Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-12
DEAD FOR A DUCAT.
Or for Glass Of Stale Beer--John Munros
After Abusing His Wife, Dies Mysteri-
eusly After tho Interference Of Strangers

Or for Glass OF Stale Beer--John Munros
After Abusing His Wife, Dies Mysteri-
eusly After the Interference Of Strangers
ARRESTS on Suspicion.
Last night when the heavens flashed and the
earth quaked at the fearful war of the storm
the miserable spirit of John Aunroe passed to
its final account. The circumstances under
which he died are SO peculiar in their nature
as to almost amount to tragedy, and the
shadow OF suspicion which hangs
over at least one man will be
either confirmed Or lifted to-day.
This will be determined at the post mortem
examination to be held by the doctors this
morning. Meantime, as the man under arrest
is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, it is fair
to presume that death was the result of
serious organic but natural causes. The sad
story of the affair is as follows:
In rear room on the ground floor Of a
building on the east side of Fourth street,
near Seven Corners, the front room of which
is occupied by Gels, the baker, have resided a
scavengcr named John Munroe with his wife
and little girl. From what is known of the
man the lot of his wife and child was unhap-
py to tae verge of desperation. He possessed
to an inordinate extent fearful liking for
drink.
Attimes he became frenzied with libuor or
alchol, and during such moods he would
shamefully abuse his wife. His love of liquor,
in fact, has on several occasions brought
him under the direction of the police. They
resided in one room, as poor an abode OF
wretchedness as can well be imagined.
Between and O'Clock yesterday afternoon
he came to this worse than parody Of home
beastly drunk. On entering tbs house he
ordered his wife to fetch some beer. She left
ing her absence he fell into drunken stupor.
Upon her return she took the beer
and emptied 1t into bottle.
Shortly afterwards he awoke and asked for
the beer. She handed him the bottle, and he
remarked with curse that it was fiat, and
that there was not enough of it. She tried to
apologize, which SO incensed him that he
staggered across the room to beat her. Realiz-
ing from past experience what was to follow,
the woman rushed to the door and screamed.
Her cries attracted the attention of two
plumbers who had been at work in the build
ing. their names being Chas. Miller and John
Cunningham.
By this time Munroe had followed his wife
to the door. He was about to seize her; when
the men ordered him to stop. He paid no at
tention to their request, when Cunningham
grabbed him by the shoulder and scuMe en-
sued. This was in theroom. Munroe order ed
him to leave and seized chair with which to
strike him. The men clinched, and according
to Mrs. Munroe, Cunningham struck her hus-
band a couple of blows in the face with his
fist.
moment afterwards Munroe staggered to-
wards the bed, before reaching which he fell
to the floor corpse. As he fell he attempted
to grab chair.
Officer Newell was called and Cunningham
was put under arrest. Detective O'COnnor
was early at the scene and took Miller into
custody as a witness.
DR.. Davenport was summoned, and the body
was taken to the establishment of Mccarthy
& Donnelly. At the latter place the remains
we're examined by Drs. Davenport and Abbott,
and the body shows no sign of violence
Under the excitement of the moment it il
thought that death resulted from heart dis.
ease. This will be determined to-day.
The deceased was 3S years of age, and hal
been in the employ of Health Officer Patter.
son.
A GLOBE reporter called on Mrs. Munroe
last night, and her story is as given above
The reporter also interviewed Cunningham
who is an Industrious, hard-working man. He
admits being there, but states that he doesn't
recall having struck him.
An inquest will be held to-day, if warranted
by the post mortem examination, which will
be held by Drs. Stamm, Davenport and Abbott
this morning.