Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-10
LAST NIGHTS TRAGIC AFFRAY,
THE SOFELDO-BARTON SHOOTING AFFAIR.
A. M. SOTELDO DYING.
HIS BROTHER SENT TO JAIL ON 4
CHARGE OF FIRING THE SHOT.
CLARENCE BARTON NOT SERIOUSLY HURT.
THE DOCTORS STATEMENTS AS TO THE
WOUNDS OF BOTH MEN.

YHE DOCTOKS STATEMENTS AS TO THE
WOUNDS OF BOTH MEN.
"a deplorable and probably fatal shooting ARRAY
occurred in the Office of the National Republican
newspaper last evening about O'Clock. The par
ties engaged in it were Mr.. A. NJ. Soteldo jr., a
well-known journalist, his younger brother, A c.
Soteldo, and Mr.. Clarence N. Barton, the news
editor OF the paper. The cause OF the difficulty
was publication in yesterdays Republican which
Mr. Soteldo considered reflected upon him.
THE "REPUBLIcANs" ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTING.
The account OF the afrray given in the Repubi-
can this morning was as follows:
The Office of the Republican was pervaded last
evening with the peace and quiet which usually
characterzes newspaper Office in the early hours
OF The evening. There was no one on the second
floor, which is occupied by the editorial and re-
portoral force, except the managing editor, Mr. c.
Frank B. Conger: Mr. Barton was at his desk at
tending to his duties, and Mr. Conger sat on the
other side reading paper "A few minutes after
by his brother, A. C. Soteldo, entered the room
A. NJ. Soteldo stepped up to the desk and handed
with the request that he should read it. Mr.. Bar
ton read it over and said that it was matter for
the editor, Mr. Gorham. Mr. Soteldo then rose,
and, placing his hand in the direction of his hip
pocket, threw himself upon Mr.. Barton as he sat
In his chair Soteldo's brother, who was standing
at the IS side Of the desk pulled out pistol and
men were struggling, and it is supposed that this
is the bail which took effect in Mr.. Barton's
insc meek Mr. Barton struggled to his feet knock
the floor, shaking himself free from Soteldo's
grasp. He had hardly gotten to his feet when So
teldo grappled him again, and the two men rolled
over Oh the floor. This occurred quicker than can
be described. In the meanwhile the younger So
teido kept up his firing. and in attempting 60 shoot
Barton while he was struggling on the floor shot
his own brother in the back of the neck, probably
1nf1ictlng a mortal wound Mr. Barton shook HIM
rolled over on the floor He then turned to face
the other assailant, who was banging away. Be
sides the wound in the neck Mr. Barton also re-
ceived bah In his side. He at once grappied with
with the younger SoteldO and pushed him out of
the room, and the two meh fought all the way
downstafrs The younger Soteldo was pushed by
MI. Barton, ana he tumbled all the way down
stairs. The struggle was renewed through the
business office, and was continued out the side
M Walk number OF the printers in the upper
story, attracted by the shooting, had come down
stairs and they at once seized Sotedo and hurried
him to the station house. Mr.. Barton walked
to the street corner, and carriage being pro-
cured he was removed to his home The news
OF the shooting spread rapidly, and q
large number hurried over to the Office, and there
was great excitement In the vicinity Medical at
tendance was at once summoned to the relief OF A.
NJ. Soteldo, who still laid In the room in a semi
Drs. Bliss, Sewers and Adams were promptly on
hand. Amattress was procured, and Mr.. Soteldo
was laid upon it. He recognized those that were
about him, but at times his mind seemed to wan
der. His most frequent expression was "Cut!
CUT" which was supposed to refer to the extrae-
ton M Of the aa ball Aton tine he said: "rhe ball is
murmured: "Ether!" He complained of a numb
ness In his lower limbs and the doctors were Of
the opinion that his spine was affected. They
were OF the opinion that he was mortally woun-
ded. MI Barton, on his arrival at his home, re-
ceived medical attendance. The balls were
extracted and he was soon feeling as comfortable
as 1T was possible under the circumstances. few
minutes after the shooting the upper and lower
of the Office were crowded with people anx.
In the city was ION the spot, and the excitement
ran nigh. The police ambulance was summoned,
pital.
The following facts in relation to the matter
were gathered by THE STAR reporters to-day:
Mrs. S0tesdo Beside Her Husband.
Mrs Soteldo was notified CT the shooting very
soon after it happened, and proceeded at once to
the Providence hospital where she spent the night
beside her husband. Early this morning she went
to her home to arrange for tie care o. one of her
children who is sick, and then returned to the
hospital
sOTELDO's STATEMENTS TO HIS WIFE.
During the night S0teldo wins kept most Of the
time under the influence OF opiates. He talked
occasionally to his Wife and attendants, but gave
no statement OF the occurrence. Mrs Soteldo,
who feels very deeply both for her husband and
on account OF the unpleasant scandal that is CON
nected with the affair, told STAR reporter to-day
that during the night he said that he had become
involved in the trouble entirely on her account
HE SAID BARTON FIRED THE FIRST SHOT.
"He said once" said Mrs. Sotedo ''that Barton
fired the first shot" II suppose" she added, ,that
this affair win be investigated SO that it will be
shown whether Charlie shot Mr.. Soteldo or not.
II Charlie had not been there, it would have been
much better"
Mrs soteldo says She had been very severe with
her husband In reference to the publications con-
ceFnlng him and keegan, and she appears to feel
that her severity drove him to rashnesS.
SOteldO,s Fatal Wound Examined.
This morning, about 10 O'Clock, DrS. Bliss, Sewers
and Mallam made thorough examination OF the
wound and decided that it would BE- useless to at
tempt to extract the ball The course of the bullet
was traced through the spinal cord, between the
fifth and sixth cervcal vertebrss, to its lodgment
In the posterior wall of the pharynx. The physi-
clans Informed the patient Of the gravity OF the
case, and that there was no hope for him.
sOTELpos APPEARANCE THIS MORNING.
A STAR reporter, who was admitted to Mr. Sotel-
dos room at the hospital shortly after the exami-
nation was made found him lying fat on the back
like pallOr. His arms and the lower part OF his
body We're paralyZed. He Was breathing heavily
and with some difficulty, but his eyes were open
and he was conscious.
" How do you do?" he said, when THE STAR re-
porter aprroached his bedside. Then he inquired,
" What is the feeliIg?"
NOT AFRAID TO DE-
After this, becoming exhausted, he ceased speak
ing for few moments. Then he added, with q
show OF f1rmness, 81 am not afraid to die"
he DECLINES TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
He did not care to make statement. A lawyer
was summoned to the hospital this morning for
the purpose OF taking his ante-mortem statements
but Mr.. Soteldo declined to make statement he
did not seem to have strength enough when seen
by THE STAR reporter to-day to speak more than
a few words at q time, and when 1t was suggested
that he should make statement. he said ssNO"
The physicians say that he may live for many
hours.
Official Report Of the Physicians on
SOteldOsS Wound.
Last evening Mr.. Soteldo asked Col Corkhtll to
send Drs. Bliss and Sewers to him, and they COM
piled at once. They this morning made the fol-
lowing report to Col Corkhth 1--WE were called
to the Republican Office about o'clock on the
evening OF Thursday, February 9th, 1882 We
found A. N. Soteldo lying on the floor OF the pri-
vate ofice the head and body elevated at an angle
OF about 45 degrees. The face presented the ap-
pearance OF shock. The resptrations were rather
hurried and irregular, pulse frequent and
zontal position, stimulants administered, and
the wound examined. The examination re-
vealed central pistol shot wound: the ball en-
teIfng about the center0f the cervica region pass
Ing directly forward, apparently Severtng the cord.
A total paralysis OF sensation and motion OF both
upper and lower eXtremitieS existed. The ball
was not found, as 1t was deemed inadvisable to
extend the explorations The symptoms indicate