The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-29

A mothers anger over an alleged as
sault on her 17-year-old daughter. re-
suited in an attempted murder in Alder
man NJ. j. Ruddy's office yesterday
afternoon, and but for the prompt ac-
tion Of Constable j. NJ. Sheffield,
much different story might have to be
told.
A shot from a revolver in the hand
Of Mrs. Declan Kenealy just lgrazed
Thomas Downs head, and lodged in the
wall beside him. AS the woman was
raising her arm for a second shot, Shef-
field caught hold of her and wrenched
the weapon from her hand.
The shooting was the outcome of an
alleged criminal assault by Downs on
Johannah, the T-year-old daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Kenealy. Downs resides
with his wife on Irving avenue, in
South Scranton, and left his home on
Monday morning to look after some
coal he had picked.
He says he passed by the Kenealy
home and spoke to the members of the
family, and shortly afterwards the girl
came along the road in the direction in
which Downs was going, and asked him
If he would show her where to obtain
some empty cans to use as flower pots.
Downs Accused.
Downs says he pointed out a place to
her, and did not notice her again until
he was returning home. Later in the
day Mrs Kenealy went to the Downs
home and told Mrs. Downs that the
girl accused Downs of committing an
assault on her.
When Downs returned home his wife
asked him about what had happened
and he denied the accusation, and
offered to call in physician to ex-
anime the girl. In the evening Mrs. w.
3. Duggan, of the Associated Board of
Charities, was informed of the circum-
stances.
She went to the Kenealy home, and
learned from the parents that the girl
is weak-minded, and advised them to
drop the matter, and send the girl to
the Hillside Home. 1t was apparent to
her, however, that the parents We're
considerably wrought up over the al
legged assault and believed the girls
story.
The father went before Alderman
Ruddy and had a warrant issued for
Downs arrest on the charge Of GRIMM
ally assaulting the girl. The warrant
was served, and the hearing arranged
for yesterday afternoon.
Both parties to the suit were seated
in the alderman's office waiting for him
to return from luncheon, when the
shooting occurred. Downs was sitting
between the door leading to the alder
mans private office and railing,
which separates the spectators from
the witnesses at hearings.
Shot at Downs.
Directly back of him sat his wife, and
a few feet further back Mrs. Kenealy
sat. On the opposite side of the aisle
sat the girl and her father. Mrs. Downs
arose from where she was sitting and
crossed over to the other side Of the
room and took another seat in front of
Mr.. Kenealy.
IhlS left an open space between Mrs.
Kenealy and Downs. only a chair and
the railing separating them. AS soon
as Mrs. Downs changed her seat, Mrs.
Kenealy sprang to her feet. and walk
ing a few steps towards Downs. drew
a 32-calibre revolver from her breast,
and fired point-blank at him.
During all this, not a word was
spoken on either side. but when the
shot rang out, everything was in an
uproar. Several women in the room
screamed. and Constable Sheffield, who
was sitting few feet away from where
Mrs. Kenealy sat, sprang forward and
caught the woman's arm as she was
about to fire the second shot.
He disarmed her, and later handed
the revolver over to the alderman. 1t
contained five cartridges and one empty
shell. The ball fired lodged in the wall
an inch or two from Downs head, and
the plastering fell on his shoulder. He
was not injured, but was frightened so
badly that he almost collapsed.
The father of the girl deplored the
bad aim his wife had, and made threats
to kill Downs. The mother also threat
ened to shoot him on the first oppor-
tunity that offers itself
Kenealys Arrested.
Downs caused the arrest of Mr.. and
Mrs. Kenealy for attempting to kill
him and making threats to kill. Owing
to the excitement, Kenealy. his wife and
Downs were sent to police headquarters
to await hearings. The girl threatened
to kill herself if her mother was sent
to Jail, but was persuaded not to do so.
The hearing in both cases will be
conducted by Alderman Ruddy in his
office this morning.