fiat and his exciting run, increased his
speed and made for the Morris Canal The
efforts of a half dozen to stop him were
futile. Arriving at the canal bank he hesi-
tated a moment, but seeing his pursuers
drawing closer plunged in and struck out
for the opposite side.
His run had exhausted him and when
he reached the canal bank he scrambled
out and offered no resistance to Police
man O'Donnell. He was removed to the
Gregory street station and charged with
disorderly conduct He would have been
released from custody today had not the
fiat episode developed.
Gerrity is a young man and is usually
quiet, his friends say. He says he does
not remember having seen Mrs. Rohlfs
and declares that if he had not been
beastly drunk he would not have made
such an exhibition of himself He will
probably be fined for simple assault.