The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-14
POLICEMAN CUT BY negro
Flannelly Called Pickins'
Brother Names and Is
Slashed With a Razor.


Health Officer Thomas Flannelly was
slashed with a razor and almost killed
at 1890 O'Clock this morning by Henry
Pickens. a bad negro. who has frequently
caused the police trouble. The cutting
occurred at Henderson street and Newark
avenue. Pickins gasled Flannelly twice,
| once on the left arm and once on the
| head and neck. The second cut was the
worse of the two. 1t began on the top
of his head, just above the centre Of his
forehead, and wound up below his left
ear. 1t cut the ear IN two and touched
the skull its entire length of over six
inches. F1annelly lost nearly two quarts
Of blood as best they could with tourniqueS
ped. It was twenty-seven minutes after
the assault before q doctor could be
brought to the Gregory street police sta
ton, where Flannelly went after being
hurt.
The floor of the station was covered
with blood. The police stopped the flow
of blood as best they could with torn
and bandages. The wounded man suffered
considerable pain and was growing weak
er each minute, but he never
or complained. He chatted with those
about him and kept his nerve throughout
the trying ordeal. His brother, Police
Sergeant John Flannelly. heard of the aft
fair as he was on his way home after be-
ing relieved at midnight. He hurried to
his brothers side. The cutting of Flan-
nelly occurred at 1880 o'clock. Police
men were sent at once in all directions in
search of a doctor. The patrol wagon
was sent for Doctor Rector, but it CHANGED
that he was al his home on Jersey ave-
nue. instead Of IN the building where his
office is. It was one O'Clock when DR..
Rector finally arrived. It took him half
an hour to sew and bandage the wounds.
Flannelly was conscious all the time.
Flanmelly was in the saloon of John
Kelly, at Henderson street and Newark
avenue, at midnight, Whine a negro stuck
his head in the door. Flannelly knew him
and chaffed him. The fellow got a pint of
beer and went outside. A moment later
Kelly n Flannelly went upon the side
walk. They saw the negro they had been
chatting and another fellow in the street,
picking up cobble stones. Kelly ordered
them to drop the stones. One of them re-
Piled
Il amt going to break no thing, Mr..
Kelly, but Use going to do that man,
Flannelly. for calling me a niger"
Flannelly took the matter any way but
seriously. He knew the negroes and was
in the habit of joking with them. He is
a good naturod fellow. and he did not
think hat the negroes really took offense
at what he said. Kelly thought trouble
was brewing and advised Flannelly to go
into the saloon and get a revolver that
YVES behind the bar. FIannelly turned to-
wards the saloon. AS he did so. another
negro, Plekens. came towards him from
Newark avenue.
What did you call my brother a niger
for?'' he asked.
Before Flannelly eould reply, Pickens,
who had his hand in his pocket, flashed
a razor and made a slash at F1annelly
with it. The health officer put up his
left arm to ward off the blow. The razor
cut the arm, just above the elbow, to the
bone. Pickens then slashed a second time
with the terribly result already describ-
ed. The affair was witnessed by several
persons who were so frightened at the
way the negro handled the razor that
they lost their heads. Pickens ran over
Henderson street after he cut Flannelly.
Nobody followed him. Instead, the
men WIG we're Df EllLl DIT Lit ltIit IQSltGQ
to Police Headquarters, two blocks away
and gaye the alarm. The police of the
Gregory street station, which is in the
same building at Police Headquarters.
were turned out in force to scoir the
neighborhood. 1t was known tina Pick
ems made his home in a negro dive kept
by a woman known as Sarah. at No. 81
Gregory street. Sergeant Solomen sent
two men to the house with Instructions
to arrest everybody found in it, They
returned with eight men and women. The
assailants of Flannelly was not among
them. Policemen in plain clothes and
uniform scattered all over the lower part
cincts and of neighboring cities were no.
titled. Pickens is five feet seven inches
tail and Of medium build: He is about
he has a scar. He has little side whis-
kers.
Pickene was arrested shortly before five
O'clock this morning, by Patrolman Cos
teilo, Of the C~otnmunipaw avenue station.
He saw aim IN the negro quarter, on
Sackett street, near CommunipaW avenue.
The negro had changed his clothes, and at
first Costello was In doubt as to his iden-
tity. The description answered in every
other respect, however, SO he arrested the
fellow. Pickens tried to brazen it out
that he was not the man. He gave the
at the police station.
we will soon find out who you are"
said Costello: " will send for Detec-
tive I~sarkins.''
IF you are going to send for Larkins,',
~rejo.ned the prisoner, Il may as well give
in, for he knows me. [ am Pickens."
Pickens was arraigned before Police
Justice Neyin In the First Criminal Court.
this morning. and was held without bail
to await the result OF Flannelly's in
juries.