New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-07
LUNATTC STABS TWINS.
ONE OF THE VICTIMS DIES; OTHER
SAVED BY A BUCKLE.

SAVED BY A BUCKLE.
A man who for years has been recognized as
Of unbalanced mind. but who was considered not
dangerous and was permitted to roam at large,
subject to the ridicule of boys and thoughtless
men, and often infuriated by that Iidicule,
stabbed two men. one of them fatally at Cliff
ton. Staten Island yesterday morning.
The alleged homicide is William Fitzpatrick,
thirty years old of Virginia-ave.. Rosebank,
Staten Island. and the victims are Richard Ger
den. twenty-one years old, of Forest-ave., Ridge
wood Heights Brooklyn. and his twin brother
Louis Gerden, of No. Columbia Place, Brook
lvn. The life OF the latter was saved by the
fact that the knifeblade struck the buckle Of
his suspenders before entering his body
Richard Gerden was employed by and lived
with F. w. Stedderfedt. baker, who supplies
many Staten Island grocers with pumpernickeI
bread. He was to have married his employers s
daughter next Monday. Louis Gerden drove
the Staten Island delivery wagon until year
ago. when he found other employment, and
Richard took his place. Louis yesterday accom-
panied Richard on his route. .=4
ASKED FOR SOME MONEY,
A delivery had been made at the store OF Ed
ward Hemmes, at No 46 New -York-ave.. about
IL o'clock yesterday morning, and Richard was
returning to the wagon. in which Louis was
seated when he encountered Fitzpatrick Louis
afterward told a reporter for The Tribune that
Fitzpatrick asked his brother for money and
when it was refused squared off for a hight
Richard laughed at him and started for the
wagon when Fitzpatrick drew a knife and
drove it into his side.
Fitzpatrick. who is a short heavily built man.
has long. heavy and hushy black beard He
is proud of it. and declares that the Gerden
boys made fun of II.
1t is said that Richard had been in the habit
of giving Fitzpatrick small sums of money. and
it is believed by the Coroner and police that he
taunted him. Louis was the only witness, and
he says Fitzpatrick was not taunted.
When he saw Richard stabbed Louis spranS
from the wagon and attacked Fitzpatrick. The
latter made a drive with his knife at Louis's
breast. An instant later he was knocked down
by a blow from Louis and the knife was
wrenched from his grasp. Louis turned TO see
If Richard was badly hurt when Fitzpatrick
scrambled to his feet and fed easterly along
New-York-ave. Louis at once gave chase and
Richard followed with his hand over a wound
in his left side, from which the blood was
gushing.
RUNS SWIFTLY AWAY.
Louis abandoned the chase after Fitzpatrick
when he found the latter Outfooting him. He
assisted in carrying Richard to the Coroner's
office. where he died a few minutes later
Louis was hurried TO the Smith Infirmary The
knife blade had dented the buckle on his sus-
penders, had cut through the heavy suspender
itself and entered his left breast just in front
of the heart.
Patrolman Cunningham followed Fitzpatrick
to his home and arrested him without difficulty
The prisoner arraisned before Justice
Forker. in the Second District magistrates
court, at o'clock, on a chargt of manslaughter
in the first degree. While in court Fitzpatrick
continued TO talk about his splendid whiskers
declaring that the Gerden boys had made fun
of them. He repeatedly said:
IF had not killed one of them they would
have killed me-
When Louis Gerden entered the courtroom
the prisoner restrained with difficulty He
was committed until this morning without bail
Louis Gerden made a charge of assault in the
first degree against the prisoner.
An autopsy showed that the knife blade had
trated the heart. The knife has long. curved
dagger-like blade.
FATHER DRIVES AMBULANCE
Fitzpatrick is a son of Policeman James Fitz-
patrick, one of the oldest members of the Staten
Island force. He was on duty at Headquarters
when the stabbing occurred and drove the
ambulance which conveyed Louis Gerden TO the
hospital He collapsed when he heard who the
stabber was After locking his son up he was
relieved from duty.
The prisoner has occasionally become violent
and on three or four occasions has driven the
members of his family from their home He was
once committed 10 an asylum for short time
His mother died in an insane asylum