New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-25
Iohn F. McCann, Brutally
Beaten with Axe, in Criti-
cal Condition atHospital.
CLUNG TO WATCH
THIEF HAD SEIZED
Police Working on Theory That
Murder, Not Robbery, Was
Motive for Assault.

While the rumble Of a passing ex'
..,.s train drowned all sounds of an
,+,sek. John Franklin McCann- a linen
rsy,hsrt seventy-four years old. was
k.,,ep irsensible and robbed last even
;,S in the lavstory Of the downtown
,ubwsy station at SiIty-sixth street
Y, vas struck three times upon the
h,,d. and with six cuts in his head and
another on his right hand wss taken
"a the Polytechnic Hospital, His asssil-
ant who was not identified, escaped.
NeCann had left "a White Street
where he and his son, Francis j., are
I, ,be linen business under the name
AZ John NcCann & Co., and, according
"a the police, had boarded a southbound
loeal at Ninety-siXth Street. lie
,rgb,ed AZ 5 Sxty-sixth, intending to
w.t through Central Park TO his home
ats East Sixty-siXth Street, as was his
custom. II
his hands As he was bending over the
hasip he was struck on the head with
A blunt instrument. Turning 20 defend
himself he received more blows. while
Iis assailant dressed in working
,lothes. did not utter g word. As the
tvo cIinched the man seized McCann's
cold yatcn and the heavy link chain 70
which II was attached and started 10
fee. McCann caught him, and blows
then rained upon his head and hands.
Near By is the porter's room, and
here later the police found a blood
stsineda ye. IL is their theory that the
vould-be assassin-for they thlnh there
was another motive than robbery
threw the weapon into the closet, ran
Nd 10 the street and escaped.
How McCann came TO be upon the
downtown platform, when he usually
vent from his Office to the station ana
then home through the park, his family
was unable 10 tell last night
At the hospital 1t was found tha'
three Of the six scalp wounds McCann
had sustained were deep, as well as the
one upon his hand, and the physicians
feared he might have fracture OF the
skull. Or. William Sharpe, consulting
surgeon Of the hospital, announced
that en- operation would probably be
performed TO save the mans hte, but
that his condition would not permit II
yet.
NeCann got a good view Of his as
ssilsnt and in the hospital gave the
police a description. He said the man
was appareutly an Italian, about thlrty
Years old. FIVE feet seven lnches tali,
weighing 15O pounds and with smali
black moustache. He wore black
derby hat and a brown working suit
and vas unshsven.
SECOND Deputy Commissioner FRANK
Lord took charge Of the case last nlghI'
He visited the McCann home 10 obtain
the make, number and particulars OF
the watch that was stolen. II is be-
Neyed that this is one clew by whlch
the police can trace the assailant.
NeCann. in the hospital, was exam
med by Captain Cooper, but the latter
said later that he had inquired only
about The main facts, not wishing 10
disturb the wounded man.
Phiip Hendrick. Of 30l West 1OIth
Street. the ticket seller at the station,
heard NcCann's Rroans. on the plat
form, where he had fallen after Crap
ping with his assailant, and gave the
darn that brought Patrolman McNaIIy
TO the station. j,
Within half an hour detectives had
,rrived and made photographs OF the
walls floor and door Of the room, all
o. which showed finger prints.
Neither Mrs McCann nor her son or
daughter would discuss the attack last
night, and even Deputy Commissioner
LORD was not permitted TO see the Wiie,
for she was deeply affected by her
husbands misfortune.