Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear

Today, I decided to check the Hudson Daily Star for December 12, 1872, to find out what was happening in Hudson 150 years ago. I discovered the daily coverage of the trial of a man named John V. Kiere, who was accused of shooting two belligerent customers in his saloon, who were allegedly armed with knives. Curious to know more about Kiere, I did a search for him in the newspapers available on FultonHistory.com. In 1876, a Kinderhook publication called The Rough Notes says of Kiere, then accused of murdering one Charles H. Heermance, that his "reputation for shooting had long been known, he having shot and wounded (so it is said) no less than seven persons." 

Kiere's saloon was located at 28 South Front Street, now a vacant lot used for outdoor dining by Wm. Farmer and Sons, but the account of mayhem involving Kiere took place not at his saloon but at Central House, located on the southeast corner of Warren and Fifth streets, in the summer of 1868. (Central House appears at the far right in the photo below.) What follows is the newspaper account of the incident that appeared in the Hudson Daily Star for July 22, 1868.

A Drunken Row in Warren Street--Eight Shots 

Fired at Officer Duffy

The upper part of Warren street, in the vicinity of the Central House, was thrown into a high state of excitement Sunday afternoon from the following cause: A party of down-towners, composed of George Best, John Kiere, Frank Ames, Charles Brown, and Jacob Rivenburgh came up street about 2½ o'clock, the whole being more or less intoxicated, and went into the Central House. While in there a quarrel was originated by George Best with a citizen, who, instead of retaliating, proceeded in search of an officer to arrest Best. Seeing officer Duffy sitting across the street, in front of Westcott's leather store, he stated the case to him, and the officer at once promptly responded and went over and into the Hotel. As soon as Best saw Duffy he made for him, and a scuffle ensued between them, the officer managing to throw the loafer on the floor in the hallway, when Frank Ames came to Best's aid, and, as is alleged by the officer, struck Duffy a heavy blow over his eye with his fist. The combatants then got out into the street, when they became separated, Best going up street to the residence of Mrs. Geo. E. Seymour, when he got behind a tree, pulled out his revolver and fired several times at officer Duffy who stood in the middle of the sidewalk and never flinched an inch. John Kiere then became brave also, and pulled out his revolver—and, making Duffy a target, fired several shots at him, none of which luckily took effect, but the balls lodged in the pillars supporting the piazza, and some went across the street and into the shutters of Mr. F. Jessup, grocer. Not having a pistol, officer Duffy could not return the fire of his murderous assailants, but one was procured for him, and he then shot two or three times at Best and Kiere, but the balls did not hit either one. 

A young lady sitting in the up street window of Mrs. Lay's millinery shop narrowly escaped being killed, as one of the balls from the pistols crashed through the window blind and passed over her head about and inch, and the splinters flew over her head. The ball lodged in a ribbon box sitting on a shelf.

While in the hotel Best placed his pistol in the face of Alderman Wm. H. Van Tassel and threatened to shoot him, and it was well for the big loafer that Van had no pistol, for he would certainly have made cold meat of the cowardly assailant.

After the row at the Central, Best and the rest of the party went up street, pursued by officer Duffy and a great crowd of citizens. Best and Kiere run over into the alley back of the Upper District School House and then jumped over into the yard of Mr. E. Tiffany and hid themselves for a short time, when they got out and ran down town, but one of the two dropped his pistol in Mr. T.'s yard, and he has it now in his possession. The other three members of the party were arrested and taken to Jail. Best proceeded to the River, got into a boat and shoved off into the channel, when he bid defiance to officer Duffy, who stood on the shore, to arrest him. He then rowed down to the point, where he got out. Kiere took the railroad track and made splendid time over the North Bay and went out of sight.

After the men had been disposed of, officer Duffy, by order of Ald. Van Tassel, went after Kate Best, who in company with George Best, keep a house of ill fame in Diamond street, between Third and Fourth streets. This celebrated woman flourished a pistol in her hand while pursuit was being given her husband, and made threats to shoot any one who dared come in her house after her worthy spouse. The officer first received information that "Katie" had gone through her yard into the alley in the rear, and after her he went, but she was not there. By this time we should judge there was two hundred persons in front of the house. The officer next went toward the house, when, just as he came to the North corner "Katie" and one of her "girls" (a bleared prostitute) come out of the back door and were arrested, both screaming loudly. At this time Marshall E. F. Bostwick and officers Nye and Gifford had arrived, and they escorted the two women to Jail, followed by the crowd. When the arrest of these two females took place, a third "girl" was seen to go down Diamond Street at a good rate of speed, and she was set after by at least half a dozen men, arrested and taken to Jail, so that, as the result of the row at the Central House, when the sun went down three men and three women were boarders at Sheriff Overhiser's marble eldorado.

That such disorderly, criminal proceedings should take place on the Sabbath, and at a time when school children by the hundreds, and other persons were in the street, thus jeopardizing life and limb, is a shame to any community. It was only by a miraculous combination of circumstances that no lives were sacrificed, and full justice should be meted out to the guilty parties. The conduct of officer Duffy throughout the entire affray is deserving of the highest praise. Single-handed he contended with Best, Kiere, and that, too, when the bullets from their pistols flew around him like hail stones. He did not seek shelter from the danger, but heroically stood his ground, letting the cowards see that he was not afraid of them. Those who saw the transaction say "Duffy is a good one." We can say he is a faithful, brave man, and entitled to unbounded praise.

As to the house of prostitution kept by Best and his paramour, cannot the vile den be broken up? Is it possible that we must tolerate such a nuisance in the very heart of our city, to bring reproach upon the entire community, and cause citizens to avoid going through the street wherein it is located, and those owning property near by to have the same fall below true value, because the den of infamy, like the thistle in the field, grows and prospers to the detriment of the law abiding and peaceable people in the same street. Will our authorities not break up this den?

In his book Diamond Street, Bruce Hall retells the story of the incident on Warren Street, which he calls the "Sunday Riot," starting on page 22, and includes this photograph of Kate and George Best's house, which stood at 325 Columbia Street, where the county office building now stands.

Photo: Bruce Edward Hall

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