The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-28
THERE WAS NO HOLD Up.
re" YORK Papers Greatly Exagcerate
a Family Fight.

The New York morning papers contain
sensational accounts of a hold-,jn at
Grand street n Pacific avenue. last
night, and describe with accuracy d fierce
struggle that occurred in which3the vic
tirs, Thomas Moran and his wife. were
beaten into insensibility. The s,lnnosed
noid-Bp occurred at nine O'Clock. an
nour at which it is contended hundreds
OF people are constantly passing the scene
OF the struggle. In addition to the
crowds of people that are constantly
tnere, trolley cars pass at intervals of
every minute or two. Captain Cox Of the
gregory street station was indignant
When he read the accounts of the hold
up He tina by tomorrow
morning he will be able to show that
the trouble found foundation in mixed
ale.'
Thomas Moran and his wife Mary. Of
No. 10 Randolph avenue. are related to
James Moran, who keeps a saloon known
as Moran's "Half Way House." at Pacific
avenue and Grand street. James Moran
a a son Dennis with whom the police
nave more h a passing acquaintance.
he mas been in trouble on more than
one occasion. Recently, it appears, Thos.
Moran's daughter was married. All the
Morans in town were invited to take part
in the festivities except Dennis, his
nephew Ill feeling has existed since.
Last night Thomas Moran and his wife
who had been making a call down town.
started for home. At Grand street and
C~ommunipaw venue there was the usual
crowd of young toughs who hang out in
that vicinity. On the stoops Of the sew
eral tenements there were crowds Of
young fellows and girls, who were anus
ing themselves at the expense of passers-
by. Thomas Moran saw his nephew. Den
mis-, in the crowd. He was sitting on 4
beer keg. Moran ordered the gang to
step aside and allow him to pass. Some
insulting remarks were made and in an
instant a free fight was in progress.
Mrs. Moran naturally took sides with her
husband. Her dress was torn, but she
was not beaten into insensibility. Neither
was Moran brutally beaten. The row
wa over in a few minutes. Moran lost.
ne says, a gold watch and chain.
After the occurrence he continued on
his way home, stopping only at the Com
munipaw avenue police station to make
a report of the loss of his time-pece. The
occurrence was reported to the police Of
the Gregory street station, and a half
dozen reserve men were sent out to pick
up suspects. Dennis Moran and james
Sheehan, a saloon keeper, were arrested.
They were taken to the Gregory street
station. Thomas Moran was sent for,
When he saw the prisoners he declared
that they were not his assailants. He
informed the police, however, that his
nephew, Dennis Moran, saw the assault.
Dennis denied the statement and contend
ed that he saw no part of it. The pris-
oners were released Detective Nugent is
making an investigation.
Sergeant Hopkins, who was in charge
at the Gregory street station, says that
there was not a scratch on Thomas Mo-
ran, Notwithstanding the fact that the
New York papers would make 1t appear
that he had been trampled upon.
Captain Cox's theory is tina a family
row is at the bottom of the trouble.
1T is an outrage" he said, ssfor such
occurrences to be enlarged in this way.
1t reflects discredit upon the city and
upon the police. / will be able to show
In a few hours that mixed ale played
a conspicuous, part in this affair. This
man, Thomas Moran, did not even re-
port the loss Of a watch and chain here.
He may have done 50 at the Fourth
precinct.
Detective Nugent will have finished his
investigation by this evening, Captain
Cox