Our fallen hero

On Sunday, April 17, 1859, a fire broke out at a die house behind Shippen Street below 12th Street. While fighting the fire a fight broke out between the Shiffler Hose Co. and the Moyamensing Hose Co. There had been a long running grudge between the two, and this was but another clash between them. During the fight, gun fire broke out and two men were hit. John Capie from the Shiffler and Robert Thompson from the Moyamensing.

John Capie was taken to the hospital, where he died of his wounds on April 20. Robert Thompson was taken to jail. It was later discovered that he also had been shot and was taken to the hospital. Thompson was charged with shooting Capie and later charged with his death. With word of the charges Thompson escaped from the hospital and went into hiding. He later gave himself up, was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of John Capie. Thompson was pardoned in September 1862 on the condition that he enlist in the U.S. Army, which he did.