The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-12-24 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

AMERICAN TRAGEDY.  followThe Nce. I"rk 11,074 f December 3rd, mordi the log frightful tragedy which tookplace ia the City Priron, New York. The perpetrator was an insane man, whose ener• ream of mind was caused by the too free indulgence In the use of strong drinks It appears that on Thursday last, Justice Dodge, of the Jefferson Market police court, committed a man, named John Donovan, for examination on a charge of insanity. The prisoner was taken to the Tombs on the afternoon of Thursday, and was attended by Dr. Simmons, assistant physician to the city prison. The doctor found Donovan suffering from the effects of intemperance ; but he was demented, and appeared to be perfectly harmless. According to the usual custom, Donovan was placed in the long room, on the ground floor of the prison, fronting on Franklin-street, and known as " Bammer's ItalL" Li the same department were about fourteen "ten-day" men, who had been committed for intoxication. Amnng the number were William Kennedy, James WDonald, aed William George. Quiet reigned supreme there till four o'clock yesterday morning, when 'debt watchman Mark Finlay, when absent in that part of the prison occupied by the juvenile delimicents, fronting on Oentreatreet, heard an alarming cry issuing from " Bummer's Hall," followed by persons ahouting "Murder," " Help," " Police," &c. Mr. Finlay hurried to the spot, and looking through the grating saw Donovan in the act of assaulting several of hie fellow-prisoners with the poker, an iron bar some three or four feet in length, and weighing six or seven pcunda Donovan was called upon to stop his bloody work; but he paid no attention to the night watchman. Those prisoners who had not been disabled by the desperate man were running from him and. screaming for help. Being unable to cope single-handed with Donovan, Mr. Finlay ran to the sixth recinct atationhouse for help, when Captain Jordan instantly despatched officers Barr, Crane, Curley, and others to the prizon to assist in securing Donovan. On entering the place where the prisoners were confined, the most sickeniig and horrible sight WAN presented. There lay (1.84 on the floor MD maid and Kennedy, with their skulls crushed in and the brains scattered promiscuously about the roomy while near them *an the prostrate form of Wilffku George, with his skull fractured and apparently in a dying condition. The lunatic, who was still flourishing his murder/owl weapon, had upset the stove, on which he had piled two or three heuchee for the purpose of setting the  Prison on fire. In this he might have succeeded but for the prompt assistance which was at hand to quench the flames. Donovan was called upon to surrender, but, failing to do so, officer Crane fired several shots at him, but without eflect Clue cf the bullets, however, lodged in the right shoulder of George Henry Hill, inflicting a serious wound. At this juncture Donpvan attempted to run up a flight of stairs in the east end of the room, when all the officers present rushed upon him. They applied their locusts freely, and soon succeeded in disarming Donovan, who was taken into a cell, and thus prevented from doing further harm.