Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-30
FULL DETAILS OF THE AFFRAY.
Interview With tile Murderer in His
Cell at the Police Station.
CLAIM OF SELF DEFENSE
And a Detailed Statement of the Trans
action Given.

Simply a word, lightly spoken last night
and vet it cost George Larkin his young
sweet life. The murder took place few
minutes before IL o'clock last night at the
corner of Sixth and Cedar streets and the
assassin's name is Robert Barton. About
fifteen minutes to IL o'clock the parties met
on Sixth near Cedar street and words were
banded about two young women. Barton
drew knife and plunged It into the left
breast of young Larkin and in thirty min.
utes he was corpse. The particulars of the
COLD BLooDED MURDER,
and the surrounding circumstances are as
follows:
Last evening, between 8 and 8 O'Clock,
Robert Barton and young man named
William Devlin, called at the Clarendon hotel
and invited two female acquaintances, domes-
tics at the hotel, out for walk. They &C
cepted the invitation, their names being Miss
Mary Madigan and Miss Libbie Steele.
The quartette paired off, Barton being ac-
companied by Miss Madigan and Devlin by
Miss Steele. They strolled down town, Wis
iting on lower Seventh street, and started in
the direction of the hotel about 10 O'Clock.
Nothing notable transpired until the parties
reached Sixth and Cedar streets, which hap
pened between 1870 and 1915 o'clock,
The parties strolled out Sixth to Cedar,
where they stopped and INDUCED in chat,
preparatory to the young men taking their
leave.
Just as the girls were about to leave their
companions trio of young men came along
and, observing the young people, they came
to mementary halt
The names of the young men were George
Larkin, John Carr and youth named DAILY.
At least two of the men, Larkin and Carr,
had met the young ladies before, and Larkin,
it is thought, felt piqued at seeing them in
company with the strangers.
The latter, Larkin, smarting perhaps with
the idea that he had been discarded, or that
the young woman was keeping company
with another, passed
JooULAR AND VULGAR REMARK,
to the effect that Barton could not lay any
successful claim to the young womau's af-
fections.
Whether or not the remark cast any re-
Election on the young women, or was accept
ed as personal insult towards Barton, IS
not positively known, but the latter accepted
it as such, and the parties attempted to en-
gage in scufie, in the meantime the girls
having proceeded to the hotel,
THE DEATH BLOW.
Barton and Larkin approached, but there
was no time for scuffis. Instantly the
former drew knife, and with the precision
of one skilled in the business he plunged it
into Larkin's breast. 1t was the work of a
second, but the bloody deed could not have
been more unerringly executed had it been
meditated for years.
With the hearts blood of his victim on
his hands and branded with the mark OF
Cain, Barton threw the murderous blade
away and ran up Sixth street, in the direo-
ton of Wabashaw street, followed by his
companion, Devlin.
NEMESIS.
Heran fast and foolishly, but in the race
there was an unseen courser that rides faster
than the wings of the tempest. That courser
was Nemesis, from whom no guilty soul has
not yet, or ever will escape.
THE CHASE AND ARREST.
When the horrible affair took place the
streets were crowded with merry people in
holiday attire, on their way from church or
some of the suburban resorts. Two or
three bystanders saw Larkin fall and OBJ
served the men running away.
One yonng man chased the fugitives to
Wabashaw street, where he encountered Of
fcer McMahon. The latter was informed
that man had been assaulted on Sixth
street, and that the men running mad did
the mischief.
Officer McMahon started after the parties,
who were still running up Sixth street, and
he overlook them in front of the pop factory,
corner of Sixth and Washington streets
They were put under arrest, and not know
ing what had taken place the officer locked
up his men and started for the scene of the
assault.
DEATH OF THE VICTIM.
From the moment that the fatal blade
pierced mortally the body of Larkin, he
never spoke or moved.
He was carried in dying condition to the
drug store of Stuart & Lutz, corner of Sixth
and Wsbashaw streets, and the store was al
once surrounded by crowd of eager citi.
zens.
DIR. J. w. Routh made hurried diagnosis
of the wound, and at once pronounced il
fatal. The Rev. Father Stanley was called
and administered the rites of the church, and
in the meantime the life of Larkin was eb.
bing from CHASTITY cut in the breast.
THE FATAL CUT.
The cut was in the left breast about ar
inch below the nipple; in size the cash was
one inch and a half long and two inches
wide. The blade cut through the left lung
and penetrated the heart.
About fifteen minutes after reaching the
store, orsaot quite half hour from the
time fbe thrust was made, Larkin was dead
me remains were taken to the city hall, fol
lowed by large concourse of citizens.
George Larkin was about 23 years old ani
unmarried. He resided with his widowed
mother and by occupation was a teamster
citizen, who was accidently killed last win
ter, and bore good reputation.
Coroner Davenport viewed the remains
and will hold an inquest to-day. The bod.
was. taken in charge by Mccarthy and Don
nelly, and removed to their store on Waba
shaw street.
The friends or the 0ecSaSeQ VlSlteO bn
store and were overwhelmed with grief a
the tragedy.
INTERVIEW WITH THE GIRLS.
A GLOBE reporter called at the Clarendol
hotel last night and conversed with Mar.
Madigan and Libbie Steele.
The girls manifested great surprise ol
hearing of the death of Lsrkin.
They spoke about the walk in the earl
part OF the evening, as above given, and o
their return up Sixth street. at Sixth an,
Cedar streets they stopped to chat. whe1