The Evening World

He Had Previously Badly Wounded Policeman Walsh.

Almost a Riot Followed an Insult to Woman

Charles Reilly, known among his associates as "Tough," is lying dead in the East Thirty-fifth street station-house to-day, and Patrolman Thomas W. Walsh, of that precinct, who attempted to arrest him last night, is in Bellevue Hospital suffering from the effects of a bullet wound in the forehead.

Patrolman Walsh was doing duty on post 2, which extends from Thirty-ninth to Forty-second streets on First avenue, last night. About 11:30, when near the corner of Thirty-eighth street, a well-dressed, middle-aged woman, whom the officer supposed to be the wife of a saloon-keeper in the neighborhood, ran up to him. She was greatly excited, and between breaths told Officer Walsh that she had been grossly insulted by a ruffian a block above, and that she dreaded to return home lest he should attack her.

"Have no fears," said the officer, "and come with me. I will see that you are not molested."

The woman accompanied Walsh about a block, and then sighted the man who had, as she claimed, insulted her. The officer recognized him as "Tough" Reilly, one of the most dreaded characters in the neighborhood, and one who had given the police many a hard chase and bloody battle.

Walsh approached Reilly with an assumed air of unconcern, but the "tough" suspected that he was wanted and darted away. He ran into Mortimer's saloon, whereupon the policeman rapped for assistance.

Patrolman McCabe responded, and together the officers entered the saloon. Reilly had told a number of young men in the saloon that he was "wanted," and they endeavored to get him out of the way, but without avail.

After considerable difficulty, Reilly and the officers, surrounded by a score or more of the prisoner's friends, got into the street and a lively scrimmage ensued. Several other policemen were attracted to the spot, and one of them ran to the station-house for the reserve squad.

In the mean time Reilly had broken loose and ran up through Thirty-eighth street toward Second avenue. Walsh was four or five rods behind and gaining rapidly. Finding he could not escape Reilly turned, and, pointing a revolver at the officer, shouted:

"Stop, you, or I'll kill you."

In the same instant the crack of Reilly's pistol was heard and Walsh dropped to his knees.

Blood was trickling down his face and into his eyes, but he drew his own revolver, just as Reilly was making ready for another shot, and fired.

Reilly fell flat on his face, and was dead when picked up a moment later.

Then the reserve squad came up and dispersed the crowd. Walsh had sunk upon the sidewalk unconscious. An ambulance was summoned and he was removed to Bellevue.

Reilly's dead body was placed on a stretcher and carried to the East Thirty-fifth street station-house, where it still remains, pending an autopsy by the Coroner.

An Evening World reporter found Policeman Walsh sitting up, talking to his wife in Ward 20 at the hospital this morning. The ball, he said, had only grazed his forehead, and the surgeon, he thought, would probably allow him to go home to-day.

Reilly is about thirty years old and unmarried. He is a heavily built man and enjoyed the distinction of being called the toughest member of the "Rag" gang which has almost terrorized the neighborhood of late.

Patrolman Walsh was appointed to the force Oct. 6, 1881, and has done duty ever since in the Twenty-first Precinct. He has a clean record and is counted one of the bravest officers on the force.

Capt. McCullagh, Sr., says: "I indorse Walsh's action in every particular. I would have done the same thing under the same circumstances."

Sergts. Donohue, Halton and Sheldon and indorsed the shooting as justifiable.