The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
KILLED BY A STRAY SHOT,
MICHAEL FITzsIMMoNS MoRrALLp
HURT IN a JERSEY CITY RIOT

Two italian Vyntchmen who Were Drnr.,,.
n Prisoner 60 tho Police station SGT INN,
by n Crowd-YounE Mnstcrii rirc, ma
Michael Fi~tzsimnons, m Outsider. Fan,
Michael Fitzsimmons, 80 years old, Of Al West
13Oth street, this city, was shot and mortallv
wounded about Q p. NJ. yesterday at Jersey
avenue and Grand street, Jersey CITY, Tn.
shooting was done by James Masterli, Of n
Centre street, who fred into a crowd that wa,
attempting to rescue a prisoner from him and
his father, Felix Mnsterli.
Fitzsimmons was only a spectator and WIS no,
taking any part in the attempted rescue.
About q month ago a fro occurred in the len
sey City Chemical Works at 81 Centre street
The works have not been put in operation since
The owners, finding that boys were carryin.
things away from tho building, employed FcliH
Masterli and his son to keep q watch on il. Yea.
tcrday afternoon young Mastcrli, who is II
years old, saw Patrick Gafney OF 400 Grand
street taking some lead pipe out OF the build.
ing and placed him under arrest. Gafncy
resisted, and. being n strong, athletic young
fellow, would probably have escaped had mob
the elder Masterli gono to his sons assistance.
Even then the two Italians had all they could
do to take the prisoner along. He kicked and
struggled, and they had to drag him along. The
route from Centre street to the Gregory street
police station Is through n tenement district.
The sight OF two Italians dragging n struggling
| youth along the sidewalk soon attracted q
crowd. The Italians had no uniform or badge
OF authority, and the sympathy Of the crowd
went out to the prisoner.
The crowd increased rapidly and became
demonstratlve.
Dagoes!' one man shouted.
"Take him away from them!" cried another,
and the crowd began to close in on tho Italians.
They were badly scared, but. they clung 10
encouraged by the sympathy of the crowd. re.
sisted more vigorously than ever. Jersey
avenue and Grand street the leaders Of the
| crowd made a rush toward the Italians. Young
Masterli drew his revolver and the crowd fell
back, but only for q moment
Come on. boys!" one man shouted, "he won't
dare to shootl"
AS the crowd advanced again young Masterli
F~tzsimmons., who was not in the crowd at all.
1t penetrated his left breast just above tho
heart, and he fell. The crowd then made a wild
rush. for tho Italians, and they would have
lice Commissionsr West. The conmissionep
who was on a trolley car. saw the crowd and
jumped off to see what the trouble was. He
displayed his badge and took the Italians under
recognized him.. and kept the others from making
any further demonstration. Commissioner West
went to a signal box and summoned the patrol
wagon and reserves from the Gregory street po.
lice station and an ambulance from the City
Hospital.
The wounded man was taken to the hospital.
He became unconscious shortly after reaching
there, and was unable to give any information
from letters addressed to him at the Excelsior
livery stables, at lis West 12sth street, where
he was employed. He died at 7:45 P. NJ.
The Italians were locked up in the police sta.
against James Masterli. His father Is held az a
witness.