Shooting Death at the Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge in 1892
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In 1892 there was a shooting in the Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge that led to the death of a young man. The shooting arose from a "political quarrel" and attracted sensationalist attention from newspapers throughout the region. The National Police Gazette even published a series of sketches that depicted the shooting and events surrounding it (see below). Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog documents the shooting and the interesting events that followed the episode.
On the eve of local elections in Westchester County in early November, 1892, Westchester residents were closely following the campaign for County Register. The Republican candidate for the position was William V. Molloy. The Democrat running for the office was William G. Graney.
William John Elliott, who was known as John, Johnny, and Jack, was born on Throggs Neck. His father drove a stage coach between Throggs Neck and Harlem before the advent of the railroad. In the early 1880s, John Elliott became the proprietor of the Grand View Hotel at Pelham Bridge. Elliott was involved in local politics and the Grand View Hotel quickly became a favorite of local Democrats and New York City officials including New York City Aldermen.
Elliott was a sporting man who enjoyed prize fights, pigeon shoots, and betting. The Grand View Hotel became the site of a number of illegal prize fights during his tenure. Following one such prize fight, Westchester County authorities issued a warrant for Elliott's arrest. The man who executed the warrant and arrested Elliott was Deputy Sheriff William V. Molloy. Consequently, Elliott hated Molloy, the man who was the Republican candidate for County Register in the 1892 election.
Elliott had a good friend named John Hiney who was born only two blocks away from where Elliott was born on Throggs Neck. Hiney was unmarried and was 23 years old in 1893. He lived with his mother and took care of her. He was employed as a night watchman and, thus, carried a pistol.
On the evening of Sunday, November 6 -- two days before the county elections -- Hiney went out with his closest friend, John B. Colford. Colford was a commission horse dealer who had worked for James M. Waterbury his entire adult life, as had his father. Colford got his friend, John Hiney, the job serving as a night watchman for James M. Waterbury. The two men attended a political meeting in the Town of Westchester and then went out drinking together. Some accounts said Hiney drank only ginger ale and sarsaparilla, but others indicated plainly that he had a lot to drink that night.
Colford and Hiney were avid Democrats. Indeed, Colford was described as "something of a political boss" and Hiney was "a member of the Democratic Town Committee." Colford, however, chose to support Republican William V. Molloy in the local race for unexplained "personal reasons." Indeed, at the political meeting he attended in the Town of Westchester on November 6, 1893, he was denied the position of Committee Treasurer to penalize him for supporting Republican William V. Molloy in the local race.
According to one account, Colford's close friend, John Hiney, merely "followed his friend in supporting the Republican." In contrast, John Elliott, proprietor of the Grand View Hotel, hated Molloy and, thus, supported Democrat William G. Graney in the race for Westchester County Register.
After drinking on the evening of Sunday, November 6, Colford and Hiney met a group of Molloy supporters who were out "electioneering" and agreed to join them at the Grand View Hotel for more drinks. Colford and Hiney arrived at the hotel first and announced to the crowd and to the proprietor, John Elliott, that a group of Molloy supporters was about to "descend" on the place. Elliott became upset, protesting that Colford and Hiney knew that he hated Molloy. According to one account, at about that time "[t]he others came up and there were drinks all around. In the course of the night they drank pretty near everything from beer to champagne."
During much of the evening, the men in the hotel bar argued politics, centered around the Molloy versus Graney race for County Register. The hotel proprietor, Elliott, bet Colford $50 that Graney would win the race. Both men gave the money to support their bets to John Hiney to serve as the stakeholder.
One of the men in the bar that night was Oliver ("Ollie") Molloy, a brother of the Republican candidate William V. Molloy. At one point Elliott began arguing with Ollie Molloy about his brother and became enraged. Elliott became abusive from behind the bar. Colford stepped behind the bar to tell Elliott that it was not Ollie Molloy's fault that his brother had arrested Elliott previously. Elliott took the approach as a threat and the two men began to scuffle. Elliott shoved Colford from behind the bar and raced upstairs where he grabbed a loaded revolver.
Stories of what happened next diverge at this point. It appears that while Elliott was upstairs, John Hiney pulled out his night watchman's revolver. When Elliott returned to the bar, he was carrying his pistol. He shouted "John Hiney, you've got a gun. You want to get out of here quick!" Elliott then raised his pistol and fired toward Hiney who ducked and ran out of the bar. Elliott then turned and with the butt of his pistol smashed it into the head of Hiney's friend, Colford, who fell senseless to the floor.
Once Colford recovered, he went to his wagon and began a trip toward home. Down the road he ran across Hiney walking quietly home. Hiney climbed into the wagon and looked fine, but mentioned he was so frightened that he felt badly. Colford drove him to his home and left him to walk the few paces to his door. Colford departed shortly before Hiney collapsed in front of his own house.
Later in the night he was found by a passerby and taken inside where it was discovered he had been shot in the right side. The bullet passed through his right lung and lodged in his torso on his left side. Though a doctor was called, the wound was mortal.
As Hiney lingered near death, a local constable was contacted. He proceeded to the Grand View Hotel and arrested Elliott. He took him to Hiney's home where Hiney's mother, sisters, and brothers held vigil. Elliott turned his eyes away and the constable took him to White Plains where he was locked up until a Grand Jury could consider the case. Elliott immediately hired attorney Martin Keogh of Pelham to handle his case.
The Grand Jury heard the evidence and concluded that the evidence in support of self defense was overwhelming. The Grand Jury refused to return an indictment against Elliott.
John Hiney's mother, Mary Ann Hiney, would have none of it. She promptly filed a civil lawsuit against John Elliott in state court seeking $5,000 in damages "for loss of support &c." The civil jury trial was held in early October, 1893. The jury deliberated for a total of twenty four hours and finally returned a verdict for the defendant, John Elliott, finding that he acted in self defense.
By the way, John Elliott's favored candidate, the Democrat William G. Graney, lost the election for County Register on November 8, 1892. Tragically, John Hiney never learned the results of that election. Instead, he lost his life.
* * * * *
"POLITICS LEADS TO MURDER.
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John Elliott Shoots John Hiney in the Pelham Bridge Hotel.
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THE MURDERER SAYS IT WAS DONE IN SELF-DEFENSE.
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A Row Occurred Over the Contest for Register in Westchester Late Sunday Night -- Hiney Drew a Pistol to Protect His Friend Colford, When Elliott Shot Him -- Elliott Surrenders and Is Now in White Plains Jail.
They say in Westchester that 'Johnny Elliott is terrible quick with a pistol.' He bore out this reputation on Sunday night when he fatally shot John Hiney, whom he had known all his life. It began in a friendly discussion of politics, or rather of candidates. It ended in murder.
William John Elliott was born in Throgg's Neck, the village which is really a part of Westchester. His father, Alec Elliott, used to drive a stage from Throgg's Neck to Harlem before there was a railroad. Old-timers remember that the elder Elliott was forced to leave the country during war times. One day he beat Sergt. Dolan, who was stationed at Fort Schuyler. When Dolan returned to the barracks the men on post asked him who had beaten him. Dolan told them.
The men left their posts and went to Elliott's house. They demanded admittance. A voice said that Elliott was not there. They fired throught the window. Elliott's niece, a beautiful young woman was killed.
'Johnny' Elliott, as every one calls him, was a tiny boy then, and John Hiney hadn't been born. The two men were born within two blocks of each other. They grew up together and have always been good friends. Hiney's father was a stone mason. He died when John was a baby, and Matthew Colford was made his guardian. As 'Johnny' Elliott grew older he displayed sporting tastes, coupled with a capacity for making money. Hiney was staid and serious. He lived with his mother. He was only 23. Elliott is 5 years older.
Eight or nine years ago Elliott leased the yellow roadhouse, which rests on piles over the Pelham river at the north end of Pelham bridge. It is now a part of Pelham park. The road-house is called the Grand View Hotel. It is popular with fishermen and with people who drive along Pelham road. It is about 2 miles from Westchester. In the old days it was more of a sporting place than it is now. Many prize fights have taken place there. The fight between Le Blanche, the Marine, and Henry took place there. That fight plays an important part in this murder.
A warrant was sworn out for Elliott's arrest because of this fight. It was place in the hands of William V. Molloy, a deputy sheriff, to serve. Elliott was arrested, and it was an expensive arrest for him. But of late years Elliott's place has been more quiet. The young proprietor has indulged his sporting tastes elsewhere. He has always lived at the hotel. With him are his wife and two children and his aunt. Mrs. Byzzard [Editor's Note: Could this be a mistaken corruption of "Blizzard" who once ran the Grand View Hotel?], who cared for him.
Hiney was unmarried. He always said that he had his mother to care for. Two years ago he was made night watchman for James M. Waterbury, who has a big estate in Westchester. There was no more popular young man in the town of Westchester than Hiney. He was very quiet. No one ever knew him to get into trouble. Last year he ran for Constable and he ran 200 ahead of his ticket.
Hiney's warmest friend was John B. Colford, a commission horse dealer, who enjoys an enviable reputation. He has worked for Mr. Waterbury all his life, as did his father before him. Colford buys horses for all the rich men in the vicinity. It was through him that Hiney got his job as night watchman.
Hiney and Colford are both Democrats. Colford is something of a political boss. Hiney was a member of the Democratic Town Committee. This year Colford has warmly supported William V. Molloy for the position of County Register. Molloy is a Republican, a member of the railroad contracting firm of Molloy Bros., of New Rochelle. Colford supported Molloy for personal reasons. Hiney followed his friend in supporting the Republican.
On Sunday night Colford drove Hiney down to the town hall of Westchester to attend a meeting of the Town Committee. Before they went there they drove to the Morris Park race-track. There were three or four rounds of drinks, but Hiney took ginger ale and sarsaparilla. Then the two friends went into the village. While Hiney was in at the meeting Coloford went across the street. After a while Hiney came out and told Colford that he was not to be made treasurer of the committee, as was planned, because he was going to vote for Molloy for Register instead of W. G. Graney, the Democratic nominee.
Colford had just met four New Rochelle men who had started out early in the day on an electioneering trip in the interest of Molloy. These four were Oliver Molloy, William V. Molloy's brother, and a member of the firm of Molloy Bros.; Daniel H. Hynes, a saloon keeper in New Rochelle and the agent of the Yuengling Brewing Co.; John Farley, another New Rochelle saloon keeper, and William Quinn, who is a brother-in-law of Gen. Sickles. They had a few drinks together and then went into a restaurant and had something to eat. About 9 o'clock the four New Rochelle men started home in the coach in which they had been riding all day. Colford and Hiney started in the former's yellow-wheeled wagon. They met at the gate leading into Mr. Waterbury's grounds, about a mile from Elliott's road-house, and it was suggested that they go in there and have a drink. Colford and Hiney reached there first, because they had a fast horse. When they went in Elliott was in the saloon, which is in the back part of the house. When Colford went in he remarked that there was a Molloy crowed descending upon the place. Elliott replied that they knew he was against Molloy. The others came up and there were drinks all around. In the course of the night they drank pretty near everything from beer to champagne.
The talk was upon politics. The candidates for Register were the most discussed. The Molloy who is the candidate is the same Molloy who arrested Elliott as a deputy sheriff. Elliott hates him cordially. In the course of the talk Elliott drew several $1,000 bills from his pocket and offered to bet Colford one of them or any part of it that Graney would be elected. Colford replied that he couldn't bet that much. He said he had never before seen a $1,000 bill. Finally they bet $50. The money was placed in Hiney's hands as stakeholder.
Up to this point the stories agree. From this point on there is a divergence. That of Colford seems to be the straightest and clearest.
'Everything had been very pleasant and comfortable,' he said yesterday. 'No one had the slightest idea of any trouble. We had been talking warmly but there was no personal feeling. After a whilte Elliott began talking roughly to Molloy. He was behind the bar and Molloy was in front of it. The rest of us were along the bar. Elliott was villifying Molloy frightfully. 'Olly' Molloy is a college-bred man and he isn't used to the rough ways of politics. I thought that Elliott was going it too strong. He had talked until he was in a terrible rage. I started back of the bar to try and draw his attention from Molloy.
'I took him by the arm and started to say that it was not 'Olly's' fault that his brother had arrested him, when Elliott turned on me and said:
'You're trying to do me, are you.'
'He grappled with me. That made me mad and there was a scuffle. He pushed me out from behind the bar. Hiney was standing next to it, beside the ice-box. Then Elliott rushed upstairs.
'In a few seconds he came down again with a revolver in his hands. He said 'John Hiney, you've got a gun. You want to get out of here quick!' Hiney had a revolver. In his capacity as night watchman he carried a pearl-handled one, which I gave him myself. Earlier in the evening he had taken the revolver from his pocket and laid it on the bar in order to find some change in his pockets with which to pay for drinks.
'Almost before the words were out of Elliott's mouth he fired at Hiney, who turned and ran out. Then Elliott turned towards mem and struck me over the eye with the butt of the revolver. I was knocked senseless. When I recovered consciousness Hynes was saying, 'I hope you didn't hit him,' and Elliott replied, 'Did I ever shoot at anything I didn't hit?'
Elliott has the reputation of being one of the finest pigeon shots in the country. Colford went on to say that when he regained his senses the others were looking to see if they could find where the bullet struck. He went out directly, climbed into his wagon and started home.
'It was as cold-blooded a murder as was ever done,' said Colford in conclusion.
'Elliott killed the man in self-defense,' said Daniel Hynes when he was asked about the affair. 'We had been talking politics and it was all pleasant enough until Colford went behind the bar. Then Elliott had some words with Colford. The two grappled and Elliott pushed Colford from behind the bar. Then Elliott went out and got his revolver. He told Hiney to get out. Hiney had been flourishing a revolver about earlier in the evening. I was dead leary of him myself. Hiney didn't go and Elliott fired. Then Elliott turned and knocked Colford down.
After Colford went out Elliott fired a shot at the wall to see if we could find the mark of the bullet. We could find no trace of the first bullet. We stayed at Elliott's for several hours after the shooting. We didn't think that Hiney had been shot. He didn't act like it after he went out.'
I may be remarked, paranthetically [sic], that Hynes is a saloon-keeper and something of a sporting many himself. In New Rochelle he is known as 'Pop' Hynes. He is a large, powerful and fine-looking young man. For the other New Rochelle members of the party Molloy's story rather inclines to that of Colford, while Farley, who is also a saloon-keeper, thinks that Hynes has it about right. All of those who were there say that they were not drunk. Taking into account the number of drinks they took during the evening, most people would arrive at a different conclusion. It will take a trial to settle the disputed points.
Strangest of all is the story of Hiney after the shooting. When he ran out of the saloon he started to walk homme. He had not the slightest idea that he had been shot. Colford, in his wagon, caught up with him. Hiney climbed in, and the two drove along together. Hiney said he was very much frightened, which he thought accounted for his uncomfortable feeling. It never entered Colford's head that Hiney was wounded. He let the young man out of the wagon almost at his house -- they live only a block apart. Colford went on home. Hiney walked scarcely twenty feet when he fell to the ground fainting. There Joseph Sterrett found him before midnight and took him home. Dr. Dennen came. He found that the bullet had entered the right side, just below the nipple. It passed through the right lung and buried itself in the left side. He saw that Hiney could not live. At 3 o'clock Justice Skennion was summoned and he took Hiney's ante-mortem statement. At 5 o'clock Constable Bradley was told of the shooting and he started for Pelham Bridge. He found Elliott in bed. Together they drove down to Throgg's Neck.
Constable Bradley took Elliott into the room where Hiney lay dying. The mother was there, the sisters and the three brothers. They looked at the pale white face on the pillow and the rugged one of the man who turned his eyes away. Hiney said Elliott was the man who shot him. Then Constable Bradley took Elliott to the station at Westchester and from there to the jail at White Plains. Hiney lingered until 1.30 o'clock in the afternoon, when he died.
Elliott made a statement to Justice Skennion and Constable Bradley. He said that he shot Hiney in self-defense. He said that Colford and Hiney came into his saloon to pick a fight. He asked Colford if he came there to do him up and Colford said he did. Then Colford went behind the bar and picked up a bottle. Elliott says he saw Hiney flourihsing a revolver and he made up his mind that they were bound to kill him. He says he made up his mind that he had to protect himself. He ran upstairs and got his revolver. When he came down Hiney was standing alongside the door with his gun in his hand showing through the pocket of his overcoat. Elliott continued:
'I said to him, You get out of here, John Hiney, you've got a gun.' Hiney didn't go so I fired at him. I didn't know whether I hit him or not. He turned and ran out. After I fired I knocked Colford down.'
Elliott was pretty badly broken up over the shooting when he heard that Hiney was dead. He wasn't apprehensive, however. He is certain that he will get out of it all right. One of the first things he did after he landed in the White Plains Jail was to engage Martin J. Keogh to defend him."
Source: POLITICS LEADS TO MURDER -- John Elliott Shoots John Hiney in the Pelham Bridge Hotel, The World [NY, NY], Nov. 8, 1892, Vol. XXXIII, No. 11403, p. 1, cols. 6-8.
"A FATAL QUARREL. -- In a quarrel Sunday evening before election at Pelham Bridge, John Hiney was fatally shot by John Elliot [sic]. Reports as to the origin of the affray, and the circumstances connected with it, are very conflicting. Some of the parties present claim that Elliott is solely to blame, while others allege that he only acted in self-defense. Elliott is a sporting man and a crack pigeon shot. He keeps a hotel at Pelham Bay Park, leased to him by the Park Commmissioners.
It is a resort for the sports of that part of the county. The politicians too make it a rendezvous to compare notes. On Sunday night John Colford and John Hiney of Westchester got into a quarrel there with Elliot. They were friends of William V. Molloy, the republican candidate for Register. While they were arguing and quarreling, several of Molloy's friends came in from New Rochelle. It is said that they all formed to talk Elliot down, and Elliot fearing violence, went to another room and get [sic] his revolver. When he came back in the bar-room Elliot says he saw Hiney apparently awaiting him and holding a revolver in his hand. He raised his pistol and fired at Hiney. The ball entered his left breast, inflicting a fatal wound. As he fell to the floor, Elliot went up to Colford, and without any warning knocked him down. Then Hiney and the witnesses of the shooting dispersed.
Strangest of all is the story of Hiney after the shooting. When he ran out of the saloon he started to walk home. Colford in his wagon caught up with him. Hiney climbed in, and the two drove off together. Hiney said he was very much frightened, which he thought accounted for his uncomfortable feeling. It never entered Colford's head that Hiney was wounded.
He left the young man out of the wagon almost at house. They lived only a block apart. Colford went on home. Hiney walked scarcely twenty feet when he fell to the ground fainting. There Joseph Sterrett found him before midnight and took him home. Dr. Denneg [sic] came. He found that the bullet had entered the right side, just below the nipple. It passed through the right lung and buried itself in the left side. He saw that Hiney could not live. At 3 o'clock Justice Skennion was summoned and he took Hiney's ante-mortem statement. At 5 o'clock Constable Bradley was told of the shooting and he started for Pelham Bridge. He found Elliot in bed. Together they went down to Throgg's Neck.
Constable Bradley took Elliott into the room where Hiney lay dying. The mother was there, the sisters and the three brothers. They looked at the pale white face on the pillow and the rugged one of the man who turned his eyes away. Hiney said Elliot was the man who shot him. Then Constable Bradley took Elliot to the jail at White Plains. Hiney lingered until 1.30 o'clock in the afternoon, when he died.
David H. Hunt with Martin J. Keogh and the great New York criminal lawyer, Howe, are employed to defend Elliott.
He claims he shot in self-defense, believing his own life to be in danger John Hiney, the man who was shot, had for some time been a watchman for James M. Waterbury of Westchester, and on account of his business was in the habit of carrying a revolver."
Source: A FATAL QUARREL, The Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Nov. 19, 1892, Vol. XLVIII, No. 34, p. 3, col. 6.
"ELLIOTT MURDERS HINEY.
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A Fatal Political Discussion in Westchester.
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DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS HIT.
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Bitter Feeling Since the Dempsey-Le Blanche Fight.
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SAYS IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE.
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'Johnny' Elliott, a well-known sport of Westchester County, N. Y., shot and mortally wounded John Hiney in Elliott's road house near the Pelham bridge, on Sunday night last, during a political quarrel. The two men had always been friends.
William John Elliott was born in Throgg's Neck, the village which is really a part of Westchester. His father, Alec Elliott, used to drive a stage from Throgg's Neck to Harlem before there was a railroad. Old-timers remember that the elder Elliott was forced to leave the country during war times. One day he beat Sergt. Dolan, who was stationed at Fort Schuyler. When Dolan returned to the barracks the men on post asked him who had beaten him. Dolan told them.
The men left their posts and went to Elliott's house. They demanded admittance. A voice said that Elliott was not there. They fired throught the window. Elliott's niece, a beautiful young woman was killed.
'Johnny' Elliott, as every one calls him, was a tiny boy then, and John Hiney hadn't been born. The two men were born within two blocks of each other. They grew up together and have always been good friends. Hiney's father was a stone mason. He died when John was a baby, and Matthew Colford was made his guardian. As 'Johnny' Elliott grew older he displayed sporting tastes, coupled with a capacity for making money. Hiney was staid and serious. He lived with his mother. He was only 23. Elliott is 5 years older.
Eight or nine years ago Elliott leased the yellow roadhouse, which rests on piles over the Pelham river at the north end of Pelham bridge. It is now a part of Pelham park. The road-house is called the Grand View Hotel. It is popular with fishermen and with people who drive along Pelham road. It is about 2 miles from Westchester. In the old days it was more of a sporting place than it is now. Many prize fights have taken place there. The fight between Le Blanche, the Marine, and Henry took place there. That fight plays an important part in this murder.
A warrant was sworn out for Elliott's arrest because of thise fight. It was place in the hands of William V. Molloy, a deputy sheriff, to serve. Elliott was arrested, and it was an expensive arrest for him. But of late years Elliott's place has been more quiet. The young proprietor has indulged his sporting tastes elsewhere. He has always lived at the hotel. With him are his wife and two children and his aunt. Mrs. Byzzard [Editor's Note: Could this be a mistaken corruption of "Blizzard" who once ran the Grand View Hotel?], who cared for him.
Hiney was unmarried. He always said that he had his mother to care for. Two years ago he was made night watchman for James M. Waterbury, who has a big estate in Westchester. There was no more popular young man in the town of Westchester than Hiney. He was very quiet. No one ever knew him to get into trouble. Last year he ran for Constable and he ran 200 ahead of his ticket.
Hiney's warmest friend was John B. Colford, a commission horse dealer, who enjoys an enviable reputation. He has worked for Mr. Waterbury all his life, as did his father before him. Colford buys horses for all the rich men in the vicinity. It was through him that Hiney got his job as night watchman.
Hiney and Colford are both Democrats. Colford is something of a political boss. Hiney was a member of the Democratic Town Committee. This year Colford has warmly supported William V. Molloy for the position of County Register. Molloy is a Republican, a member of the railroad contracting firm of Molloy Bros., of New Rochelle. Colford supported Molloy for personal reasons. Hiney followed his friend in supporting the Republican.
On Sunday night Colford drove Hiney down to the town hall of Westchester to attend a meeting of the Town Committee.
Upon their return when about a mile from Elliott's road-house, it was suggested that they go in there and have a drink.
The talk was upon politics. The candidates for Register were the most discussed. The Molloy who is the candidate is the same Molloy who arrested Elliott as a deputy sheriff. Elliott hates him cordially. In the course of the talk Elliott drew several $1,000 bills from his pocket and offered to bet Colford one of them or any part of it that Graney would be elected. Colford replied that he couldn't bet that much. He said he had never before seen a $1,000 bill. Finally they bet $50. The money was placed in Hiney's hands.
Up to this point the stories agree. From this point on there is a divergence. That of Colford seems to be the straightest and clearest.
'Everything had been very pleasant and comfortable,' he said afterwards. 'No one had the slighest idea of any trouble. We had been talking warmly but there was no personal feeling. After a while Elliott began talking roughly to Molloy. He was behind the bar and Molloy was in front of it. The rest of us were along the bar. Elliott was villifying Molloy frightfully. 'Olly' Molloy is a college-bred man and he isn't use to the rough ways of politics. I thought that Elliott was going it too strong. He had talked until he ws in a terrible rage. I started back of the bar to try and draw his attention fromm Molloy.
'I took him by the arm and started to say that it was not 'Olly's' fault that his brother had arrested him, when Elliott turned on me and said:
'You're trying to do me, are you.'
'He grappled with me. That made me mad and there was a scuffle. He pushed me out from behind the bar. Hiney was standing next to it, beside the ice-box. Then Elliott rushed upstairs.
'In a few seconds he came down again with a revolver in his hands. He said: 'John Hiney, you've got a gun. You want to get out of here quick!' Hiney had a revolver. In his capacity as night watchman he carried a pearl-handled one, which I gave him myself. Earlier in the evening he had taken the revolver from his pocket nd laid it on the bar in order to find soe change in his pockets with which to pay for drinks.
'Almost before the words were out of Elliott's mouth he fired at Hiney, who turned and ran out. Then Elliott turned to me and struck me over the eye with the butt of the revolver. I was knocked senseless. When I recovered consciousness Hynes was saying 'I hope you didn't hit him,' and Elliott replied, 'Did I ever shoot at anything I didn't hit?'
Elliott has the reputation of being one of the finest pigeon shots in the country. Colford went on to say that when he regained his senses the others were looking to see if they could find where the bullet struck. He went out directly, climbed into his wagon and started home.
Strangest of all is the story of Hiney after the shooting. When he ran out of the saloon he started to walk home. He had not the slightest idea that he had been shot. Colford, in his wagon, caught up with him. Hiney climbed in, and the two drove along together. Hiney said he was very much frightened, which he thought accounted for his uncomfortable feeling. It never entered Colford's head that Hiney was wounded. He let the young man out of the wagon almost at his house -- they live only a block apart. Colford went on home. Hiney walked scarcely twenty feet when he fell to the ground fainting. There Joseph Sterrett found him before midnight and took him home. Dr. Dennen came. He founded that the bullet had entered the right side, just below the nipple. It passed through the right lung and buried itself in the left side. He saw that Hiney could not live. At 3 o'clock Justice Skennion was summoned and he took Hiney's ante-mortem statement. At 5 o'clock Constable Bradley was told of the shooting, and he started for Pelham Bridge. He found Elliott in bed. Together they went down to Throgg's Neck.
Constable Bradley took Elliott into the room where Hiney lay dying. The mother was there, the sisters and the three brothers. They looked at the pale, white face on the pillow and the rugged one of the man who turned his eyes away. Hiney said Elliott was the man who shot him. Then Constable Bradley took Elliott to the station at Westchester and from there to the jail at White Plains. Hiney lingered until 1:30 o'clock in the afternoon, when he died."
Source: ELLIOTT MURDERS HINEY -- A Fatal Political Discussion in Westchester, The National Police Gazette [NY, NY], Nov. 26, 1892, p. 7, cols. 1-2.
"The grand jury found no bill against John Elliott, the proprietor of the road house at Pelham bridge, who shot and killed John Hiney in a quarrel at Pelham Bay Park on the Monday night before election. He claimed at the time that he shot in self defense when he saw Hiney had a revolver in his hnd and was in temper to use it. The grand jury took that view of the case and he was discharged from custody. This act of violence seems to call for such legislation as will prevent the carrying upon one's person fire arms. Hiney had a pistol in his pocket and exhibited it and was shot down by Elliott under the apprehension that it was intended to do him harm. The testimony showed that 'drink' had been indulged in freely and wherever this is a condition the deadly revolver is a dangerous accompanient. There certainly should be some effective legal method to prevent the carrying upon one's person death-dealing fire-arms."
Source: [Untitled], The Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Nov. 26, 1892, Vol. XLVIII, No. 35, p. 2, col. 1.
"Goes Scot Free.
The Grand Jury failed to find any indictment against Jack Elliott, the keeper of a road house at Pelham Bridge, who, during a political quarrel, recently, shot and killed John Hiney.
When he was arrested he said he shot in self-defence, seeing Hiney with a revolver in his hand and in a temper to use it.
Since the shooting he has been 'committed to White Plains Jail,' but spent little time in it. He had the free run of the Sheriff's office, and went to a hotel to his meals. He was continually boasting of his 'pull' with the Democratic politicians. It seems to have stood him in good stead. He is discharged."
Source: Goes Scot Free, The Yonkers Statesman, Nov. 23, 1892, Vol. X, No. 2770, p. 4, col. 4.
"GENERAL NEWS NOTES . . .
At White Plains, N. Y., Mrs. Bridget Hiney, mother of the young man who was shot and killed in an election quarrel on November 6 by John Elliott, proprietor of the Pelham Bridge hotle, has sued Mr. Elliott for $5,000 damages for the loss of her son's support. The grand jury refused to indict Elliott for the shooting."
Source: GENERAL NEWS NOTES, Hammondsport Herald [Hammondsport, NY], Feb. 1, 1893, Vol. XIX, No. 40, p. 1, col. 1.
"COUNTY NEWS. . .
--Mrs. Bridget Hiney, of Pelham Bridge, has sued 'Jack' Elliott, a sporting man and proprietor of the Pelham Bridge Hotel, for $5,000, for the loss of her son's services. On the Sunday preceding the election last November, Elliott and John P. Hiney, the widow's alleged support, got into a quarrel at the Pelham Bridge Hotel over the relative merits of William Molloy and William Graney, the republican and democratic candidates for register. In the war of words Elliott shot and killed Hiney; hence the civil suit. An attempt to indict Elliott failed."
Source: COUNTY NEWS, The Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY],. Jun. 10, 1893, p. 3, cols. 3-5.
"COURT PROCEEDINGS. . . .
Mary Ann Hiney vs. John Elliott. -- Mary Ann Hiney, of Pelham, as the administratrix of the estate of her son, John Hiney, who was shot and killed Nov. 6th, 1892 by 'Jack' Elliott, a well known hotel keeper at Pelham Bridge, brought this action under the statute to recover $5,000 damages for loss of support, &c. After twenty-four hours' deliberation, the jury brought in a verdict for the defendant. The evidence was so strong in support of the theory of self defense that the grand jury failed to indict Elliott, and hence this civil suit was brought. The trial was ably conducted. Mr. Hunt in summing up for the defense showed that he was an orator as well as a skillful lawyer. Messrs. Emmett & Morris appeared for the plaintiff. The verdict was a complete vindication of Mr. Elliott's act."
Source: COURT PROCEEDINGS . . . Mary Ann Hiney vs. John Elliott, The Eastern State Journal [White Plains, NY], Oct. 7, 1893, Vol. XLIX, No. 28, p. 2, col. 3.
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Labels: 1892, Crime, Elliott's Road House, Grand View Hotel, Gun, John Hiney, Johnny Elliott, Murder, Pelham Bridge
posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:54 AM
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