New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-08
WILLIAM J. MORAN CUT.
By EAST SIDE RUFFIAN.
Mayors assistant Secretary Hurt
Defending W0maR.

William ]. Moran, assistant secretary TO Mayor
Low familiarly known to City Hall frequenters as
Billy Moran. slashed in the thigh last night
by one of a crowd OF ruffans who frequent the
neighborhood of Madison and Catherine sts. His
injury was not serious and after having it
dressed by private physician he went to
his home. With Moran at the time was Louis
Snyder OF No Sc Catherine-st. He was cut in the
back of the neck. The wound dressed by DR..
Batcheder. of the Gouverneur Hospital, and then
Snyder went home
Moran and Snyder were talking when old
woman who frequents the neighborhood begging
pennies here and there. went past a crowd of young
fellows standing in front of a saloon. They
mostly Italians, and began tormenting the woman.
She demonstrated, but TO effect, and was being
rather roughly handled when Moran and Snyder
interfered in her behalf.
One of the rufians seemed about to strike Moran
when. the police say. the assistant secretary
Knocked him down. This signal for the crowd
pitch into Moran, and it did so with vengeance
Snyder tried TO help his companion keep back the
crowd, but the two saw in moment that they were
far outnumbered and that their safety depended
their getting away. Then the big crowd that had
gathered parted and gave the two a chance to
get away. They darted through the opening. with
half dozen of the following in close pursuit
Two of them drew knives. and one of them made
vicious slash at Moran as he tried 10 get out OF
reach TlseTktgife polnt draw dOwi and across
his thigh. cutting the clothing and making flesh
wound of some length. The blood flowed freely, but
the cut is not dangerous
At the time of the crowd had succeeded
in getting close TO Snyder and raised knife to
strike Some one shouted for him TO jump, and the
cry caused Snyder to duck his head and jump Off
the sidewalk The knife struck above the collar
and inflicted severe cut the back of the neck:
The crowd shouted for the police, and several
patrolmen appeared on the run. Then the Italians
fled. In, the fight the beSgar woman and several
children were knocked down and trampled
Detective McCiee, of the Madison station sent
for an ambulance, but Secretary Moran declined
that assistance and went instead to DR.. Joseph s. ].
Manning. No. 19 Oliver-st.. where he was cared
for, going home afterward. He refused to talk
about the case.
At a late hour last night it was believed that the
assault on Mr. Moran committed by members
OF the Cherry Hill gang. which has carried on a
Wild West conflict with the Monk Eastmans
for many months; several lives have been lost in
the skirmshes and a reign of terror created in the
lower East Side
The police were reticent concerning the case and,
although IL was declared that the man injured was
Assistant Secretary Moran, il later admitted
b. the police that he gave the name of Matthew
Dobbtns. and the address No. los MadisOn-st.
Matthew, "Matty," Dobbns is a confidential
clerk to Mayer Low, and is probably as well
known as Billy Moran but the police declare he
was not with the assistant secretary last night.