Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-14
JUsTIEIABLE HOMICIDE,
That 1s What the Coroner's Jury Says Was
the Matter With PrOffett.

That is What the Coroner's Jury Says Was
the Matter With Proffett.
An inquest was held at l2 O'Clock noon
yesterday on the remains of j. G. Proffett,
who died from injuries inflicted by young
man named Alonzo Cross, at McGrath's sa-
loon, White Bear lake, on Saturday, the 14th
day of last August.
1t will be remembered that PROTECT was
struck with mop handle while in the act of
attempting to shoot McGrath. a.. l r.
A jury was empannelled of the following
citizens: w. @. Wilson, John x. Davidson,
foreman, w. H. Albrecht, j. P. Leitner and
P. O'Grady.
The testimony, which explains the affair,
was as follows
u. y. McGrath, was first sworn, and testified
as follows: Keep a saloon at White Bear lake;
recognized the deceased; had known him three
weeks before the affair; the trouble occurred on
Saturday, the 18th of August; the night of the
18th dance took place at Getty's hall; deceas-
ed came over for drink; the dance broke up
at O. clock. when deceased came over; game
of draw, at five cents ante, was in progress; de-
ceased wanted to come into the game. which
broke up at o'clock; when witness and de-
ceased played half an hour; deceased played
winner, when he suddenly threw the cards on
| the floor; witness told him to pick them up;
after some hesitation he picked them up with
ceased came in looking pale;
he pulled revolver and commanded wit
ness to get behird the bar, saying, ''you must
beg my pardon;'' deceased then said, you
| son of BIB, I'll make you beg my pardon"
! at the same drawing his revolver; as he did
this the bar-keeper, who was hopping the
floor, struck him with the mop-handle. He
| had been drinking; didn't think he was drunk;
he went to Leips' and got the revolver; when he
returned he seemed to be drunk; deceased
| was a quiet man; he was a professional card
player; thought he came from Missouri.
Alonzo Gross, the barkeeper who manipulated
the mop handle, testified as follows: Knew
Mr.. Proffett; last seen him on the 18th of August
On the morning of the 18th witness went into
the saloon; party was engaged at playing
cards; deceased threw the cards on the heOr;
McGrath asked him what had made him throw
the cards down and ordered him to pick them
up; deceased picked them up, and walked off
witness was engaged in scrubbing out when
deceased returned about q half hour later; the
deceased went up to McGrath and ordered him
to get behind the counter and apologize;
McGrath refused to beg his pardon, when
deceased said, 'syou son of BIB, I'll bore you
through" He raised the revolver and was
about to pull the trigger when witness raised
the mop and knocked him down; The mop
was composed of cross-piece and a handle
five feet long; it weighed about five pounds.
There had been no fuss or dispute over the
game.
Gustave Dement,, the next witness, testified
to having seen deceased on the fourteenth of
August; he passed witness about o'clock:
witness asked him to cross the street;
he refused to cross over and was as pale as a
ghost; deceased went into Mce4rath's place and
witness followed him; when witness got to the
| saloon deceased was lying on the floor with the
revolver in his hand.
Reuben Clewitt. constable at White Bear,
was sworn, and produced the revolver carried
by Proffett, an old fashioned FIVE shooter; the
revolver was owned by sailor named Tom
Brien; witness did not see Proffett until two
hours after the occurrence; had known him for
a couple of weeks; deceased had $50 ON his per-
son at the time of the occurrence.
DR.. Wheaton testified to the nature of the
injuries. The injury was scalp wound, with
depression of the brain.
Acute meningitis, or Inflammation of the
brain. set in, and he grsdually failed until
death ensued, which took place last Friday.
Witness then described the congested appear
ance of the brain, as shown by the post NOR
tenn examination.
DR.. Hand, who assisted at the post mortem,
testified to substantially the same as the fore
going witness.
THE VERDICT.
The jury found that deceased came to his
death from cerebral meningitis, following con-
cussion of the brain, the result of a blow on
the head at the the hands of Alonzo Cross with
floor cleaner, and that said action was tor the
purpose of saving life and iustifable.