The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-10-06
DANGEROUSLY STABBED.

About eleven O'clock yesterday forenoon
quarrel between the notorious John Shan
messy and young Swede, named Louis
Lawson, Comparative stranger in this city,
resulted in cutting ARRAY in which the
latter received deep, straight stab in the
abdomen, which, in the judgment of DR..
G. G Parker, who soon after attended him,
is likely to result fatally.
Lawson is young man of about twenty
five years Of age; he has been in this coun-
try only few months and in the city but a
few weeks being employed during part of
the time of his residence here in the Hi
nois Central railroad yards. He is said, by
those who have associated with him, to be,
as a rule very quiet young fellow who
would not be likely to pick quarrel when
sober, though there may be an exception to
this rule when under the in
fuence of liquor, which, however,
does not appear to have been the case yes
terday.
John Shannessy, the aggressor in the
affair, is well, and not very favorbly known
by nearly everybody in the city; he is also
yet young man, but has during his life
| lead checkered career. He has been
roaming over the country considerably, but
for some time past has lounged around Cairo
and, until recently, caused the police Of the
city not little anxiety. For a week or
two past he has been employed in down
town saloon, though not steadily, and, it
seems, quit work several days ago.
How the two men met, or whether they
have been associates for any length of time,
does not appear; but that they had been
drinking and quarreliDg together yesterday
shortly before the cutting took place, is
known The first manifestation of i'll feel
ing between them was in the saloon of Mr..
Dennis Mescal, on the corner
of Twenty-ninth street and Com
mercia avenue; but what the
subject of their quarrel was is somewhat Of a
mystery, as but few people paid any atten.
ton to them. During their quarrel in Mr..
Mescals saloon, Shannessy attacked Lawson,
grabbing him in the face and scratching
him severely; he also drew a knife, but, by
the timely interference Of friends, the two
men were parted and the knife taken from
Shannessy. When, few minutes later,
peace seemed to be restored between the
two men, and, after Lawson who was under
the influence of liquor, had gone to the
saloon of his boarding house, Mr. Patrick
Walsh's establishment, two blocks below
where the first quarrel was had, the KIN if
was restored to Shannessy, who then also
left. 1t seemed that he went straight to
Walsh's saloon, where the quarrel was
renewed, and where it ended, as above
stated.
After he was cut, young Lawson turned
very pale, stepped outside of the door,
pressing bis hand against his abdomen, and
told those standing around that he was cut
He had a slight cut on the left side of his
head and those who saw him first thought
his injuries only slight; but the blood
which ran from the wound IN the abdomen
soon saturating his clothing told diff
erent story. After standing against the
door post a few moments he staggered up
stairs, but was soon after conveyed to the
hospital, where DR.. Parker attended him.
Right after the cutting, some one again
took the knife away from Shannesy, and in
doing so received severe cut across the
inside Of his fingers. This is the story as told
by two eye witnesses to the affair; but as
usual in such cases there are different stories
ahoat 1t was asserted by some that young
Lawson had FIRST threatened and even as
saulted ShanneSy with knife, and that the
latter was compelled to use his weapon
in self defense but this version
is fatty contradicted by the witnesses afore
said who say that Lawson was entirely nm
armed and did nothing to provoke the
quarrel.
Immediately after the cutting, Shannessy
left the saloon and went rapidly down
town news of the affair was telephoned TO
police headquarters, and Officer Mahanny
detailed to capture Shannessy. The Off
Ger, on horseback, was not long in catching
up with his intended prisoner, whom he
found walking leisurely down Poplar street;
and when he reached Seventeenth street,
the officer came opposite him and told him
to consider himself under arrest. ''Have
you got warrant" asked Shannessy with.
out stopping. NO" said the officer, 81
have not, but it makes no difference you
are under arrest" "You'l have to get
warrant before you can take me" continued
Shannessy, still slowly walking on. "Never