Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1892-04-23 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

MURDERED BY A CONVICT.  Overseer James Bloomer, of the Eastern Penitentiary, Philadelphia, died a few days ago as a result of a terrible thrust from a knife wielded by convict McCue. For the first two years after his arrival at the penitentiary McCue behaved tolerably well, and Warder Cassidy took him out of his cell, and made him a runner—that is, an aid in .distributing the food supplied to the prisoners—and, although he had not attempted violence up to the time the stabbing occurred, yet, Warder Cassidy said, he was violent at times, and when he came into contact with other inmates be was disposed to be quarrelsome. On the morning of the Sabbath on which the murder occurred, Samuel Bickel, an overseer, while passing McCue's cell greeted him with a pleasant "good morning," but the convict made no reply. Then, while Bickel was dipping up some coffee to give the prisoner, the latter, who had broken into pieces his shoemaker's stone, threw one of them at the man, striking him. Overseer Mahedy walked down the corridor and asked McCue what was the matter, and he replied with an oath and a threat to kill Bickel. Mahedy then put the chain on the door, which left the latter open about eight or 10 inches. In the evening while Overseer Mahedy was serving supper he noticed smoke coming from the edges of the door of McCue's cell, and the odour was that of burning straw. He told the warder of the matter and also of McCue's behaviour towards Bickel. McCue had also broken the furniture in his cell, and the warder decided to take the furniture from him. To do that it was necessary first to get McCue out of his cell, and the warder detailed off Bloomer and other overseers for that purpose. On reaching the cell, Mahedy, addressing McCue, saide "Bill, we want you to come out," but he replied with an oath that he would kill the first one who entered. He held in his hand a piece of soapstone and a shoemaker's knife, and several of the overseers went to the rear of the cell to attract McCue's attention, so that the others could get in. After further persuasion, McCue decided that he would go out with two warders, provided he was given an assurance that he would not be harmed. Warder Cassidy, who had gone along with the overseers, gave the assurance, and all withdrew to some distance excepting the two. McCue then put his head out of the cell door, and seeing the other over• seers, said they wanted to club him, but he laid the stone down, put the knife in his pocket, came out and walked betwee,- the two overseers. As they walked to the end of the corridor McCue asked, "What are you going to do with me ? " and lie was told, "We are going to put you in an empty cell; you have been raising a tremendous row to-day." He replied, "This is treachery." Mahedy said, "No, everything is fair and square." At this moment Bloomer came down the corridor, and as he passed the overseers he remarked "fourth block," meaning that there was an empty cell there, but its meaning was not apparent to McCue,who immediately turned round, whipped out his knife, and sprang at Bloomer. The overseers rushed to seize McCue, and Thomas Royds tried to take the knife from the prisoner, and, in doing so, received a slight cut on the hand, and a thrust which went through his coat and vest, and Mahedy received three cuts on the neck. Bloomer was taken to one of the rooms of the penitentiary, where death ensued.  Constable Feeny, of the Royal Irish Constabulary. committed suicide at a Protection Post near Broadfort, county Cork, on Monday, by shooting himself with his rifle. He had been many years in the force. No motive for the act is known.  Mr. R. Louis Stevenson is gaining great influence in Samoa among the natives, many of whoni seem to regard him with more reverence than they do King Malietoa, on account of the interest he takes in their affairs. He is trying to induce them to wear clothes and rive up fighting.