New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-18
SHOT AS WOMEN RAN
Rivals Meet in a Port Jefferson
Street-0ne Dies from Wound.
ALLEGED SLAYER ARRESTED
Victim Told Father a Stranger
Fired Shot-At Hospital He
Said 1t Was an Accident

John McCracken. t~e1ty-one years oi4
son of James Mc'racker. Of No. Is Vim.
street Richmond Hill. died yesterdav =,
St Mary-s Hospital. Jamaica. from a MIS-
tol shot wound which he said was IN
ficted 1T Port jefferson. Long Island
Thursday night by Jobn =. Leary Of So
tauket Long island. T.eary is under ar
resr
Mystery surrounds the shooting 5ut :,
Is believed rivalry over 4 young married
woman is ~ the bottom Of the troubs
Both Young mon and MANY others rbo
live At Port jefferson tried 20 shield her
name
WcCracken. who was a singer in cEu1rcs
cnoirs. had been in the habit 90 camp-
ing at Port Jefferson each fail with sew
er4l Young men Whsr the7 broke ans
about two weeks ago. no went 20 work N
the village at 6;riswoI1's machine shors
Last S1Inda5- no visited his home and told
his brother Robert. that 10 had i1h
for him in Port jefferson Robert accom-
panied him there Monday morning and
went 80 work
Thursday night McCrackeu and I.ea-v
and two women who said 70 have
been Mrs. Ella Gay and Mrs. Julia Smith
weller. were in front OF Aiphena Han IN
Port Jefferson There was quarrel be-
tween the young men. and two shots rang
out NcCracken reeIed and fell The
women ran away. Leary ran In another
direction -
The CROWD that collected found only the
brothers, and they declined, it is said. 20
give any details Of the affair Later the
Injured young man was taken 20 the home
Of a physician. where he was subjected 20
an examination under x-rays- The ply
sIciau said there was no bullet in ais
body.
Friday evening James McCracken re-
cefved word from Robert that he and john
were coming to Jamaica and that he
wanted his father to meet them ar ths
train The father met them and John said
ne was suffering from cramps. He was
taken 10 a saloon and induced 70 drink some
whfskev. As he did not improve an ambu-
ance was sent for and he was taken 70 H
Marv's Hospital. On the way he told Dr.
HvIand. the ambulance surgeon. that ne
was not suffering from cramps, but had
been accidentally shot in the abdomen.
Later he told his father that he had seen
a man walking ahead Of him on the street
In Port Jefferson on Thursday evening. and
that the man had turned 70 him and de-
manded why he was following him He
renI'ed that he was not following him.
whereupon the man, who he said was John
L. Leary, had pulled a pistol, shot twice
and then Jumped on his wheel and made OF
NV son did not tell me OF the shooting
at first. as he believed It might worry hts
mother" said James McCracken lat
evening.
Ieary was arrested yesterday by Deputy
Sheriff Orlando Davis at the home OF for
mer Judge William w. Watson, by whom
he was employed He was taken before
Justice William c. Beale, charged WITH
murder in the second degree. The hearing
was adjourned to September 2. Mrs GsT
and Mrs Smthweller were IN the court
room. having been subpoenaed as witnesses
Iearv was sent TO the Rfverhead Jail
According to Justice Beale's informative
the McCracIen boys were on the street ae-
ccmpanied by Mrs. Gay and Mrs. Smith
weller. They met LeaTy. and there was
stormy scene when the McCrackens learned
of an alleged engagement made by their
companions with Leary and another man
The shooting was the outcome Of the dis
pute.
Il know really nothing about the shcef-
Ing" said Mrs. Gay, when asked to tell
what she knew. when the fraCsS besas
my companion and ran away
Mrs. Snithweller declined 10 talk