The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-02
FATAL ROW AT A PICNIC.
Join M,NILLY DIES OF
AFTER 4 FIGHT.

~,s trouble Was Over n tiri-hinRor' 'he
other Man In the FiEht, Was Arrested ana
sent To . Hosritni-A hiot Precipitntoa
Auopu the cnickerp-RrserVe Called Out.
InAamcd by jealousy and drink, John McNally,
% years old, OF 1871 Rutledgc street, Brooklyn,
and william Klingcr, 81 years old. OF the same
address, had n desperate fight in DeXters picnic
mark. In Jamaica avenue, Just outside the Brook
lyn city line. early yesterday morning. McNally
died before an ambulance could reach him and
KlinRer was arrested and sent to st. Mary's
uosnital. His skull is fractured. Last night an
antonsy was performed on McNally's body at
Jamaica under the supervision OF Coroner Mutt
and II was found that death was duo to heart
disease. The condition Of the heart was such
that a trivial shock might have been fatal. The
inquest will hc held Thursday.
Kl,nSer and McNally were both members of
the George II. johnson Association, n sociul
AMI political organization composed mainly OF
bostlers and stablemer. Tho association had q
trolley party on Thursday night and three illumi-
nAteL trolley cars took the members and their
guests to the park.
McNaily took Florence Haywood. 10 years old,
OF So Lorlmer street. to the picnic. Ringers
dancing partner was Louisa Decker, who lives
on North Seventh street, near Bedford avenue.
Both couples were friends. McNally was an adj
mirer OF Miss Decker as we'll as klinger.
During one of the intermissions Klinger left
Miss Decker sitting alone at one of the tables.
McNally wandered over to the table and sat
down with the Decker girl. Klinger was como
long enough for McNally and Miss Decker TO
have several drinks and a dance together.
Klinger had been drinking freely at the bar
with some friends, and when he returned and
found his rival chatting away with his girl no
addressed a remark to her which McNally con-
strued as an insult.
Take that back. you whelp, or III mako you
eat 1t, " said McNally. advancing toward Klinger.
You go to hell" retorted Klinger.
The two clinchcd. John Otto. % years old,
Ringers friend and roommate, grabbed Nc
Nally by the arms, 1t is alleged, pinioning them
behind his back. klinger struck McNally a blow
that knocked him Off his feet. Otto let 20 his
hold on McNally. and as the latter was sinking
to the floor klingGr struck him again.
The fight started a riot in the picnic park. and
thrown into a confused mass, the women fight
ing as hard as the men. Several women tainted.
The special policeman on duty at the park tele-
phoned to the Liberty avenue police station.
and. although the park is outside the city limits.
Sergeant Gardner and the reserves OF the sta
ii Were sent out in ii patrol wagon. They
reached the park while the riot was at It's, height
and separated the con,batants. When the floor
was cleared MuNally was found lying where he
had fallen after being struck by klinger. An
ambulance was called. but he was dead before il
In the meantime Klinger had escaped. Flor
ence Haywood told what she knew about the
fight and pointed out Otto, who was arrested.
Miss Haywood was also taken into custody as a
witness. After Otto and the Haywood girl were
locked up a general alarm was sent out for
Klinger. and several policemen started out to
hunt him up. Sergeant Mccormick and Acting
Detective Harris traced klinger TO the stable Of
Valentine & Kessel, at Rutledge and Harrison
avenues. They found him at 3 o'clock in the
morning lying in a loft and covered with hay.
He made no resistance. He was covered with
blood and appeared dazed from drink and ex-
haustion.
He was taken to the station house. There he
said McSally had a grudge against him because
of his attentions 10 Miss Decker, and had threat
ened to assault him L he did not stop calling on
her. He said McSally struck him first.
Klinger complained Of a severe pain in his
head, and seemed SO badly used up that he was
taken to st. Mary's Hospital. Surgeon thinner.
man said he thought Ringers skull was frac-
tured.
Otto was held yesterday for examination on
Oct. 8. Miss Haywood was discharged. Nc
Nally was employed by the Henry Braysted
Livery Company at 33l Rutledge street.