The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-01-23
THE MINNESOTA PIONEER
st. Paul, Allnnessta,
Thursday Morning. January %. 1851.

contained in the Chronicle & Register,
however correct in the main incident, Is
wonderfully exaggerated and one-sidcd
in its details.
The inferences deduced are that Mr..
Goodhue was the assailant That this
was not the case is q fact known to n
number Of respectable individuals who
happened to be present, whose impartial
sta cmcnts and sworn testimony can be
procured.
The affidavit Of one who was an eye
witness to the transaction is herewith
presented. Many others, in further
confederation, could be easily obtained,
but il is deemed unnecessary.
On "Wednesday, January 9Th, 1851. be-
tween eleven and twelve O'Clock, | met Col.
Goodhuc in front of The State House and
inquired Of him if he was going SHOWN
town." He. replied in the affirmative and
said "come along" We started together
on our way down, the Col. OIL my right, aud
when nearly opposite Masterson and ST.
mons office l noticed Mr.. Joseph Cooper
coming towards us, and approaching, he
sided over towards us. When within
few steps of us, he male sudden rush at
Col. Goodhue and struck at him, the blow
being aimed at his face. Col. Goodbue
wheeled and retreated few PAGES, and up
on observing them, perceived that both
had drawn pistols and were aiming at each
other; Col. GoOdhue with a single. bar
relied pistol and Mr.. Cooper having six
barrelled revolver. Col. Goodhue spoke
first and said, "Mr. Cooper, wait you to
let me alone." or words to that seffect.
Cooper replied, "why did you publish that
article!" Col. Goodhue again said, "Ge
along and LET me alone" Mr.. Cooper an
swered, saying, ono won't, I'll blow your
God damned brains out" or words to that
effect. Willis, they were thus talking ran
into Mnsterson s. Simons' office, and cali
ed upon MIR. Simons, (because he was a
Justice Of the Pcace) to come out and stop
these men from fighting. When returned
l found them still in the same attitude, with
pistols presented. In few moments Sheriff
c. p. V. Lull ran up, commanded peace |
and ordered Mr.. Cooper to deliver up his
pistol, which think he did after some hes
itation. Mr.. Lull then walked over to Mr.. /
Goodhue to take his pistol from him, and as
he (Goodhue) was uncocking it, Mr.. Coop .
err ran in and struck at him, but am not GER |
tain that he struck him. In the scuffle to
prevent Cooper from striking him, the pis-
toll went off accidentally. Mr.. Cooper still |
persisted in attacking Col. Goodhue, who |
used every enieavor to evade him. After
the pistol went of, Mr.. Cooper again ran at
Col. Goodhne, and struck him once or
twice while he Was retreating. Col. Good I
hue when thus followed up, drew another /
pistol and was about TO shoot when some
person or persons came between him and
MIR. Cooper. After some more attempts to /
stop the affray, MIR. Cooper picked up
coming exasperated, ran at Cooper, who |
retreated, and whilst running Col. Good
hue, slipped and fell. Before he had time
to arise, some person or persons seized him
around the arms, from behind, and when !
thus held, Mr.. Cooper drew large knife (
and ran towards him, and when within
step or two, stabbed Col. Goodhue in the !
abdomen; GOodhuc then almost immediate
ly fired his pistol. AT the time Cooper
stabbed Col. GoOdhue, some person had .
hold of him. Mr.. Cooper cried onr, sthe |
son Of bitch has shot me-" and again |
rushed at GoOdhue and stabbed him in the I
back on the left side. Mr.. Cooper made /
several more attempts to- stab him but was /
prevented.
During the affray, when persons were en-
'leavoring to prevent MIR. Cooper from ut
tacking Col Goodhue, some person or per-
sons cried out several times, 'sdopi hold him.
let him go, let him kill the son of bitch"
Mr.. Cooper acted upon the offensive and /
Col. Goodhue upon the defensive from the |
and the latter used every endeav-
or to evade the attacks Of Mr.. Cooper
When Mr.. Cooper wa. prevented from
making any more assaults upon Col. Good /
hue, led him (Goodhue) into Phillips aud
Bishops Office until sleigh could lie pro-
cured to convey him to his residence. To .
the above statement would also add that
the shooting of Cooper at that time, saved .
Col. GOodhue's life.
JOHNF. TEXAN. /
Sworn and subscribed to before the, this /
2lst day Of Jan. A. u. 1851.
rHos. II. Porrs, Pres. Town Of ST. Paul, /
Elk. Of. J. P. 4.
In order that the affray between Colone
Goodhue and Mr.. Joseph Cooper may APP
pear IN its proper light before the commu-
nifty, Hon. Nj. M'Leod and John F. 1e-
"dhs Esq, requested me 10 prepare state /
ment of all the occurrences with which
was cognizant connected with that unfortu-
nate occurrence. will merely state that
it happened to be my unpleasant los in pas
sing from the capitol, where had been en-
gagged in the performance of my duties as
chaplain to the Council, to witness the rem
contre in part, and from all can say or
legally testify to, ! have no hesitation in /
stating that did not then, neither do now
believe that Col. Goodhue was the attacking
party. J. P. PARSONS.
Being in company with the Rev. j. p. !
Parsons on the occasion alluded to in the /
above statement, | do not hesitate to ex. |
press the opinion that did then and do
now entertain, that James Nj. Goodhue was
not the attacking party. ..
l.. M. FORD.
SAINT PAUL, Jan. 81, 1850.
The whole of this unfortunate affair
will doubtless hereafter receive the soru-
tiny Of judicial enquiry when ii will then
be discovered that some Of these very