New-York tribune., 1906-12-31
CHURCHG0ERS IN PANIC
MAN FIRES At POLICEMAN
hounds Old Enemy. and Then
Shoots Up" Eighth Auenue.

'"Iom" Cooncy, known to the police as r. MEM
her of the Razor Riley punch, whose MEM
ber. haunt the dark corners OF Helfs Kitchen.
threw the congregation OF the German Catholic
Church Of st. John the Baptist into panic yes
terday morning when he rushed into the crowd
with a smoking revolver in his hand. The con-
gregation was gathered around the church doors
when Cooney appeared, and there was a wild
race for cover. He did net tarry long at the
edihce, but dashed IN Eighth avenue, with a po-
iicenaR in pursuit, at whom he blazed away for
Il halls dozen blocks. Finally, the magazine Of
his revolver became exhausted and then hs
halted and fought with the policernan who ar
rested him only after Cooney had been soundly
clubhed- Coohey says he is a iaborer and that
he lives at No. 3oS West S7th street. but the po-
lice say he never works, and that his place OF
residence frequently changes
William Coyne. OF No. d35 West 10Th street,
and Cconey had unpleasant session some
time ago. and since then they have not been the
best Of friends. Yesterday they renewed old ac-
quaintances at the Tiger. In 9th street. near
Seventh avenue. They had u few drinks and
then adjourned 20 The sidewalk
Cooney suddenly remembered his old grudge
and. pulling out revolver. proceeded to pump
cold lead into his erstwhile friend Coyne went
down before the first shot with a bullet In his
keep = previous engagement over in Eighth ave-
nue.. and started out on a run.
Patrolman O'Dea. on post in Eighth avenue
between 10Th and 30th streets. heard the shots
and ran down the avenue. Cooney got
'lred running and boarded northbound Eighth
avenue car. With the gun still in his hand he
rushed through the car and viewed the scenery
from the front platform beside the motornar
whom he convinced that the was not going
fast enough by firing shot over his head The
car wheels revolved at furious rate--in fact. so
fast that they failed to grip the slippery rails
ana O'Dea gained on the fugitive. Cooney grew
restless Fl the deIay. and when O'Dea drew near
h fired AZ him. The bullet went wide.
Cooney jumped off the car and ran right into
The members Of the congregation who were as
seijlpled around the church. He turned and fired
t"" more shots AT ODea. who then drew his
gun. Men. women and children rushed into the
church and into every place of safety. Cooney
continued his race up Eighth avenue AS
hc became separate ted from the churchgoers
o'Des TOOK two shots at Cooney. but his aim
poor.
Frank Flanagan. Of No 432 West 27th
street. and John Costello, of No. 212 West 32d
street. attempted 10, head off Cooney. He
armed them away and swept his gun around
that he covered both of them. They dropped
into the nearest Basement entrance O'Des was
then close his heels. and Cooney fired his
Iast shot. lie had handful Of cartridges but
while he attempted throw out the empty
shells o'Daa oIosad him and knocked him
down with the hutt Of his revolver. Cooney
vas on his feet in instant Policeman and
fugitive fought despera tey. hut finally Cooney
went DOWN to the sidewalk with all the fight
taken out Of hiE2. a horse attached 10 bakers
wagon became frightened by the shots and
dashed ,n the street until II reached Sixth ave-
ju=. where the animal was stopped
The reserves Of the West :i1th street station
were called out and hurried to the church It
thought some must have been hit by
rhr dying bullets. An investigation showed that
none of the Churchgoers was injured. ODea's
wrist badly cut in the fight.
Several pIain clothes men looked after Cooney
untii d pa troll wagon arrived. Then he was
taken to Roosevelt Hospital. where the surgeons
did considerable work with the needle his
face and scalp. In another part Of the accident
ward was his old friend COyne, who had ar
rived short time before in ambulance. The
surgeons removed the bullet from his leg, but
he viii have remain IA the hospital for sev-
eral days
Look at what the cops done me- said
Cooney later at the West 31th street station.
IF ] get twenty years I'll come out and get
square I'll trim that guy. I suppose I'll go
up with Jimmie Mooney" Mooney is doing"
twenty years in Sing Sing for murder.
ODea has been the force only three years.
loud in their praise Of his pluck. Among them
were Dr.. Leach BindeI. OF No. 362 West 37th
street. and Nathaniel Nathan, OF No. 94S West
?5th street. O'Dea is single man and lives at
20. 529 East 10th street. He has excellent
record.