The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-04
WatChman Hits Saloon
keeper by Mistake
in Quarrel.
GOLDEN FLEES, BUT
SURRENDERS LATER
Fishing Trip Develops Into
Tragedy When Bystander
Scoffs at Stories OF Catch.
PATRICK j. O'BYRNE
IN CRITICAL CONDITION
Bullet Fired Through Window of
His Place Struck Him in
Right Breast.

In his effort 10 shoot the man who
mad doubted his remarkable tales of
phenomenal sport on the fishing banks,
former Policeman John r. Golden of
As Hunterdon street, unsteady from
all that goes with a fishing excursion,
shot and seriously wounded his best
friend, Patrick J. O'Byrne, early today
In the latters saloon at 434 Bank street
Golden and one of O'Byrne's custom
ers had quarrelled because the Gus
toner doubted Goden's description of
the excellent fishing. O'Byrne sought
TO eject Golden a second time, and
Golden tried to shoot the customer over
his friends shoulder and the bullet hit
O'Byrne,
Golden escaped Immediately after the
shooting, and after beng sought for
ten hours he drove to police headauar
ters in a coach with his brother in-laW
and surrendered himself
. Byrne is in the City Hospital, but
the bullet has, not been removed as
yst, as the surgeons will be unable to
locate it until the X-Ray is used. Hope
was expressed at the hospital that the
,Inan would recover unless blood pol
jfsonine should follow.
Began with Joke.
O'Byrne and Golden, who had been
friends for several years, spent yester-
day at the fishing banks, and returned
home about 4:30 o'clock, each having
a good catch of fish. They separated
near. their homes, and that was the
last OByrne saw of Golden until about
q ho lot
who is night watchman for number
of private houses in Clinton avenue.
walked in and asked for a drink. There
were several others in the place at the
tip1e O'Byrne and Golden began to
talk about their good luck at fishing,
when one of the bystanders broke into
the conversation and began to Jolly
the fishermen.
Golden took offense at the remarks
and threatened to whip the man who
was doing the ridicullng. When
|, O'Byrne saw that Golden took offense
Vat the remarks he advised him to go
home and have some sleep, because he
had been up the day before. The sa-
loon keeper escorted Golden to the door
and said good night to him.
In a few minutes Golden returned and
appeared to be very much excited and
demanded an apology from the man
WI O maze fun of him. O'Bryne again
solleas I'd ~liiet Golden, and after lit
tie tusse succeeded in getting him out
on the sidewalk.
O.Byrne closed the door and was in
the act of locking 1t when he saw Col
den pull revolver from his pocket and
shove 1t against the glass in the door.
He tried to dodge cut of the way. As
he did Golden fired. The bullet crashed
through the glass and struck the saloon
Keeper in the right breast
The saloon keeper staggered back into
the saloon and sat down on q chair.
The men in the place became terror
stricken and were wondering what 70
do when DIR. p. M. O'Reilly, of 20S Lit
tleton avenue, who was returning from
q sick call, walked in. He made Il
hasty examination and found that the
wound was not mortal He notified the
City Hospital a half block away and in
few minutes the saloon-keeper was in
the receiving room of the institution
The surgeons probed for the bullet and
while they could not find 1t they learned
that 1t had not penetrated the lungs.
Mrs. Golden Faints.
When the police went to his home
and informed Mrs. Golden of the
shooting she tainted Mrs. Golden told
the police that she had not seen her
husband since 7:30 o'clock last night,
when he left home to go to work as
night watchman in Clinton avenue.
O'Byrne told DR.. OReilly he felt sure
that Golden did not intend to shoot
him, as he and John had been warm
friends for years.
Mrs Golden today said she was sat-
isfied her husband did not intend to
shoot anybody, but had fired to frighten
the men in the saloon.
Golden was a policeman until about
four years ago, when he was dismissed
for being found off duty in Engine
Company No. SIS house, at Ferry and
Fillmore streets, with another officer