The sun., 1919-07-28
DEADIN HOTEL
ROW; DETECTIVE
SLAIN BY ERROR
j. d. Rogers, Waterman at
the San Reno, Murders
Porter.
WATTS FOR EMPLOYER
Mistakes Plain Clothes Man
for Intended Victim
Slayer a Suicide.
WATTS FOR EMPLOYER

After lying in wait three hours yes
.erday to kill Edmund Brennan, owner
OF the San Reno Hotel Central Park
West and Seventy fourth street, John
y. Rogers, a Waterman employed by
the hotel, shot and killed Detective
James Maher OF the West Sixty
eighth street station, installing him
for Brennan.
Detective Maher had been sum-
moned to investigate the murder Of
John McGoidrick, a porter, whom
Rogers had shot in the hotel at
o'clock yesterday morning. After his
second killing Rogers blew out his
brains.
Rogers shot McGoldrick as result
Of feud of long standing that cul-
minated in a bitter quarrel Saturday
night, Brennan says. Brennan had
taken the part OF the porter and told
Rogers to go to bed. Some time after
he had retired to his apartment on the
third floor he heard a shot, and run
ming down stairs found McGoldriok
lead in the basement. with a bullet
through his head. Rogers had dis
appeared.
Brennan returned to his apartment and
called the police. Detective Maher ar
rived and made an investigation, after
which he went to Brennan's rooms to
write out his report
shoots Detective by Mistake.
companied Maher to the door of his
apartment. thanking him for his trouble.
As the detective stepped across the
threshold there was a fash and bullet
whizZed past his head. Almost imme-
diately another shot followed and Maher
fell. shot through the head.
Rogers, who had been hiding in a
closet just outside the door, then ran up
stairs to the fourth floor. pursued by
Brennan and his son-in-law, Lieut.. John
Ludwith. U. s. A. He threw himself
into a chair in the passage and before
the two men could reach him put the pis-
tol to his temple and pulled the trigger.
Brennan and the murdered detective
we're about the same build, wore simila r
clothes and bore a strong resemblance to
each other. There is no doubt that the
shot that killed Maher was intended for
the hotel man, in the opinion of Brennan
ana Lieut.. Ludwfth Rogers no doubt
died believing he had accomplished his
purpose in killing both men with whom
he had quarrelled the night before. He
probably did not know that Detective
Maher was in the hotel and apparently
waited at the door of Brennan's apart
ment to ambush him when he emerged.
Knew Brennan's Habits.
II is the custom OF the hotel man to
leave his home every morning at s
o'clock TO ride in the park, and Rogers.
who knew his habits. waited in the hotel
after shooting McGoldrick instead OF
escaping, as he had every opportunity OF
doing.
Detective Maher was one OF the best
known men on the force. He was 3S
years old and married. Recently he had
purchased home in Woodhaven.
Rogers was also married. He lived at
1875 Crotona place, The Bronx. with his
wife. He had no children. He was a
member OF the police force at one time
and according to policemen OF the Sixty
eighth street station had been attached
to that precinct, but had been discharged
from the force for misconduct. He had
been employed at the San Reno Hotel
for twelve years and according to Bren-
nan had never give any trouble, although
subject to fits OF temper.
The porter, McGoldrick was unmar.
red and lived at the hotel.