Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-15
the ST. LOUIS TRAGEDY.
End of n FAST Iffe-rwo strangers
Meet and one is Killed About n
Woman and n Letter.

The ST Louis Democrat of the l0tf
gives he particulars of the killing q
Caleb W Baldwin, wealthy young mar
of that city, by A. J. Spahr, a Missouri
river pilot. Baldwin, who seems to have
been leading fat life had rooms oTel
I he csiee Of the Southern stables, and
IN that Office, on the evening of the 9th
Mr. Spahr was for the first time made
acquainted with him. Spahr produced .
letter from friend of his, and asked
3 Baldwin if he had ever made a remark
which was therein imputed to him.
Baldwin denied it, and continued to do
so during conversation which lasted
some minutes, Spahr talking in a
menacing manner all the time At length
Spahr said,
You say you did not say this; if you
did, you are dirty, lying s. of b."
Baldwin said, "hold on, I" and tried to
mollify Spahr, who was very angry.
Spahr said: You say you did not say
II -
Baldwin replied: II did not say il,
Spahr retorted: IF you did, you are
dirty, lying s. of b., or some
thing to that effect.
Baldwin answered; Il do say / did
not say it, and you are s-n of b-h. "
The combat then commenced. Spahr
advanced toward Baldwin, and both
struck at each other at the same time.
They clinched and struggled outside Of
the railing, and Baldwin backed Spahr
against the railing
Mr.. Miles g. kehoe, foreman Of the
stable, who was present at the time,
thought it about time to separate the
combatants, and, although a cripple,
walking with crutch, he took hold of
Spahr and pulled him back. Baldwin
followed up mis- antagonist, and they
clenched again
| Kehoe tried to part them, and told
them to 20 away and behave themselves
He got partially between them, and had
a hand on the shoulder of each, when he
says both drew their pistols and fred
simultaneously.
Spahr's pistol was a derringer The
ball entered Baldwins heart, producing
INSTANT DEATH.
Baldwin pistol was six-inch Colt 8
revolver. He fred but one shot The
ball struck Spahr on the side Of the fore
head, near the temple, and, penetrating
the skin, glanced around and came out
at the back of his head. Spahr fell near
the body of his antagonist, and at first it
was thought that he, too, was dead.
DR.. Hodgen and one or two other
physicians were sent for. They pro-
nouneed Baldwin dead. Spahr's wound
was dressed, and he was sent to the
Sisters Hospital His wound is said
not to be dangerous He was stunned,
and, after recovering his senses, talked
in a Wild and confused manner. The
= above is the account of Mr.. Kehoe.
The letter which was the immediate
cause of this fatal ARRAY was written by
young man named George W. Bau-
man, clerk In the Assessors office 1t
was addressed to A. J. Spahr, at Boon
vile. Missouri. The following is the
first part Of the letter, the remainder
being of no interest
THE LETTER.
OFFICE OF MISSOURI SCALE WORKS, /
ll3 MARKET ST., ST. LOUIS, Feb. Is, 1870. !
|. FRIEND BUD: No doubt you have come
to the conclusion that / have forgotten
you, but not so. The fact is, / have been
almost ashamed to write 10 you. or rather
felt so, in regard TO that pistol / have
} repeatedly tried in vain to get it, but il
seems impossible at present, as one party
Accuses the other of havingit. So, ifyou
have to pay for the pair, / will make il
all right with you at my earliest conve-
nience. have been working in the
4 Assessors Office for about month, but
have nothing TO do at present VIII 20
!. back to work therein the course of two OF
three weeks have been expecting you
here most every day, as the boats are about
getting ready torun up the Missouri river
| suppose that you have heard about
your rival having a windfall, that is, he
fell heir to some 100000 This town is
hardly big enough to hold him He is
keeping Nellie in fine style, and, if he
keeps on as he has been doing, | think
his money will not hold out long. BY
the bye, him and / had few words in
. regard to you. He told me that when
next wrote to you to tell you that he had
said that you was id son of b.
and told him that ! thought he was the
biggest one. Wecame very near coming
together. In my opinion he IS snob
and don't amount to much | suppose
, you are no company now for Nellie, since
her new friend has got so much money
, hope that ere this you have received
| your money from the party up the river
From your friend, G. W. BAuMAx.
A j Spahr, or, as he is called, Bud
Spahr, is about twenty-seven years old
! single man; resides at Bonneville, and
is a pilot in the Missouri river. He is 9
tall aad remarkably stout man, being siN
feet two inches in hight
Caleb W. Baldwin was sbopt twenty
? years old, a son Of the late c. W. Bald
, win, 40 old resident Of this county. H'
boarded at the Planters House and
b roomed on Elm street, over the Office Of
the Southern stables. He was nnmar
1 ried. He was not engaged in any bust
q ness, but lived on his money. Hi
= brother-in-law was on the spot soon aftel
the occurrence, and, after learning tn,
facts. went out 70 the residence Of the
family Of deceased, at Ceniertol, on the
i Olive street road
= The frail creature who was the remote
oauea az the fohf L. naruad Nellie AM