The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-06-22
MURDER IN ST. PAUL MINI,
Police Officer Daniel O'COnnel Shot
Through the Brain and Left q
Corpse, by Two Burglars While he

Corpse, by Two Burglars While he
was Attempting their Arrest.
st. Paul was startled and shocked last
Saturday morning by the news that in the
early morning Police Officer O'Connel was
found lying dead on vacant lot on Summit
avenue, having been foully murdered by
burglars, of whose visit to neighboring
house he had been advised and of whom he
was at the time in search. Though he was
off duty aud on his way home when in
formed of the presence ofthe burglars, he
set diligently to work to hunt for them in
the immediate ncighborhood of their at
tempt, and the known circumstances make
it obvious that while prosecuting this
search he had stumbled on the hiding place
of the burglars and that they shot him
dead to avoid being captured by him.
The particulars, as far as known, are as
follows: Early in the evening a daughter
of Mr.. A. O. Bailey, residing on Dayton ave-
down the carriage drive and attempting to
make an exit through the drive gate.
No further thought was given the matter
until morning, when the outer doors were
found unmatched, opened doubtless from the
inside, as no mark Of violence were found on
either windows or doors, and Mr.. Bailcy's
pocket book, in which were a few gold pieces
and bills, was missing. They had "gone
through" the lower part of the house. = (,
ell, wife of Interval Revenue Collector Bickel,
residing on West Third street but short
distance from the Bailey residence, was
awakened by a noise at her bedroom win
dow, as though some one was trying to af-
feet all entrance. Standing hidden from
sight in the doorway, she saw man at
the window make motion as
though calling some one, and almost inlme-
diately second face appeared at the VIM
dow, but being fastened securely on the in
side their efforts failed. When the one man
was seen Mrs. Bickel was not greatly fright
ened and went into the hallway and called
softly to her two sons who were sleeping in
a room above. While waiting for their ap-
pearance the second man was seen. Then
fearing they would break in, she ran to the
window Of the sitting room opposite, looking
out on the lawn and called aloud to large
Newfoundland dog which usually slept in
the barn. The dog with peculiar instinct
scented the burglars, rushed towards them,
barking loudly, and they took refuge on a
high stone fence which runs back to an al
leyway, through which they disappeared.
The entire family had been aroused by the
alarm given by Mrs Bickel and before they
had again retired, Officer O'Connell wend-
ing his way homeward, attracted by the
lights in the house, stopped and inquired the
cause of the disturbance. On being in
formed he said: =,
II am on my way home and off duty, but
I'll take look round the ncighborhood
first"
Alone and unaided, save by his strong
right arm and manly courage, he climbed
the hill. AS is supposed, when just beyond
the residence of George L. Otis, thinking the
would-be robbers were likely concealed in
the underground and shrubbery of
T. B. Clark's vacant lot, he be-
gan his search. What took place
O how it occurred vii, probably never
pc known, but the residents of neighboring
houses esp ,cially Mr.. Bickers family, had
plainly one shot-the shot that
sent poor O'Connell to his
last resting place. It is supposed that
the murderers were hidden in the bushes and
determined to resist capture, committed the
bloody deed. There is no doubt that they
were discovered by O'Connell, who had at
tempted their capture, for in his hand, found
when he lay dead, was small looking glass;
evidently taken from one of the men, while
showed marks of brief encounter. The
bullet, which was remarkably small, weigh
ing only thirty-two grains, had penetrated
the left temple and was found flattened on
the inside of the opposite side of the skull.
Powder marks on the face suggested the
nearness of the murderers to their victim.
Poor O'Connell was found lying dead on
the brow of the hill on his face, his head in
clu,np of bushes, with bullet wound from
which the blood had flowed profusely-still
and dead The body when found was cold
and stiff, showing DEATH which must have
been instantaneous, to have occurred some
hours previous O'ConRell's nat was found
several feet distant from his body, while his
revolver, cooked but not discharged, lay be-
tween his legs.
No one will ever know the particulars of
the death scene but the most probable story,
and that accepted by the police, is that
OConnell caught one of the men, and after
struggling with and overpowering him, was
companion fired the fatal shot, All this is
guess work, however, and of clews to the
truth there is lamentable lack.
The scene at the home on the hill toward
which OConnell was vending his way when
death overlook him, is described as heart
rending when the young wife was told of
her sudden widowhood. The people of St.
Paul propose to provide handsomely for the
bereayed family: O'Donnell was large
hlAlCIAC, AAAlC AOOAulE 1Ad1i, AuAA VI 5OOu uu-
NOR, with jovial smile..and hearty hand
shake for all, he was looked upon as mod
cl man by his associates and friends, whom
he reckoned without number. He had not
been long on the force, and formerly lived
in Lake City. Some arrests have been made
and the mayor offers a reward of $500 for
the right man or men.
The Messaba Iron company with princi-
pal office at Duluth, filed articles with the
secretary of state. The association is
formed for the purpose of mining and melt
ing iron, copper, steel and other metals.
The names Of the incorporators are w. W.
Spaulding and H. p. Wciland of Duluth,
Alexander Ramsey of st. Paul, William Har-
ris of Lake Linden, Mich, w. D. Williams
Of Marquette, Mich; Louis Stannard of
Rockland, Mich; and James Ontongon,
Mich. The capital stock of $1,000 600, di
vided in 100000 shares of $50 each.