Thomas Ryan
Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 October 1896, page 10
A Brick Gave the Death Blow
Thomas Ryan, 30 years of age and unmarried, received his death
wounds in a street brawl Wednesday night at the corner of Fourth and Saratoga
streets, Newport and the alleged assailant, Pat Canfield, is lying in jail in
Newport, charged with murder.
The story is that Ryan was coming out of Droste's Saloon with a can of beer and Canfield accosted him, asking for a drink of the beer and met with a refusal. Canfield then pushed Ben Scherer, a young man standing on the corner into Ryan, who resented the insult and set the bucket of beer down. Canfield says that Ryan pulled a knife from his pocket to attack him.
Ryan was standing on the sidewalk when Canfield hit him with a brick that he had picked up. Ryan fell while Canfield ray away. Ryan was assisted to the rear of the saloon where his blood was washed off and his head and his head bandaged with handkerchiefs. Ryan walked to the office of Dr. Clark and had his head dressed.
He walked to his home, 820 Ann street, said nothing to his mother but during the early morning hours was attacked with severe vomiting. At 9 o'clock Dr. Helmbold was summoned but Ryan died at 10 am. Officer Hamilton and Steventon were put on the case and found Canfield at Fourth and Park and placed under arrest.
An autopsy of Ryan's remains will be held by Coroner Tingley this morning and after the cause of death, which is believed to be fracture of the skull, is determined the inquest will be held.