The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-23

A cheap gold ring was the cause of
a quarrel yesterday afternoon in North
Scranton between two young men,
neither of whom have as yet attained
their majority, and as the result of
this quarrel Dennis Lally, one of the
young men, lies at his home on Put
nam street, with four bullet holes in
his body and only a fighting chance
for life, while the other, Thomas Mof-
fatt is a fugitive from justice, with
the gloomy prospect of being arrested
and perhaps standing trial for murder,
staring him in the face.
Lally is but eighteen years old and
Moffatt but nineteen years. Lally
lives with his mother, a widow, at 403
Putnam street, while Moffatt resides
with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. John
Moffatt, on the 500 block of Brick ave-
nue., near the corner of Putnam street.
Both work in the mines and have
Travelled in each others company for
several years. According to the story
told a Tribune man, late yesterday
afternoon by Lally, as he lay propped
up with pillows in his bedroom, Mof-
fatt was intoxicated on Saturday
while in his Ually's) company.
They walked up near the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western tracks at
the Won Storch shaft, and Moffatt,
laying down, fell asleep. Lally says
that Moffatt had a gold ring on his
finger of which he was very proud,
and that while he was sleeping a
stranger came along and removed this
ring.
ACCUSED LALLY OF THEFT.
Lally said that when Moffatt awoke
and found the ring missing he accused
him of stealing it. This Lally vigor-
ously denied and let the matter drop
for the time being. At any rate the
two met on the street yesterday after
noon shortly after / o'clock and the
quarrel was again renewed.
Moffatt charged Lally with being a
thief and Lally denied having had
anything to do with the ring. The dis
cussion became very animated and fin
ally mutual agreement was reached
providing for an adjustment of the
difficulty in fair and open fist fight
in the open field back of the Won
Storch mine, and known as the Won
Storch field
Lally is a strong hearty young man,
very we'll proportioned and heavily
built and, of course thought he had
very fair chance with Moffatt, who
is smaller and not so strong. He did
not know. however, that the latter was
determined not to fight fair, and that
he had a loaded revolver in his pocket
ready to use.
The two contestants started out for
the field, followed by several other
young men, all about the same age,
who were desirous of seeing the fight
Among these were James Gallagher
Andrew McCurran, William Scanlon
and Thomas Duffy.
According to the stories told by all
of these, Lally took off his coat upon
arriving on the battle ground, and just
as he turned to meet Moffatt the latter
without warning, drew a revolver from
his back pocket and fired.
FELL AT FIRST SHOT.
At the first shot Lally fell and Mof.
fatt, it is alleged, walked up to him and
fired three more shots into his body as
he lay on the ground helpless. He kept
one shot in the gun to save himself Il
attacked, presumably and started or
run off the field toward the WeS
mountain.
Several of the young men started
after him, whereupon he stopped anC
warned them not to come near him OF
he would fire. This cowed the others
and they allowed him to make away
over the fields without further moles
| tation.
In the meantime, some of the others
who had seen Lally shot, rushed to hi:
assistance and he was assisted to hi.
home, being able, in spite of hi!
wounds, TO walk. He weakened, how
ever when the house was reached anC
had to be carried to his bed.
DR.. j. +. Stanton was immediatelS
summoned, and upon his arrival founC
that all four shots had taken effect
One bullet passed entirely through tht
body, entering the back, between tht
fourth and fifth ribs, and coming ou
in front, just one-quarter of an incl
below the apex of the heart.
The left lung was pierced by thi
bullet. Another bullet took effect i,
the right arm, below the elbow, whil
a third was lodged in the left arm n
the elbow joint, The fourth was lodged
in the left leg, just above the knee.
The bullets in the arms were re
| ihoNSu' DuI lldl III JIe IeB COulu no
be found. Those extracted were of s.
calibre. The wound in the chest Il
the dangerous one. DIR. Stanton stat
ed to a Tribune man last night tina
he thought the young mans chances o
recovery were very slight.
Lally himself when seen said tina
he had agreed with Moffatt to have ;
fair and open fist fight and that as h
turned to put up his fists the latte
pulled the revolver and fired.
The police were notified of the affai