New-York tribune., 1919-07-28
Watcll111anKills
Two; Ends Life
In Hotel Feud
Angered by Dispute Over
Length of Vacation, Man
Stays Porter and Detec-
tive Sent to Arrest Him

A trlfiing dispute arising over the
matter of vacation between Judson
Rogers, night watchman, at the San
Reno Hotel, Seventy-ffth Street and
Central Park West, and John Nc
Coldrick, porter, ended yesterday in
the killing of McGoldrick and Detective
James Maher and the suicide of
Rogers.
:. The shooting of Maher, say the po,
lice, came about through his striking
resemblance to Edmund Brennan, the
proprietor of the hotel, whom the
watchman had planned to kill.
The triple shooting, which occurred
at 5:3O in the morning. reused the en-
tire hosiery, causing many persons to
rush scantily clad about the Railways.
The affair, Mr.. Brennan told the po-
lice, started through an argument of
long standing between the twatchman
and the porter, the latter having de-
clared that he wasn't being justly
treated as to the length of his vaca-
ton.
McGoldrick, Brennan said, COM
planned to him of the matter Saturday
night, but the proprietor advised him
not to discuss it any further with the
watchman.
Rogers Hears of Action
Rogers, hearing of the porters &C.
tion and believing his employer sided
with McGoldrick, intimated to other
employees of the hotel that if he lost
his position through the porter he
would clean out the whole place."
He also had informed his wife of his
troubles.
At $3.50 o'clock Bridget Genner,
maid, found the body of McGoldrick
of fNO @c Al
She Immediately informed Brennan,
who telephoned for the police. De-
tective Maher, of the West Sixty
eighth Street police station, was as
signed to investigate. No one, Mr..
Brennan informed Maher, had seen
the watchman about the place, and it
was assumed that he had fed
After the detective had telephoned
to headquarters description of
Rogers with an alarm for his appre-
hension Mr.. Brennan suggested that
Maher go up to his apartment on the
third floor to wash his hands. Maher
j. Ledwith, a brother-in-law of Bren-
nan, and had started out of the apart
ment when he was shot behind the ear,
the bullet lodging in the brain. Maher
dropped dead.
Mistaken Identity Costs Life
The watchman had concealed himself
in a closet just outside the door of Bren-
mans apartment and was awaiting the
appearance Of the proprietor. Brennan
is sure that the watchman mistook the
detective for himself
With the arrival of Detective Golden,
Mahers partner, a systematic search
of the hotel was begun for the mur-
derer The guests, aroused by the
shooting, were rushing here and there.
With Detective Golden and Brennan
in the lead, the searchers, including
many residents of the hotel, crept from
floor to floor, dodging here and there
at the slightest sound.
As they reached the fourth floor the
watchman was discovered sitting in
chair near the elevator. He was smil-
ing, said Brennan, and held the re-
volver at his side. Golden and Bren-
nan rushed him, and as they came
within few fcct'of him he lifted the
revolver to MS heart, and with a smile
pulled the trigger.
lived with his wife at 1881 Cro.ona
Place, The Bronx. His wife said yes
terday that he led model life, neither
drinking nor smoking, and that he had
always treated her we'll She said he
was irritable and inclined to become
aroused on the slightest provocation.
He was formerly Pinkerton de-
tective, but became clerk at the San
Reno twelve years ago.
Detective Maher was thirty-fvc years
old and had been on the police force
ten years. He was married and had
just purchased a new home for his wife
in Woodhaven, l.. /. Captain of Detec-
tivcs Thomas Walsh said he was one
Of the best men in the service.