Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-08
STILLWATEk.
A MURDERoUs ASSAULT

MURDEROUS ASSAULT.
About o'clock Monday evening terrible
stabbing affair, which will probably end in the
death of the victim, Issac Merrill, occurred at
Joseph Stoltz's stopping place on the st. Paul
road, about five miles from our city. The fol-
lowing is the narrative as gathered by our 1e-
porter: Early Monday evening, Dick Willitt
proprietor of the bagnio on The Wisconsin
shore. opposite our city, accompanied by his
woman" and Isaac Merrill and another female
prostitute, went out to this Stoltz's place
for the purpose of having a good drunk.
About o'clock Willitt, being drunk enough to
be ugly, began quarreling with his woman, and
after a sharp talk he attempted to strike her.
Merrill then interferred, when Whit drew his
pocket knife and attacked him. His woman"
made tracks for the door, and Willitt, after
throwing Merrill down stabbed two ugly
gashes in his abdomen and once in his hand.
He then got upand left the house in search of
his woman. He supposed she had concealed
herself in the barn close by. He returned to
the house and asked for some matches, which
were given him by Mrs. StOltz, who was badly
frightened, and he started for the barn, acom-
panied by the driver who had brought
them out there. Willitt then entered the
barn and set fire to some straw lying on the
floor. The driver quickly stamped it out, when
Willett turned on him with the knife. The
driver avoided the assault, receiving slight
scratch on his hips. Upon being asked why
he wanted to set fire to the barn he said he
would burn her out of the barn or
burn her up, one or the two-meaning the
woman who had come out with him. After
trying two or three times to start the fire he
returned to the house. Merrill after being so
horribly butchered crept to the door of the
room adjoining in which Mrs. Stollz was, and
asked where he could go and hide.
She stold him to go into the kitchen behind
the stove. fer it was dark in there. After re-
naming IL The kitchen about fifteen minutes,
he staggered into the barroom again completely
exhausted from loss of blood. Soon after
Willitt entered accompanied by the driver and
Mr. Stoltz, and seoirg Merrill still lying on the
floor, asked, "N. - Mir. Stoltz said,
Il guess you did," Wiilltt asked Merrill if he
was badly cut, and he said he was. Willitt
then said he would go for doctor, ard left for
town with the driver.
Merrill was cared for as best could be.
Madam Whit, after leaving the
house, started for Mr.. Lohman's
house, about half mile from
the place. She having nothing On her hands
and only light shop slippers on her feet, both
her hands and her feet were badly frozen.
When she reached the farm house. she was
taken in and treated kindly as could be
under the circumstances. TIE driver, after tax
ing Willitt to his place of prostitution, started
back for Stoltz's, but met Stoltz's hired man
about three miles cut of town coming in for a
doctor. The driver then turned around, and
after sending the hired man back, started for
physician. DIR. Pratt was called
who Immediately left for the scene of the
tragedy. He dressed the wound and started
back and notified the sheriff and chief of po-
lice. They, accompanied by Officers Vailey and
Readen, left for Wisconsin, and reaching Viii,
lifts place stationed Readen at the front and
Valley at they rear of the house. The chief
and sheriff then entered the house in search of
Willitt He WAS f0uUd asleaD in he'd He
was awakened and ordered to dress, which he
did. Sheriff Holcomb then told him be
would either have to go voluntarily to Still
water with him or he would send him by oae
of the officers to Hudson. and
after obtaining warrant from
decided to quietly submit and he was brought
to our city and lodged in the county Jail.
Madam Willitt Was latter in the day brought
to the city and attended to by a physician.
Merrill could not be removed, and he was left
at the stopping place. He is in a very critical
condition. The doctors do not know at pres
emit whether his bowels are cut or not, and q
slim hope of his recovery is entertained. At
this writing he is doing well but very weak
from loss of blood.
Dancing school tonight in Mannerchor
hall.
Receipts of weeat fair. Oats and corn scarce /.
Hay and straw fair.
Cne of Mr.. Staples cattle was tramped to
death while being transferred to the woods by
rail.
Monday night was the opening of the Airy
Fairy skating rink. Prof. Gooche's band
made music, and the merry skaters glided to
and fro. Before long the rink will be flooded,
and none but critical eye could tell whether
Or no a covering of glass had been put over it.
Considerable encouragement should be given
a. L., IL IL
all lovers of the amusement should go and
crack their heads on the smooth surface of the