The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-15
SERIOUS AFFRAF.
Man Killed in Davenport
DaATH II A BALLOON.

A few minutes past four o'clock, yester-
day afternoon, Davenport was s'aruea "
the report that man had been kiiieo a.
Nelson's .slson, on Main street, and IN nve
minutes hundred people were on the spot
Tho rumor was but too true, and on entering
the saloon the body of . man was found
living on the floor, breathing heavily and
slowly. He died in about ten minutes
after receiving the shot. Among the MANI
conflicting stories afloat, the following
to be the plain facts in the. saa
gathered by our reporter
rur CAUSES FOR THE ACT.
| ,.-;a,a, Who thus met his death
;,,o the saloon once or twice IN the
course of the afternoon, and demanded
drink. At this time he was considerably
under the influence of liquor. Nelson each
time refused to sell him any drinks,
and ordered him out Of the place, as the
man had become abusive in his speech, and
was gesticulsting and talking in a loud tone
of voice. About four o'clock he came back
again, and made disturbance as before,
whereupon Nelson put him out into the
street, and Immediately the man returned,
and scufie ensued. The mother of Mel
son. an old lady, 80 years OF age, came down
stairs to see what the trouble was. She had
arrived the day before from Cordova, Ill.,,
and occupied room over the saloon. Upon
her appearance the combatants we're seps-
rated, and tie stranger, turning round,
wrenched heavy cane from the hand OF q
man who was standing by, and struck
Mrs. Nelson pretty severe blow over the
shoulders. Nelson collsred him again, and
| the other made furious attempt to strike
/ the old lady Nelson loosed his hold upon
him, and running behind the bar, caught up
a pistol and presented it at the man, whose
right arm at that moment WAS raised to
strike Mrs. Nelson. Her son fred, and the
man staggered heavily against the wall ex.
/ claiming, ''you have shot me through the
heart" and then slid down to a reclining
position on the floor. A physician WAS i'm
mediately sent for, and DR.. French appeared,
but could no, in any way aid the unfortun-
| ate man. The wounded person mumbled q
| few incoherent words at fret, then his
| breathing became more lsbored, and soon
his features settled into the hard outlines OF
death. The ball had struck him in the right
breast, exactly on the nipple, and passed
sransverselY through the lungs, lodging
somewhere on his left side.
WHO WAS He?
! No one in the city seems to know the
dead man, but on examining bis person, an
account book was found with the name OF
civilian Donovan, May 9th, 1870 written
upon a fy leaf The following memoranda
we're found in various places through the
book: "Emporia, Lyon Co., Iowa" WIN
Donovan, McDonough Co., Illinois Bush
rod Evans, St. Augustine, Monmouth, Co.
H. prairie Co., Galesburg." "Cleve-
land 4 Dinan, contractors 'Csme &c
board at McGinty's 10th of MAY for
dinner. "Csme TO board at McGhee's
the 9th of June for supper; fourteen meals
besides, S3.22." Evidently Donovan was a
working man, as his clothes were of coarse
material and his hands betokened labor.
i Apparently he was about 40 years of age
| 5 feet 0 inches in hight reddish brown
mustsche and goasee; dark hair and eyes
His face was rather thin, but not Ill looking
THE OTHER PARTY TO THE TRAGEDY.
William Nelson, the other participant in
this sad occurrence, has lived in Davenport,
saloon in the place above mentioned, and /:
represented to be a very quiet person, who
attends strictly to his own business, and has
not been known to have had trouble with
any one while he has lived there. He hvec
in Philadelphia for twenty years befor,
coming here. and was engaged for man,
years in the -four and feed business. Hi
wife and three interesting daughters ar
keeping boarders in the house belonging t.
James johnson, Esq, corner Front ant
Warren streets.
Immediately on the commission Of the &C
Nelson gave himself up to Sheriff Schnitger
who was on the spot in q very few moment
after the occurrence. He expresses deey
regret at the sad termination of the affair
but says 1t was more than he could bear t.
see a man strike at his old mother with
heavy cane. He was removed to iail, where
he now lies.
An inquest was held, and at three o'clocl
this afternoon the jury adjourned until to-
morrow. Their verdict will probably b,
iustifabe HON icide.