The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-03-04
STARTLING TRAGEDY
in SOCIAL LIFE.
A MAN SHOOTS DEAD THE PAR
AMOUR OF HIS WIFE.
SHOCKING CONDUCT OF
THE WOMAN.
Full Particulars of the Whole
Affair.
Coroner's Inquest and Verdict

In Minneapolis on the oath ult., at about ~
o'clock, A. M; George w. P. Littlefeld was shot
by Sumner C. Cutter and died almost instantly.
Cutter, accompanied by friend, was walking
up First street and, on the second square from
Bridge street, saw Littlefeld coming through
Ankney's lumber yard in direction to meet
him, and, exclaiming, "There comes that
black-hearted william" started towards Little
field. drawing pistol as he advanced and aim
ing towards him. As he raised the pistol. Lit
,tlefeld cried out, "Don't! oh, don't, Cutter !"
and turned to run, Cutter following him upon
a run. and moment after firing at him the
ball taking effect under the left shoulder blade.
Running around some piles of lumber, and
through the lumber yard, Littlefeld had nearly
reached the cross street. about forty PAGES
from where he was shot when he fell to the
ground, lifeless. Cutter soon after went down
to Bridge street, searching for Constable Will
liams, with the intention of giving himself into
custody. and not finding him then went to the
house of q friend named Lewis and remained
there till near nine o'clock when Sheriff Arm
strong, who had been sent for to st. Anthony
went to the house and arrested him.
At the time of the arrest, Cutter appeared
almost stupefed by reaction from great excite
ment, and looked pale and weak, and made no
reply to questions asked him. Until the time
he was delivered at the Jail. he remained in the
same condition, answering once negative to
some question put to him by the Sheriff, NUT
tering, Where's the villain ?" and, just be-
fore reaching the Jail, asking, "Where are you
going to put me?" He was SO weak as to re-
auire help to assist him from the buggy and
into the Jail, and, as it was suspected that he
might have taken poison, Drs Hill and Ames
were at once sent for. They united in saying
hat the prisoner was only ailing from the
effects of excitement, and prescribed for him
accordingly.
At the Jail the prisoner was searched. His
pistol had been taken from him by Mr.. Lewis,
and nothing else unusual was discovered about
him
1t tappears that Littlefield and Cutter were
both carpenters. and had been for long time
ON friendly terms. Littlefeld has been board
ing with Cutter, and the latter, until of late,
has had no suspicion that the former was on
too intimate terms with his wife. Recently,
while Littlefield remained at work in Morri-
sons saw-mill, and boarding at Cutters,
Mr.Cutter has been at work in the pine
ries. On Saturday morning last he re-
turned home, it is rumored, on account of in
formation sent him that Littlefeld and Mrs.
Cutter, during his absence, were undoubtedly
guilty of improper intimacy. On Monday
morning, by some arrangement between the
parties, Cutter turned Littlefield from mis- house
and g We his wife money to go to her relatives
ln the East. He gave her check for $75 on
:he State Bank. which she presented and had
eashed the next morning. Where she spent
Monday and Monday night is not vet made
public; but Tuesday rhe came to St. Paul, and
rut up at the Temperance House on Jackson
street. Tuesday evening Li:tlefield returned
from St. Paul to Minneapolis. and was probably
going to his work at the saw-mill yesterday
morning when he was met and shot by Cutter.
Littiefield was a tall, strong well-built man,
of not more than twenty-eight years of age.
He was the only son of parents residing in New
Hampshire.
Cutter is described as about thirty-fve wears