The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-17
JOHN sCANNELL'S VENGEANCE.

Copyright. 1901, by Life Publishing Company.
New York City.l
II was registration in December. 1863.
The vote OF the city-the local elections
we're then held late in December-was
making that preliminary answer 10 It's
name required of the law. The Ring. set
to the defeat Of Florence Scannell by all
foul methods since it might not be fairly
brought about, was, with the use of re-
peaters. falsely swelling the registration
wherein TO lay foundation for the final
steal. Florence Scannell. together with
John Scannell. was busily about in ef-
forts to prevent these wrongs of the
Ring.
There was one, Donahue, who kept a
drinking place at Twenty-third street and
Second avenue. This Donahue was him
self OF the Rings Danites. He had killed
his man and nearly slain his second.
His drinking den was a harbor for Ring
criminals.
Donahue had Office ambitions. He ar
gued with dark sagacity that were he TO
remove Florence Scannell, the Rims
would not only protect him from the law
which in that day was the Rings will
but prefer him to some coigne of party
height and fairness.
On registration day Donahue's resort
was made headquarters for these import
ed ''repeaters,' who were TO be used IN
that ward. There were fourscore or more
of these rufflans in the room to the rear
of Donahue's bar. Florence Scannell, &C
companied by John Scannell, on the scent
OF fraud, came into Donahue's. Florence
ScannelI, aware of the whereabouts of the
''repeaters," alb 10 the door OF the
rear room and sought 10 enter. The door
was locked. Donahue stood behind the
bar.
Don't go in there.' cried Donahue to
Florence Scannei as the latter tried the
door.
There was murder in Donahue's heart.
II glowed DULY in his bleary eye, and had
the Scannells been a whit less brave, and
| therefore a bit more cautious, they might
have noted 1t.
Don't go in there" said Donahue.
Florence Scannell, baffied by the locked
door, turned and stood against the bar.
His elbows rested on it; his back was to
the bar n to Donahue. One in the room
with the ''repeaters' unlocked the door.
John Scannel pushed it open and entered
among them. About one hundred men
were therein gathered. The entrance OF
John Scannell fell like a fear upon these
lawbreakers. They deemed him the adj
vance of justice in pursuit of them. With
that, many sought to be rid of the place;
there was a de-. OF commotion; the door
through which John Scannell had entered
was closed in the stampede.
At the top of the hubbub a shot rang
forth in the barroom. John Scannell,
| closed into the rear room. couldn't see
and would only guess the reason of That
firing. Donahue, seizing the safe advan-
tage of Florence Scannells position and
John S~canneli's absence from the scene,
had shot the younger Scannell in the back.
There was no word of warning; between
them passed no looks of difference; muir
der, cold and safe and cowardly it was,
and the victim's first touch of his peril
was a bullet in his back. The effect was
TO paralyze; Florence Scannell slipped to
the floor without falling, and as John
Scannell rushed in, his eyes rested first on
his brother half lying against the base
of the bar. In front of him stood a lesser
thug of the ring.
John Scannell's hand sought his pistol,
a 44-caliber Colts. There was a flash and
a crash: the rims thug fell. shot through
the neck.
John, 1t was Donahue," whispered Flor
ence Scannell.
John Scannell sprang to the front door.
Donahue, fear-spurred. was a block away,
pistol in hand, running with all speed.
To see was to act: an instant and John
Scannell was in pursuit. The glance he
gave his brother as he passed told him that
the latter was wounded to the death.
Whereupon a great hunger OF revenge
| seized him and swallowed him up.
Donahue made what speed he might, but
a vicious life was clogging him.. His pur-
suer. perfect of habit, was hate-winged
The sharp chase of John scanneli was
overwhelming the murderer.
Donahue. whose frightened eye each mo-
ment swept his shoulder, beheld his fate as
1t was descending upon him. Despair had
almost claimed him. There was "a police
Ssn.i9 fo t nsaI at he n would x be De safe; the eo po1ic but
the Ring police-would protect him. They
were allies as well as officers. This thought
energies; they granted strength: he painted
to the door. Scannells pistol cracked. and
Donahue fell in among the police. The
Scannell bullet had shattered an arm 1t
was a long shot: still hate and revenge
nave eyes Of hawks; the bullet reached.
though 1t only wounded.
John Scanned heavy of heart. carried his
brother to the hospital. Then he gave bail
on charges OF shooting both the Ring ruff
nan, whom he mistook for the murderer,
and Donahue. wounded In the door of the
police. Donahue. the assassin of Florence
Scannell, was not arrested. Such was the
hardihood, not to say the power, OF the
Ring.
Florence Scannell lived eight months and
was dying every moment. Paralyzed-for
the bullet had struck his spine-he reposed
on a cot. without motion and while life
wasted ava
Florence Scannell was powerless to move
but he could talk. And each day he be.
sought John Scannell, who hung over him
to cry off that vendetta which he had sworr
against Donahue.
"If you die" said John cannell, "anc
the law doesn't punish Donahue, l shall
have his life. If the law fails, | will my.
self take hat justice which is mine"
For eight months the dying Florence
wrestled with his brother for the life OF
him who was his murderer. But his striv
ings We're OF no avail. The resolves Of
John Scannell had set as relentlessly a:
water-chilled steel. lie would nave If,
for life; an eve for an eye and a tootl
for a tooth. There was something ethnii
In the grim resolve of John Scannell. ane
his gray eyes. soft enough with sympath,
as he bent above his brother, turne,
agate-hard with the first naming Of Don
ahue.
While Florence Scannell. bound TO hi
cot, was dying, the election took Mace