Charles McDonnell
Encyclopedia
Charles McDonnell was an American law enforcement officer and police captain
in the New York City Police Department
. Popularly known as "Lightning Charlie", he was responsible for a number of high-profile arrests during the 1870s/80s, including those of procuress Jane the Grabber and gambler Samuel S. Brewster.
in Manhattan, New York on November 18, 1841. He attended the local Sixth Ward public school and later went to work as a newsboy
and later employed as a folder in the pressroom of a morning newspaper. He eventually joined the New York City Police Department
and was officially appointed a patrolman on January 21, 1863. Assigned to the Sixth Precinct, he was still a rookie
when the New York Draft Riots
broke out months later and was on constant duty in the Fourth and Sixth Precincts. On the evening of July 15, 1863, McDonnell was badly wounded while battling an estimated 400 rioters looting a building at the corner of Mott
and Centre Streets
. During the fighting, he was "smashed in the face and terribly cut" then knocked down but ignored his injuries and rejoined the squad. He was later commended for his actions.
On December 2, 1864, McDonnell won promotion to roundsman for his brave conduct in arresting a negro burglar. He slowly rose through the ranks after being promoted to sergeant on November 11, 1867 and finally captain on February 25, 1870. His first command was the old Twenty-Eighth precinct and, during the next four years, served as precinct captain of the Twentieth, Twenty-First and Thirty-First Precincts. On November 11, 1874, McDonnell was transferred to the Eighth Precinct where he remained for the rest of his career. In 1875, during the "grabber scandal", he captured notorious kidnapper-procuress Jane the Grabber. On the day of the last-ever police parade, he arrested negro gambler Samuel S. Brewster for the murder of rival gambler Eibo Williams on July 16, 1887.
In the winter of that year, McDonnell suffered a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism but had apparently recovered while vacationing with his wife and sister at their summer home in Derby, Connecticut
. He had been suffering from dyspepsia
, aggravated by bronchial trouble, in previous years. McDonnell returned to the city on August 13, 1888, reportedly "looking well and hearty", but intended to arrange to extend his leave of absence and return to Derby the following evening. He was on duty at the stationhouse that day and, leaving orders for a morning wake up call an 9 am, went to bed in the sergeants' room on the second floor at around 10:00 pm. He was seen "sleeping peacefully" by a Sergeant Reilly at 6 am, however he was found dead three hours later when a doorman came to wake him up. A doctor was summoned, but physicians found that he had been dead for several hours. McDonnell's body was moved to his home on King Street home while his wife was informed by telegraph and requested to return to the city.
His funeral was to be held the next morning at St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church on Sullivan Street and then taken to Birmingham, Connecticut for burial. Then acting Superintendent Thomas F. Byrnes called a meeting of police captains in order to make arraignments for the funeral services. Inspector Thomas S. Steers, Captains Josiah A. Westervelt, Thomas Reilly, William H. Clinchy and Henry D. Hooker all contributed to the eulogy, Westervelt, Reilly and Clinchy being selected as pall bearers along with Captains Ira S. Garland, John J. Brogan and Gorman. A floral cross was provided by the department and laid on the coffin and crape was worn on the sleeves of all officers above the rank of roundsman for a month.
A police battalion numbering 350 policemen, accompanied by the Sixty-Ninth Regiment music band, escorted the hearse from King Street to Grand Central Station and commanded by Inspector Steers, Captains Anthony J. Allaire and Smith. The officers which led the eight individual battalions included Captains Michael J. Murphy, James McLaughlin, Edward Carpenter, Alexander B. Warts, Thomas M. Ryan, Henry Hooker, Philip Cassidy and Peter Yule. The battalion planned to march from Kings Street to MacDougal Street
, Houston Street, South Fifth Avenue, Washington Square Park
, Fifth Avenue, Fortieth Street, Park Avenue
and Forty-Second Street
. On the day of the funeral, the procession took a different route and Inspector Steers dismissed the police escort after reaching Thirty-Ninth Street due to the extreme heat. Services at St. Anthony's Church were also canceled so that McDonnell's body could be loaded on to a train and taken to Birmingham that same day.
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
in the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
. Popularly known as "Lightning Charlie", he was responsible for a number of high-profile arrests during the 1870s/80s, including those of procuress Jane the Grabber and gambler Samuel S. Brewster.
Biography
Charles McDonnell was born at his home on Anthony StreetWorth Street (Manhattan)
Worth Street is a two-way street in the Manhattan borough of New York City. It runs from Hudson Street, TriBeCa, in the west to Chatham Square in the east. Past Chatham Square, the roadway continues as Oliver Street, which runs one-way north- and westbound. Between West Broadway and Church Street,...
in Manhattan, New York on November 18, 1841. He attended the local Sixth Ward public school and later went to work as a newsboy
Newsboy
-Personal nicknames:* "Newsboy", a horse-racing tipster writing in The Daily Mirror* Jeremy Wells, a television personality-Other uses:* Newsvendor model, a demand forecasting model from operations research,...
and later employed as a folder in the pressroom of a morning newspaper. He eventually joined the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
and was officially appointed a patrolman on January 21, 1863. Assigned to the Sixth Precinct, he was still a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
when the New York Draft Riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
broke out months later and was on constant duty in the Fourth and Sixth Precincts. On the evening of July 15, 1863, McDonnell was badly wounded while battling an estimated 400 rioters looting a building at the corner of Mott
Mott Street
Mott Street is a narrow but busy thoroughfare that runs in a north-south direction in the borough of Manhattan in New York City in the United States. It is best known as Chinatown's unofficial "Main Street". Mott Street runs from Chatham Square in the south to Bleecker Street in the north...
and Centre Streets
Centre Street (Manhattan)
Centre Street runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Centre Street runs from Park Row and continues north to Delancey Street where it merges with Lafayette Street....
. During the fighting, he was "smashed in the face and terribly cut" then knocked down but ignored his injuries and rejoined the squad. He was later commended for his actions.
On December 2, 1864, McDonnell won promotion to roundsman for his brave conduct in arresting a negro burglar. He slowly rose through the ranks after being promoted to sergeant on November 11, 1867 and finally captain on February 25, 1870. His first command was the old Twenty-Eighth precinct and, during the next four years, served as precinct captain of the Twentieth, Twenty-First and Thirty-First Precincts. On November 11, 1874, McDonnell was transferred to the Eighth Precinct where he remained for the rest of his career. In 1875, during the "grabber scandal", he captured notorious kidnapper-procuress Jane the Grabber. On the day of the last-ever police parade, he arrested negro gambler Samuel S. Brewster for the murder of rival gambler Eibo Williams on July 16, 1887.
In the winter of that year, McDonnell suffered a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism but had apparently recovered while vacationing with his wife and sister at their summer home in Derby, Connecticut
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
. He had been suffering from dyspepsia
Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia , also known as upset stomach or indigestion, refers to a condition of impaired digestion. It is a medical condition characterized by chronic or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen, upper abdominal fullness and feeling full earlier than expected when eating...
, aggravated by bronchial trouble, in previous years. McDonnell returned to the city on August 13, 1888, reportedly "looking well and hearty", but intended to arrange to extend his leave of absence and return to Derby the following evening. He was on duty at the stationhouse that day and, leaving orders for a morning wake up call an 9 am, went to bed in the sergeants' room on the second floor at around 10:00 pm. He was seen "sleeping peacefully" by a Sergeant Reilly at 6 am, however he was found dead three hours later when a doorman came to wake him up. A doctor was summoned, but physicians found that he had been dead for several hours. McDonnell's body was moved to his home on King Street home while his wife was informed by telegraph and requested to return to the city.
His funeral was to be held the next morning at St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church on Sullivan Street and then taken to Birmingham, Connecticut for burial. Then acting Superintendent Thomas F. Byrnes called a meeting of police captains in order to make arraignments for the funeral services. Inspector Thomas S. Steers, Captains Josiah A. Westervelt, Thomas Reilly, William H. Clinchy and Henry D. Hooker all contributed to the eulogy, Westervelt, Reilly and Clinchy being selected as pall bearers along with Captains Ira S. Garland, John J. Brogan and Gorman. A floral cross was provided by the department and laid on the coffin and crape was worn on the sleeves of all officers above the rank of roundsman for a month.
A police battalion numbering 350 policemen, accompanied by the Sixty-Ninth Regiment music band, escorted the hearse from King Street to Grand Central Station and commanded by Inspector Steers, Captains Anthony J. Allaire and Smith. The officers which led the eight individual battalions included Captains Michael J. Murphy, James McLaughlin, Edward Carpenter, Alexander B. Warts, Thomas M. Ryan, Henry Hooker, Philip Cassidy and Peter Yule. The battalion planned to march from Kings Street to MacDougal Street
MacDougal Street
MacDougal Street is a one way street in Greenwich Village in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The approximate six-block street is bound by Prince Street and West 8th Street. It has been the subject of many songs, poems, and other forms of artistic expression. MacDougal Street has been...
, Houston Street, South Fifth Avenue, Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is one of the best-known of New York City's 1,900 public parks. At 9.75 acres , it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity...
, Fifth Avenue, Fortieth Street, Park Avenue
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
and Forty-Second Street
Forty-Second Street
Forty-Second Street is the title song from the 1933 movie of the same name.Music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin, the song was published in 1932. It appears in the backstager Warner Bros...
. On the day of the funeral, the procession took a different route and Inspector Steers dismissed the police escort after reaching Thirty-Ninth Street due to the extreme heat. Services at St. Anthony's Church were also canceled so that McDonnell's body could be loaded on to a train and taken to Birmingham that same day.