The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-25

Attempt Mt Assassination.
From the St. Paul Dispatch, March 1917 /,
The DISPATCH is again called to record
! most daring attempt at assassination,
in which a farmer living near Cottage
Grove. some fifteen miles from this city, T
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 q. feeling Of
revenge from financial injury sustained
NV the villian 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 hum
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 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 soon
as he could recover his feet. Then COM
menced desperate fight between them
for the possession of the monkey.wrench,
Armstrong and his wife succeeding in get
wing it away from the villain for
a brief space of time, only
to lose possession of it
again. Once more armed with
his terrible weapon Duchaune broke away
from Mr.. and Mrs. Armstrong. and sum
moning all his strength, struck Mr.. Arm
strong = fearful blow on the head, knock
ing him senscless.
Mrs. Armstrong. seeing her husband
powerlcss, started to run, and succeeded
in making her escape from the room BY
jumping through back window. Onct
outside she at once commenced crying
murder, which fortunately attracted thu
attention of three neighbors near by, whit
; made all haste in going to her assistance
the villain meantime aking his escape
in an opposite direction.
The neighbors learning the particular
of the murderous deed, at once arme'
themselves with shot guns and started il
: pursuit of Duchaune, tracking him to
: saloon some two miles distant, where tn
trace was lost. In answer to inquiries, tn
saloon.keeper said no such man had bee'
4. there, and visit WAS made to another sa
loon q short distance away, but withou
finding the object Of their search
:. On returning to the first saloo
: the keeper informed the party that sue
: a man as they described had come in 500
!. after they left before, and in answer to hi
= INQUIRIES, had told him that t'old ma
Armstrong and vile had assaulted hin
but that he succeeded in knocking tn
: old man down and making his escape,
= after which he left, going in the directio
;. of st. Paul.
- The party again took the trail, follow
Y ing Duchaune to within two miles Of th
:. city, where they lost the track.
- Being unable to recover the tvali tn
! pursuing party came into the city,reporte
:. at police headquarters. and Sergeai
- Clark and Officer Casey were detailed
search the city for Duchaune. This scare
= = has been kept up all day. but no trace hi
= vet been found Of the villain.