Introduction
PATRICK EAGAN was well known in Camden for over 40 years, for no good reason. He was by all accounts a drunk and a serial wife-beater, and when the wife wasn’t at hand Patrick would find someone else to assault. Newspaper articles on-line, which represent a small fraction of what newspaper accounts there were at the time, give account of his escapades and imprisonments, and there were many of them, over a period beginning in 1861 and ending in 1902. The 1902 article tells of his escape from the Camden County Lunatic Asylum, which was located at the Lakeland complex in Gloucester Township, and describe with the sentence “Eagan is known as a dangerous man.” Margaret Eagan, though reportedly much beloved by her son, appears to have been something of a piece of work herself. When the 1880 Census was taken, Patrick was locked up in the Camden County jail once again on one Census sheet, while Margaret had a man named Samuel living with her under the name of Eagan. While Patrick was serving a two-year sentence in a New Jersey state prison for assault, she was beaten up in March of 1891 by a John Tom McCann. The 1870 Census shows William Eagan with brothers John, Edward, and a sister Mary. By 1880 John was no longer living at home, and both Edward and Mary were dead. The 1880 Census shows three children in the household, William and sisters Annie, 8 and Mary, 6.
The 1900 Census shows Patrick Eagan as an inmate at the Camden County Insane Asylum, and Margaret living alone, and that of her six children, 5 were no longer alive. Patrick Eagan escaped from the Asylum in 1902, and as of this writing what became of him is unknown. The 1908 City Directory refers to his wife as a widow, living at 204 Mickle Street. Patrick Eagan and his family were living at 204 Mickle Street as early as 1867.
The one child that was still alive in 1900 was William “Bad Bill” Eagan, who played professional baseball from 1887 through 1900. He turned professional in 1887, and played briefly for three different major league teams. A superb defensive second baseman and no slouch at the plate, Eagan had a terrible problem with alcohol which completely derailed his career and for intents and purposes destroyed his life.
Camden Affairs
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Court—Sentences
COURT—SENTENCES.—The criminal ness of the October Term was finished yesterday. Sentences were delivered as follows:—For assault and battery: Clark Munday, Adam Hare, Jesse C[…] Patrick Early and Peter Holtz, $5 fine and costs; Nelson Collins, assault and battery, $10 fine; Benjamin Vandyke and Patrick Eagan, assault and battery, $20 fine each; John Bowen, assault and battery, one year; Spencer Darr, assault and battery on an officer, two years; Charles Heinle, assault battery with intent to kill, three years; Wm. Cr[…] for keeping a disorderly house, $20 fine; Israel S[…]pard, disorderly house, nine months imprisoned; Thomas Jordan and Charles Watkins, for selling liquor without license, $20 fine each; John Eag[…]son, for adultery, $50 fine; Freedom Pierce, breaking jail, three indictments, one year on each; Benjamin Henry, larceny, one year; Peter Smiley, burglary larceny, two years; George Rabeau and Isaac Fla[…]ming, for an outrage, 5 years each.
Camden County Courts
West Jersey Press —
The following persons have plead guilty:
Jeremiah Julius, on eight bills of indictment for larceny; Albert Smith, on eight bills of indictment for larceny; Michael Bums, assault and battery on officer; John Brisco, petty larceny; Mary Wood, grand larceny; Nicholas Brady, selling liquor on Sunday; Sophia Mildin, breaking and entering; William Stanley, stealing chickens; Charles Jubb, Jr., petty larceny; John Shivers, burglary and arson; Peter Shine, petty larceny; Patrick Eagan, assault and battery on officer; Charles Steward, petty larceny; Hugh McNiel, assault and battery; James Mezeney, assault and battery; William Gallagher, assault and battery; William Albertson and Jacob Hichner, selling liquor on Sunday, without license, and disorderly house; William Dill, selling liquor on Sunday and without license; William White, selling liquor on Sunday; Frank Lodge, selling liquor on Sunday; John Daley, assault and battery; Sarah F. Knapp, adultery; Andrew B. Wilcox, adultery; Robert Small, assault and battery; Robert Small, malicious mischief.
John E. Hartman, who was on trial, as we went to press last week, was found guilty of assault and battery.
State vs. Joshua Grumby, assault and battery. Jenkins for State, Reed for deft. Guilty.
State vs. Mary Flynn, assault and battery. Jenkins for State, A. C. Scovel for deft. Verdict not guilty.
State vs. Anthony Petit, breaking and entering. Jenkins for State, A. C. Scovel for deft. Verdict not guilty.
State vs. Susan Watson, petit larceny. Jenkins for State, Reed for deft. Verdict guilty.
State vs. William Officer, breaking and stealing. Jenkins for State, Reed for deft. Verdict guilty.
State vs. Patrick O’Neil, selling liquor on Sunday. Jenkins for State, A. C. Scovel for deft.—Disagreed.
State vs. Owen Tracey, assault and battery. Jenkins for State, A. C. Scovel for deft. Verdict guilty.
State vs. Margaret Pilean, assault and battery.—Jenkins for State, A. C. Scovel for deft. Verdict guilty.
State vs. Michael Klienhintz, selling liquor on Sunday. Jenkins for State, Reed for deft. Verdict guilty.
Atrocious Assault
Philadelphia Inquirer —
ATROCIOUS ASSAULT.—A violent assault was made upon his wife by Patrick Egan, who lives on Mickle street, above second, on Saturday night, in which he inflicted a severe wound on her neck with a butcher knife. He was deterred from doing her further harm by parties who were present. Egan was in a state of intoxication at the time.
Crash!
Camden Democrat —
CRASH!—On Tuesday afternoon, during the heavy blow, a large willow tree, at the corner of Second and Mickle streets, yielded to the force of the storm and came down with a crash against the house of Patrick Egan, smashing windows, &c. For a time it completely blockaded Mickle street. In repairing the sidewalks it was necessary to cut away some of the roots, which weakened its hold upon the earth.
Patrick Egan Committed to County Jail
Philadelphia Public Ledger —
Committed—Mayor Gaul yesterday committed Patrick Egan to the county jail, to answer a charge of violent assault and battery on his wife. Patrick is an old offender, and has often been arraigned for similar offences.
Pat Egan Assaults His Wife
Camden New Republic —
Pat Egan assaulted his wife, a hard working woman, on Monday night last, and her cries and moans drew a number of sympathising people to the vicinity of Second and Mickle streets. Pat was accommodated with lodgings at the Station house in consequence, and should be sent to Trenton for his brutality.
Patrick Egan Committed to County Jail
Camden Democrat —
Mayor Gaul on Wednesday committed Patrick Egan to the county jail, to answer a charge of violent assault and battery on his wife. Patrick is an old offender.
Over the River
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Cases Disposed Of—Seventh Ward Election Fraud—Accident—Delegates—Appointed—Military Review
The labors of the Camden courts were resumed yesterday. The following are the criminal cases thus far disposed of.—Silas Hopkins, petty larceny, verdict, guilty; Wm Gibbs, petty larceny, guilty; Wm. Sutors, assault and battery, guilty; Patrick Eagan, assault and battery, guilty; same, malicious mischief, guilty; Chas Russ, fraud, guilty; James Thomas, assault and battery, guilty; William Willis, larceny, not guilty, Sarah Johnson, alias Sarah Watson, larceny, guilty; John McCahan, assault and battery, guilty.
Mayor's Office
Camden Democrat —
MAYOR’S OFFICE.—Since our last issue, the following arrests have been made, and the cases disposed of:—
Charles Lacober, drunk and disorderly, fined. Charles Schnable, drunk, let off with promises. Joseph Fittinger, malicious mischief, paid damages and costs. Patrick Egan, disorderly, let off with costs. Caroline Willis, disorderly, discharged. Charles Werner, disorderly, fined. John and Harry Garner, boys, discharged with a reprimand. Wm. Simmons, drunk, let off with promises. John Toner and John McNulty, disorderly, discharged. Wm. L. Chase, drunk and disorderly, fined $5 and costs. S. Pugh, corner lounging, fined. D. W. Edgarton, drunk and disorderly, fined. Michael Malony, held to keep the peace. Sarah Paul, do. do. Charles Russ, assault and battery, committed. Joseph Dutton, assault and battery, held to answer in $500 bail. Andrew Swope, do. do., held in $500 bail. Annie Collins, do. do., held in $250 bail. John Edwards, drunk and disorderly, fined. John Dougherty, do. do. Elias Bounds, do. do. Harry Kay, drunk, fined. Three boys, named Slitz, Mungo and Welsh, were fined for throwing stones. Andrew Mansfield, drunk and disorderly on the ferry boat, fined. Mary Schweinhagen, drunk and disorderly, fined.
Assault and Battery
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Assault and Battery.—Justice Cassady on Saturday gave a hearing to Michael Hefferman on a charge of assault and battery on Patrick Eagan with a base ball club. He was also held for selling liquor on Sunday.
Over the River
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On Saturday a term of the Camden Special Sessions was held by Judge Charles T. Reed. John E. Mortimer was committed to the county jail for thirty days, on a charge of stealing a bucket of mince meat from the store of Thomas Simpson, Fourth and Market street. William Carpenter was sent to State prison for six months at hard labor for having committed a heinous crime. Patrick Egan was fined fifty dollars and costs, to be paid in one week, or receive six months in the penitentiary, for an atrocious assault and battery on a woman named Mary Butler. John Schell, for beating his wife, received one year in State Prison. Mary Laws was committed to the county jail for thirty days for assault and battery on Josephine Groves.
Patrick Eagan Fined for Assault on Wife
Trenton Evening Times —
Patrick Eagan was fined yesterday in Camden for holding the head of his spouse under a hydrant and giving her an involuntary bath.
Pat Egan Sent to State Prison
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Pat Egan and William O’Brien, convicted at the last special term of court, were taken to the State Prison yesterday. Egan will serve two years for assault and battery on his wife, and O’Brien will serve the same length of time for breaking into a dwelling.
Brief ‘Cross the River Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Patrick Eagan, the man who broke into Joseph Reed’s house and assaulted him, was held in $1,000 bail by Mayor Pratt yesterday.
Sanity of Patrick Eagan in Question
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The prosecutor informed the court that he had doubts about the sanity of Patrick Eagan, who was charged with assault and battery, breaking and entering and malicious mischief. His case was postponed until he can be examined by County Physician Iszard.
Sentence Suspended Due to Insanity
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Patrick Eagan, charged with assault and battery, breaking and entering and malicious mischief, was before the court yesterday. Sentence was suspended, because three physicians, who examined him, said his mind was unbalanced.
Camden’s News Budget
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Pat Egan Again Arrested—Odds and Ends of Jersey Life
The notorious Pat Egan, of Camden, is once more in the lockup. This time it is for assault and battery and interfering with an officer in the discharge of his duties. Yesterday Pat’s wife became rather disorderly and Officer William Selby, of the Third ward, proceeded to arrest her. Patrick defied the officer to lay a hand on her. The officer was not to be intimidated, however, and seized Mrs. Egan and Pat grabbed him. A bitter struggle ensued, in which the officer had his coat badly torn, but he succeeded in landing both in the City Hall. Pat has been out of jail three days this time.
Patrick Eagan Sent to State Prison
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Constable Tomlinson yesterday took the following prisoners to the State Prison: Patrick Eagan, for two years; Henry Harper, one year, both for assault and battery, and Frank Scheen, one year, for stealing a horse.
John Tom McCann Jailed for Beating Margaret Eagan
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On a charge of beating Mrs. Margaret Eagan, John Tom McCann was sent to jail by Mayor Pratt yesterday.
A Confirmed Wife Beater
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Patrick Eagan, who has spent most of the time of late years in prison for wife-beating, and who was but recently released after serving a two years’ term, was again arrested by the Camden police yesterday for assault and battery on Mrs. Eagan.
Patrick Eagan Again Arrested for Wife-Beating
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Patrick Eagan, a notorious wife-beater, who was recently released from State prison, was again committed for trial by Justice Cassady yesterday for pounding Mrs. Eagan’s face. It took three stalwart policemen to arrest him.
Beat Their Wives and Now Crazy
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Patrick Eagan, of Camden, a confirmed wife beater and a “terror” to the police, has been adjudged insane and will be sent to the county asylum at Blackwood. Eagan has been convicted time and again and served several sentences in State Prison, always for assault and battery or wife beating. When an attempt would be made to arrest him he would fight like a demon and it generally required two or three officers to subdue him. Samuel Walters, another Camden wife beater, has also been declared insane and will accompany Eagan to the asylum.
Patrick Eagan Escapes From Asylum
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Camden police were notified yesterday to be on the lookout for Patrick Eagan, who escaped from the asylum at Blackwood. Eagan is known as a dangerous man.