Year: 1869

a Night wasch Aan Shoots a Ffshcrman-The
Man Sent tes she Hospital in a Dying Com
dition.


Az rev IT mntes after ten O'Clock the sailors and
boatmen ~ lug about pier 4s East river were star
tied by I'd loud report OF firearms that fell upon the
calm mat had for some time settled
about the seepers. Turning out from their
bunk s and hammocks they found the officers Of the
sev enth precinct on the dock graphing with two
N On. who displayed no desire TO escape. The word
gCon went round that a man had been shot, and @
moment later John Niers of No 609 Water street,
was carried forward under the gaslight from the
stern OF the Alice that lay beside the pier
shot In the breast by bullet from large sized navy
revolver. When asked who shot him. he stated that
the direction Of pier 40.
The police, who had hurried down on hearing the
shot, had In the meantime arrested two men. Al
tins iuncture an old man, employed as q private
watchman on the Alice, came down the gangway
WIN the reVoiVer IN ms hahd aad surrendered MN
mitted the deed, and the others were released


The wounded man and Charles Fisher, the watch
man, were taken TO the Seventh precinct station
house, where the physician examined the wounds
OF Miers and pronounced them mortal He was at
once despatched IN carriage in charge OF oflcers
to Bellevue Hospital, where at q late hour he
lay in critical condition. and It was believed


Fisher, who voluntarily admitted the shooting,
stated that he has for some time been stopping
at the Sailors Home, and for the last three





night before last the captain informed him he could
not longer employ MIN unless he armed himself as
protection against river thieves. On sunday night
he borrowed the pistol at the Home, but
did not examine It mnntely to see whether It was
serviceaDle until last night when the thought re-
CURED to him that he would try OF the barrels.
Directing the revolver towards the river under the
stern OF the vessel, where he had not the smallest
idea any human being was secreted, he
fred, and heard Mier's cries at once but
stu did mot not suspect that he had wounded any.
body: Presently ne heard Miers cry, "oh, am
Off1cer
who fired the shot, and he at once surrendered him
self Fisher states that Miers on the dock fish
ing and that the shooting was purely accidental
He professed great concern, and expressed the wish
that he had shot himself instead OF his victim.


These are all the particulars that could be learned
from Sergeant Buchman and the prisoner. At q
quarter past twelve this morning the sergeant
officer Scanlan for the information Of the press but
Seaman was very mpudent and n0n.coInmunca-
tive.


Sergeant-Mr. Seaman, did you arrest the prisoner
before finding the man was woundedf


Scanlan-LoOk here, sergeant are YOU going to
open an inquest hereY


sergeant-No, but merely wanted to learn some
OF the facts.


Scanlan-well, you Just wait till the time comes.
Sergeant-Don't talk that way, Seaman


Scanlan-Well, you just keep your questions TO
yourself am not going to say anything.


Reporter-Nr Seaman, won't you give me some
particulars


Scanlan-who are your


Reporter-A reporter.


scanlan-No, sir; get your facts the best way you
can.


And Mr. Seaman turned away and refused to
state anything or the occurrence.


The prisoner exhibits such evidences OF sorrow at
the unfortunate turn things have taken that the
police do not doubt his entire innocence of any iten
ton to commit murder. He Is about fifty years OF
age. native OF New Haven, Conn, and has for
many years followed the sea for a livelihood.