The Evening World

FATHER SAYS SON SLAYING BROTHER WAS FORCED TO KILL

Albert Ryan, Charged With Fatal Stabbing in Brooklyn, Bears Good Character.

HAD BEEN ASSAULTED.

Stories of Fight and Victim's Blame Corroborated by Witnesses.

With his father comforting him, Albert M. Ryan was led into Adams Street Court in Brooklyn to-day, charged with the murder by stabbing of his brother Daniel at their home, No. 7 First place, Brooklyn, last night.

At the request of Lawyer John T. Bennett, acting for Albert Ryan, the case was put over until Sept. 5.

Mr. Bennett gave out this statement for Ryan: "It was not until this morning that I knew my brother had died in the ambulance. I would be only too willing to change places with him. He jumped at me so fiercely and I was so excited that I did not realize, when my arm became free, that I was still holding the knife."

"I cannot but feel," said the old man, his voice shaken with feeling, "that Dan was all in the wrong and that Albert could not but protect himself and his sister. Dan was a devil when he was drunk—and he was seldom sober for long at a time. He has fought and beaten Albert many times for no cause. He has cursed me and struck at me, and, Heaven have mercy on his soul, he has struck his mother—but always when the drink was in him."

Dan, CRAZY WITH DRINK, cursed brother and sister.

"Al and May," he said, "had been over in South Brooklyn visiting a sick friend, Mr. Bauman. They were back home at about half past ten o'clock and stayed for a time on the front stoop. Then Al asked May to go upstairs and get a little supper for them before they went to bed.

"He followed, and while she was cutting out some cold meat and making coffee Al took a knife. It was a bread knife, with a sharp point—and a loaf of bread and went into the dining room and began slicing the loaf.

"Poor Dan came in, crazed with drink. He cursed at Al who told him to be quiet and sit down and have something to eat and he could feel better. Dan went out to the stoop and cursed his niece and called me Bruce. Al called to him to stop. Dan went back into the dining room and began to abuse Al again, working himself into a crazy rage. He saw the knife in Al's hand and reached across the table and caught the wrist of the hand which held it. With the other hand Dan caught him by the throat and began choking him.

Struck With Knife, Feeling his strength going.

They fell to the floor and they rolled about until Al felt his strength going. May had run in but she could do nothing except to run out to the street and call for help.

Al found his hand free and his senses going from him and struck at Dan and the knife went into Dan's side. He let loose of Al, who went out into the street and joined May in calling for help."

Policeman O'Toole heard May Ryan's cries and at her request ran into the house. He found Dan Ryan, the knife in his hand, lying at the foot of the stair leading down from the Ryan apartment to the first floor. He was still breathing weakly.

An ambulance was called from Long Island College Hospital with Dr. Feit, but Daniel Ryan died when the ambulance was a block on its way back to the hospital.