Year: 1873

At the rear OF No 217 West Twenty y-eighth street
there Is q wretched tenement house, and in the
basement of this house, which is also miserable
howell has resided for some time woman OF about
hity years OF age, named Rose Riley, who Is nOtO-
rlous In the neighborhood among the class with
whom she associates for her capacity for drinking
whlskey, gin and beer This woman mas had three
boarders, one OF whom is her married sister, Mary
Donnely, and her husband, John Donnelly, TO-
gether with the son OF the latter couple, a lad
named Patrick ponnely, aged Is years.


RUM DEsTIrUTIoN AND DEATH.


In this Wretched cellar or basement, let 1t be
called as 1t may 1t was an almost nightly custom
for this singularly assorted family to indulge in
debauches OF most fearful nature the money
with which they should have purchased food,
clothing or fire being taken to the nearest rum
shop for liquor madden themselves, and which,
finally, caused murder OF foul and brutal kind
1t is not known for certainty whether the boy,
Patrick Donney, drank heavily or not but it Is
believed that he was sent for liquor very often and
that he was fast learning to drink like his elders.


THE HOUR THE MURDER.


Yesterday afternoon the wretched cellar, at
about three O'Clock, contained five persons,
namely Rose Riley, Mary Donnelly, her husband,
John Donnely; the son, Patrick Donnelly and a
woman named Mary Hynes, who, 1t seems. is
neighbor 1t is said that the entire party were so
intoxicated that they were unit to he reasoned
with and that they were nearly insensble from the
effects OF strong liquor. AS is usual in such cases,
quarrel arose, but from what cause Is unknown.
The quarrel began between Rose Riley and young
Donnelly it Is stated by Mrs. Donnelly, but the
latter cannot tell why the trouble arose, as she
was probably under the influence of liquor Mrs.
Donnelly asserts that Rose Riley seized knife to
stab young Donnely, who was endeavOrlng to res
cue his mother from the mad and drunken fury OF
the woman Riley. who then assaulted and Knocked
down the lad. Then, 1t Is alleged by Mrs. Dom
nelly, that Rose Riley jumped several times upon
he was insenslble. Donnely, the father, returned
at this moment having been absent from the Gel
lar Tor some time. The appearance OF his young
son, lying apparently lifeess and prOstrate on the
foor, enraged the father that he seized heavy
lamp and hurled it at Rose Riley, cutting her very
severely across the eyebrows and also across the
lower part OF the face.


CHASTITY SPECTACLE


The poor lad was discovered, on examination, to
be Insensibe. and as he could not be rallied, ne
died soon alter, so terrible were the injuries in
ficted on the lower parts OF his body. The alarm
Twentieth precinct. entered the house, and find
ing that the boy was dead arrested the father
were taken to the Thirtyseventh street police sta
ton, to await the action OF Coroner Young, who
had been notified. Mrs. Donnelly alleges most
positively that her sister Rose, after knocking
down the boy, jumped him two or three
times and then sat down upon his face and chest,
when he cried repeatedly Tor Gods sake to release
him, as he dying from pain In the bowels.


On reaching the station house Coroner Young
questioned Mrs Donnelly, who told substantially
the story related above. Rosa Riley the
accused, was next brought up from the cells and
interrogated by the Coroner. and denied killing
her nephew, as had been charged. Rosa said she
and her sister were wranging when the boy, who
drunk, came at her with knife. and fell on
the floor and died without any violence inflicted
E her. She greatly distressed and begged
permission TO see the body OF her nephew, II but
or moment, saying she had brought him up since
he was eight months old


Coroner Young committed Rosa TO the Tombs
and held Mr.. and Mrs. Donnely, the parents OF
deceased, witnesses


Mary Hines, the woman who was present in the
room at the time OF the disturbance which resulted
IN the boys death, fled from the house when
Officer Joyce entered, and could not afterwards be
found. Captain McElwaln, of the Twentieth pre-
cinct. however, Is in hot pursuit OF the fugitive
witness and doubtless will soon secure her.


THE CoRoNER'S WORK.


Later in the evening Coroner Young visited the
scene OF the tragedy and found deceased lying on
the noor with his clothes on, minus one boot The
body was somewhat emaciated. The remains were
sent to the station house. and to-day will be taken
TO the Morgue Tor post-mortem examination.