The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-25
nas.ardly Attempt at Assassination.
From the St. Paul Dispatch, March 49,

xAOosASSA..@~~'O--~ |
From the St. Paul Dispatch, March 1917
The DISPATCH is again called to record
a most daring attempt at assassination,
in which a farmer living near Cottage
Grove. some fifteen miles from this city, I
named William Armstrong, is the
victim. suffering severe, and per-
haps fatal, injuries. The mo-
tive. from the meagre information re-
ceived of the terrible affair. seems to have
been robbery, coupled with feeling Of
revenge from financial injury sustained
by the william at the hands of Mr.. Arm
strong.
It appears that one Peter Duchaune,
has been in the employ of Mr.. Armstrong
for the past three weeks. Night before
last he was discharged. Where Du-
chaune spent that night is not now
known, but yesterday morning he came
to this city, returning to Armstrong; in
the afternoon, reaching there in the even
ing. Upon arriving at the
house, Duchaune entered the
room where Mr.. Armstrong and wife were
! sitting and demanded to be allowed to
STAY all night. This was refused, when
Duchaunc demanded 500 of Armstrong,
declaring that he would have it by some
means fair or foul before he left the house.
Armstrong refused to hand over the hun
dred dollars as demanded, but after lit
tie time spent in expostulating with
Duchaune, and further threats on his
part, did give him $25.
This money in Duchaune's hand the
villain picked up monkey-wrench lying
ON the floor, and aimed a murderous blow
at Armstrong, taking effect on the head
and knocking him down. With that Mrs
Armstrong attacked the villain, in which
she was Joined by her husband as soor
as he could recover his feet. Then com
menced desperate fight between then
for the possession of the monkey wrench
Armstrong and his wife succeeding in get
wing it away from the villain tol
a brief space Of time, only
to lose possession OF i
again. Once more armed Will
his terrible weapon Duchaune broke away
from MIR. and Mrs. Armstrong, and sum
moning all his strength, struck Mr.. Arm
strong fearful blow on the head, knock
. ing him senseless.
Mrs. Armstrong. seeing her husband
powerless, started to run, and succeeded
in making her escape from the room b.
; jumping through back window. Ono
outside she at once commenced cryln
murder, which fortunately attracted tn
attention of three neighbors near by. VIII
. made all haste in going to her assistance
the villain meantime making his escap
in an opposite direction.
The neighbors learning the particular
: of the murderous deed, at once arme
;. themselves with shot guns and started
: pursuit of Duchaunc, tracking hum to
/. saloon some two miles distant, where tn
trace was lost. In answer to inquiries, tn
saloon keeper said no such man had bee
!. there, and visit was made to another 81
loon short distance away, but withot
finding the object Of their search
;. On returning to the first saloc
y the keeper informed the party that sue
= man as they described had come in soc
- after they left before, and in answer to h
T. inquiries, had told him that s'old ma
: Armstrong and wife had assaulted hir
: but that he succeeded in knocking II
= = old man down and making his escape,
- after which he left, going in the directie
- Of st. Paul.
~ The party again took the trail, folio
!. ing Duchaune to within two miles OF tn
,. city, where they lost the track.
os Being unable to recover the traii II
:. pursuing party came into the city,report
:. at police headquarters, and Sergea
- Clark and Officer Casey were detailed
- = search the city for Duchaune. This scar
q, !" has been kept up all day, but no trace h
r vet been found of the villain.