The Death of John Quinn
from the New Jersey Mirror 6 Aug 1863
The man killed at Florence, on Monday of last week, was named John Quinn. His death should be a warning to all Philadelphia rowdies who visit our pleasant river towns, during the summer months, for a grand frolic. In this instance, a large number came up in the "Edwin Forrest," to Florence, on a pic-nic(sic.). Many of them got quite drunk and were constantly insulting the citizens and acting in a disorderly and disreputable manner. Justice Stewart gave several of them to understand that they must behave themselves or it would be necessary to arrest them. This, however, had no effect, and they continued their riotous proceedings until a short time before the boat was to leave, when they assailed the store and dwelling of Mr. Stewart, which they pelted with stones, breaking his windows, &c.; they also assailed Mr. Stewart and his wife with the same missiles, inflicting wounds on them both; and, against every remonstrance of Mr. Stewart, determined to enter his premises. Quinn, who seemed to be the leader, with an open knife in one hand and a stone in the other, and calling on his comrades to follow, was about to force an entrance. Mr. S. who was a short distance back in the store, with his double-barreled gun, ready for defensive operations, told Quinn that if he entered his door he would blow his brains out. Quinn replied that he didn't care a d--n for his gun, that he could bite the muzzle off it if he wanted to, and started to go in. Just as he got upon the door-sill, Mr. Stewart fired, and Quinn fell back dead. The above facts were all proved before the Inquest held on the body of the deceased, which was conducted by Joseph L. Powell, Esq., of Burlington, in the presence of Judge Bennett of Bordentown, and Mahlon Hutchinson, Esq., District Attorney. After a long and careful investigation, the Jury rendered a verdict of "justifiable homicide." Mr. Stewart is a quiet, orderly and much respected citizen of Florence. We see it stated in the Philadelphia papers that Quinn was the only support of a widowed mother, who died on Wednesday night, from grief, at the loss of her son.
The man killed at Florence, on Monday of last week, was named John Quinn. His death should be a warning to all Philadelphia rowdies who visit our pleasant river towns, during the summer months, for a grand frolic. In this instance, a large number came up in the "Edwin Forrest," to Florence, on a pic-nic(sic.). Many of them got quite drunk and were constantly insulting the citizens and acting in a disorderly and disreputable manner. Justice Stewart gave several of them to understand that they must behave themselves or it would be necessary to arrest them. This, however, had no effect, and they continued their riotous proceedings until a short time before the boat was to leave, when they assailed the store and dwelling of Mr. Stewart, which they pelted with stones, breaking his windows, &c.; they also assailed Mr. Stewart and his wife with the same missiles, inflicting wounds on them both; and, against every remonstrance of Mr. Stewart, determined to enter his premises. Quinn, who seemed to be the leader, with an open knife in one hand and a stone in the other, and calling on his comrades to follow, was about to force an entrance. Mr. S. who was a short distance back in the store, with his double-barreled gun, ready for defensive operations, told Quinn that if he entered his door he would blow his brains out. Quinn replied that he didn't care a d--n for his gun, that he could bite the muzzle off it if he wanted to, and started to go in. Just as he got upon the door-sill, Mr. Stewart fired, and Quinn fell back dead. The above facts were all proved before the Inquest held on the body of the deceased, which was conducted by Joseph L. Powell, Esq., of Burlington, in the presence of Judge Bennett of Bordentown, and Mahlon Hutchinson, Esq., District Attorney. After a long and careful investigation, the Jury rendered a verdict of "justifiable homicide." Mr. Stewart is a quiet, orderly and much respected citizen of Florence. We see it stated in the Philadelphia papers that Quinn was the only support of a widowed mother, who died on Wednesday night, from grief, at the loss of her son.
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