From the July 9, 1899 edition of The Sun, a tale that could spark fan fiction:
Newsboy’s Swift Revenge
Murderous Assault Seen By A Crowd Near Bridge Entrance.
Driver of a Newspaper Delivery Wagon Stabbed in the Back of the Neck by a Youth Whom He Had Thrashed—He May Die—Assailant Chased and Caught.
A crowd of over 1,000 persons saw a newsboy attempt to murder the driver of a newspaper delivery wagon at 9 o’clock last night at Sands street, Brooklyn near the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge. “Over 500 of them pursued the would-be murderer as he fled, and, after a chase almost to the river front, were rewarded by the sight of his arrest.
Peter Peglies, 22 years old, of 29 Main street, Brooklyn, is the murderous newsboy. His victim is William Gibbons, 23 years old, of 66 Fulton street, Brooklyn. They had a quarrel in the afternoon at the Brooklyn entrance of the bridge over the number of papers Gibbons had furnished to Peglies. Gibbons managed to get in several hard blows on Peglies’s face and head before the crowd interfered and separated them to prevent further damage being done.
Peglies declared at teh time that he would have revenge, and warned Gibbons to look out. Gibbons laughed at the threats and taunted Peglies, saying that he could take care of himself easily with such an antagonist. This made Peglies all the angrier.
Shortly after 9 o’clock last night Gibbons was passing through Sands street on his way to Manhattan. In the meantime Peglies had armed himself with a knife and a razor. Knowing that Gibbons was to go to Manhattan, he lay in wait in Sands street for him. When Gibbons appeared Peglies pushed his way through the crowd after him.
When he caught up to the unsuspecting Gibbons, without a word of warning he pulled the knife from his pocket and made a vicious slash. The blade struck Gibbons in the neck, making a fearful gash. Gibbons fell to the sidewalk, and Peglies turned and ran, pushing the crowd aside.
The spectators were so amazed by what they had seen that they made no effort at first to detail Peglies. The sight of the bloody knife in his hand may have added to the disinclination to interfere. Just as he cleared the crowd and turned toward the river some one shouted that Gibbons was dying. Half of the crowd made a rush for Gibbons while the other half chased after Peglies, who was running like mad down the dark street. He was finally captured at Dock and Front streets by Policeman Lunny. The pursuers made no demonstration against Peglies when he was taken back to Gibbons for identification. Gibbons said he thought Peglies was his assailant because of the afternoon row and the threats Peglies had made, but admitted that he had not seen him before the blow was struck. Peglies was taken to Brooklyn Police Headquarters and locked up on a charge of felonious assault.
A call was sent to the Brooklyn Hospital and Dr. Parrish responded. In the meantime a policeman had partially stopped the flow of blood. Dr. Parrish bandaged the wound and Gibbons was taken to the hospital. On his arrival there he became delirious and tore the bandage off, reopening the wound. Dr. Parrish said last night that Gibbons was in a critical condition.
City Hall Park 1899 