To date, I have found five newspaper articles relating to Mitchell Gallagher's homicide, and not one tells the same story. The following is a transcription from the Brooklyn Citizen, 26 November 1906. I transcribed it word for word, so any typos are theirs. Also, some newspaper articles refer to him as Michael instead of Mitchell. James Hills is Called James Hill in this article. "The son" referred to was my grandfather, William Gallagher, who was six-years-old at the time.
I will be posting the transcriptions of the other articles as well. I posted this one first because it most closely matched what my grandfather said happened.
GALLAGHER IS KILLED
BY FALL DOWN STAIRS
_______
Police Declare He Was Thrown
by Two Men.
_______
HAD A ROW WITH A NEIGHBOR.
_______
His Body Is Found in the Rear Yard--
Insult to Wife Cause
of Trouble.
_______
Michael Gallagher, a mechanic, of No. 176 Melrose street, who was found dying late last night in the yard of his home, and who was dead on the arrival of an ambulance surgeon, was not stabbed to death, as was supposed by the man’s family and friends, but he came to his end from a fracture of the skull which he sustained by either falling or being pushed down a flight of stairs. As a result of Gallagher’s tragic death there was arraigned in Manhattan Avenue Police Court to-day on a charge of homicide James Hill, 43 years old, who lives in a rear house at No. 176 Melrose street, and James Douglas, 37 years old, of No. 136 Jefferson street.
The police of the Hamburg avenue/police station learned early this morning that several weeks ago Gallagher’s wife had trouble with Hill. The Gallagher family lived in a front house. It is alleged that at the time Hill had the trouble with Mrs. Gallagher she felt herself highly insulted and complained to her husband. It engendered a hard feeling between the two men and whenever they met, it was alleged, they had words.
Last night Hill entertained friends at his home. All with the exception of Douglas went home early. Douglas said Hill passed through the hall to reach the street. It is said that Gallagher, who was ascending a flight of stairs, renewed the old fued, which angered Hill, and it was alleged he followed Gallagher up the stairs. When near the top there was a scuffle, and a moment later Gallagher descended head first, and his skull was fractured by the fall.
It is said that Gallagher was carried into the yard and left there. He was then alive but insensible.
Mrs. Gallagher, who had been attracted by the tumult and discovered that her husband had been injured, went out with her son to find a policeman. They returned with Policeman Becker, of the Hamburg avenue station, who immediately sent a hurry call for an ambulance to the St. Catherine’s Hospital. On the arrival of the ambulance, Gallagher was dead.
The police theory was that Gallagher had been stabbed, Hill and Douglas were placed under arrest and locked up in the Hamburg avenue police station. When they were arraigned before Magistrate O’Reilly in the Manhattan avenue police court to-day it was made known that all the parties who were implicated in the affray had been drinking during the evening. Hill and Douglas were held pending further investigation.
The Brooklyn Citizen · Mon, Nov 26, 1906 · Page 8
https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/543725738 Downloaded on May 21, 2019
I will be posting the transcriptions of the other articles as well. I posted this one first because it most closely matched what my grandfather said happened.
GALLAGHER IS KILLED
BY FALL DOWN STAIRS
_______
Police Declare He Was Thrown
by Two Men.
_______
HAD A ROW WITH A NEIGHBOR.
_______
His Body Is Found in the Rear Yard--
Insult to Wife Cause
of Trouble.
_______
Michael Gallagher, a mechanic, of No. 176 Melrose street, who was found dying late last night in the yard of his home, and who was dead on the arrival of an ambulance surgeon, was not stabbed to death, as was supposed by the man’s family and friends, but he came to his end from a fracture of the skull which he sustained by either falling or being pushed down a flight of stairs. As a result of Gallagher’s tragic death there was arraigned in Manhattan Avenue Police Court to-day on a charge of homicide James Hill, 43 years old, who lives in a rear house at No. 176 Melrose street, and James Douglas, 37 years old, of No. 136 Jefferson street.
The police of the Hamburg avenue/police station learned early this morning that several weeks ago Gallagher’s wife had trouble with Hill. The Gallagher family lived in a front house. It is alleged that at the time Hill had the trouble with Mrs. Gallagher she felt herself highly insulted and complained to her husband. It engendered a hard feeling between the two men and whenever they met, it was alleged, they had words.
Last night Hill entertained friends at his home. All with the exception of Douglas went home early. Douglas said Hill passed through the hall to reach the street. It is said that Gallagher, who was ascending a flight of stairs, renewed the old fued, which angered Hill, and it was alleged he followed Gallagher up the stairs. When near the top there was a scuffle, and a moment later Gallagher descended head first, and his skull was fractured by the fall.
It is said that Gallagher was carried into the yard and left there. He was then alive but insensible.
Mrs. Gallagher, who had been attracted by the tumult and discovered that her husband had been injured, went out with her son to find a policeman. They returned with Policeman Becker, of the Hamburg avenue station, who immediately sent a hurry call for an ambulance to the St. Catherine’s Hospital. On the arrival of the ambulance, Gallagher was dead.
The police theory was that Gallagher had been stabbed, Hill and Douglas were placed under arrest and locked up in the Hamburg avenue police station. When they were arraigned before Magistrate O’Reilly in the Manhattan avenue police court to-day it was made known that all the parties who were implicated in the affray had been drinking during the evening. Hill and Douglas were held pending further investigation.
The Brooklyn Citizen · Mon, Nov 26, 1906 · Page 8
https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/543725738 Downloaded on May 21, 2019