New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-03
POLICEMAN SHOOTS, WIFE.
SURGEON DECLARES MAN ON THE
VERGE OF DELRIUM TREMENS.
MOTHER-IN-LAW AND THREE CHILDREN
SEE THE ACT - HE ADMITS THAT
DRINK CAUSED THE CRIME

John J. O'Brien. a patroIman attached to the
Fifty-sixth precinct. at Classon and De Kalb
aves.. Brooklyn. shot and instantly killed his
wife Minnie. yesterday afternoon, in their home.
No. 1853 East Thrty-fourth- St. Brooklyn. Mrs.
O Brien's mother and the three children of the
murdered woman-twO girls. six and four years
old respectively and a boy two and half years
old--w3tnessed the shooting. OBrien was in
toxfcated and an ambulance surgeon who eX-
amined him later declared that he was on the
verge of delirum tremens. The policeman ad-
mitted there was no other reason for the
she oting
O Brien is forty-two years old. and his wife
was fifteen years his junior. They had been
married eight years. and had always lived to-
gether happily. Yesterday his short day,
and he came home to dinner. He took from his
pocket his revolver and laid it carefully on the
manteIpiece with his club. He seemed to be in
a pleasant frame of mind during the meal but
when Re had finished he arose and exclaimed:
We'll. I'm through for the day.
Why. no. you're not John" said Mrs. O'Brien.
You must go back to work"
O'Rrien quietly put on his coat and helmet
Then he reached for his pistol. pointed it at his
wife, ard. without the least warning, fired Inc
bullet penetrated the lobe of her left ear ana
entered the brain. Mrs. O'Brien dropped to the
floor and died instantly The policeman then
ran into the street with the smoking revolver
in his hand. closely followed by his terrified
mother-fn-law and the three children. all
screaming.
Policeman Fury, who lives near by, heard
the screams and ran into the street just in time
to intercept the liquor crazed O Brien. Fury.
after desperate struggle, succeeded in Wrestling
the pistol from O Brien, and with the assistance
of some of the neighbors finally got him to the
Grant-st police station. where he was placed
under arrest and locked up. Captain knpe, Of
the Grart-st station. then started nsinvestiga-
tiol Katherine L. O Bren. the sx-year-old
daughter Of the policeman. first questioned
by him.
Papa took his revolver and pointed 1t at
mammals head and ii made n noise, she SAID
Mrs O'Brien : mother cannot conceive of any
reason for the shooting. She told captain
Knipe that OBren had been drinking heavily
for a long time ,
At the Grant-st. cation O'Brien raved all
afternoon in his CO. TO Captain knlpe ne
said: -
Il shot my wife but I didn't mean II. She
has been more than a wife 10 me, and don
know why | shot her"
CAPTAIN Knipe declares that O OBren has been
q dr,inkard nearly all his life. Ambulance sur
geon Duryea. of the Kings County Hospital. VINO
examined Mrs. O'Brien. was afterWard caHed 10
the station and declared that the officer was on
the verge of dnlirium tremens.
This Is the second time within the last SIX
months that 4 Brooklyn poiceman-has shot hts
wife John Ennis patrolman attached 10 the
kdams-st station who shot his wife not far
from the home Of the O'Briens. and at the same
time dangerously wounded his motheT-tn-law Is
nov awaiting trial FOR murder. DBi1en VIII pe
sent TO Join him in Raymond-st jail to-day