Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-19

derer in Custody.
Room No. 8, at the st. Paul house, corner of
Fort and Chestnut streets, was the scene yes
terday afternoon of the most unprovoked,
cold blooded and deliberate attempt at murder
that has ever taken place in this city. The
bloody attempt was born of passionate impulse
and executed with the drectness of 6end in
carnate. The assassin's nsmeis James O'Brien,
a man but slightly known in this section of
the country, and his blameless victim Is an EN-.
ploye of the st. Paul house named Joseph
Kosey, who is well and favorably known as q
hotel runner.
Consideration of the diabolical affair Is
enough te strike terror to the heart or palsy
the strongest nerves. A man, crazed with
drink, steals softly up to an acquaintance,
between whom there has been no feud. and
reaching over his shoulder, he draws the
keen blade of q razor across the neck, slittine
his throat from ear to ear. Not sated With
this the fend makes a break at an innocent
ou-looker. who escapes by Jumping from win
dow.
THE STORY N DETAIL.
In detail, the affair and the circumstances
leading thereto are as follows: About three
weeks ago there appeared in st. Paul man
uAI16Q J6m6S " Dtlcus LII BIS, u6 10 Q6aVlly
built, with carroty hair, sandy complexion and
heavy moustaohe. He put up at the st. Paul
house. seemed well-to-do. was socially In
clined and spent his money freely with the
boys. He registered from Mankato and stated
that be had purchased land in that section of
the State and that he had recently come from
San Francisco.
Ever since his arrival he has been on pro-
lonaed and almost uninterrupted debauch.
During the past few days he has drank oon-
stantly and for over q week has not drawn q
sober breath. In his drunken fits he has had
several bouts with the boarders, conducting
himself in a rude and quarrelsome manner.
A day or tW since Charles Faber, proprietor #
the st. Paul house, warned him that he must
stop his noisy conduct or seek another board
ing house.
Yesterday morning he drank freely of whis-
ky and succeeded in making q general nui-
sance of himself. few minutes before
o'clock last evening he approached the bar and
called for glass of whisky. The bartender
informed Em that he had been instructed not
to sell him any drinks, whereupon he became
very obstreperous. About o'clock Mr.. Faber
appeared and ordered him to leave the house.
To facilitate his game, John Hinderer, the
clerk and bartender, was ordered to visit his
room, aud see that his baggage was removed.
Mr.. Hinderer started up stairs to room nine
the apartment occupied by OBrien, and pro-
ceeded to pack up his clothing.
About this time, Joseph Kosey, the runner
for the hotel started mp stairs to assist Hin
derer Ia bringing down the baggage, followed
by O'Brien.
Kosey had just reached the threshold of the
door, which had been left open by Hinderer,
when O'Brien, who was directly il the rear,
threw his arm around Kosey's neck, whipped
out a razor, and drew it across the latter's
throat from ear to ear. Kosey staggered and
exclaimed. 'Jack, I am cut" on hearing
sf D. In
leave this room," at the same time making g
pass at Hinderer.
Fortunately for the latter, he was within two
feet of an open window, which looked out on q
wood pile stacked against the side of the house,
and coming within seven or eight feet of the
sill of the window. 1t was the welcome alter
native from frightful fate, and he bounded
through the open window, reaching the top of
the wood pile unharmed.
In the meantime desperate struggle was
going on in the six by eight room. Kosey.
who was bleeding from the CHASTITY cut in the
throat, grappled with his murderous assailant,
aud being man of powerful physique, he
would have soon overcome him had it not been
for the frightful nature of the injuries.
He was losing blood rapidly, but he did not
relax his grip on o 'Brien, who still held the
razor and was making powerful efforts to use
it. With unequsled presence of mind Kosey
tripped his antagonist and che men fell, Kosey
I6llluR Ou GOps 4uc stIuSRlc COntluucu dS utICt
as ever.
After his narrow escape Hinderer ran to the
front of the house and narrated what had tax
en- place. Several men, headed by Fsber,
started up stairs and the men we're found in
mortal combat, Kosey almost helpless from
the loss of blood, and struggling for dear life.
o Brien, who still held the razor. was taken
down stairs and handed over to Officer Gruber
who locked him up.
Kosey was carried insensible to another room
and DR.. Stamm was called, who pronounced
the injuries not necessarily fatal.
The razor had severed the small arteries of
the throat. but had not penetrated the main
and death may result from loss of blood.
Kosey is newly married man, and the grief
of his young wife was heart rending.
An attempt was made by the reporter to inter
view O'Brien, who was found stretched on
the floor of his cell, bleeding from cut over
the left eye and beastly stupid from the effects
of whisky. He was too drunk to talk, and
information from that source was out Of the
question.
At late hour last night O'Brien had some.
what recovered from his drunken stupor and
was induced to converse with GLOBE reporter.
He stated that he had first been attacked BY
Kosey, who struck him blow in the face, after
which he used the razor. During the evening
several stone masons, with whom O'Brien had
worked at Fort Smelling, called at city hall,
and they expressed great surprise at the affair,
stating that he had borne the reputation of
being quiet and peaceable man. 1t was also
alleged that he had spent $50 at the st. Paul
House, and that as soon "a bis money was gene
they attempted to kick him ont. The cut over
O'Brien's left eye bled profusely last night,
ard DR.. Mattocks was sailed, who pronounced
the injury quite serious. Last midnight Kosey
was quite easy and it is thought he will recover.
A Bagnio Shindy.