Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-04-25
MURDEROUS ASSAULT.
Quarrel In a Sixth Ward Saw Mill and a
Man Dangerously Injured by q Blow
Rroy, an Az

Quarrel in a Sixth Ward Saw Mill and
!, Man Dangerously Injured by q Bio
From an Axe.
:. A vicious and serious assault occurred In tt
, saw mill of Prince & Houlton, Sixth ward.
little before 5 o'clock yesterday morning, Il,
parties to affair being T. B Hopkins, forema
of the mill, and George Miller, an employee
the mill. The particulars of the affair an
the circumstances leading to 1t are as follows
T.B. Hopkins, the foreman, has been cor
meet d with The mill only little more than
week, coming here from Shell Lake, Wis.
| though previously having resided some sever
years at Saltwater. On the other hand Mile
has been employed in the mill for two years
past, and last winter assisted Mr.. Houl
ton in overhauling and thorough
ly repairing the machinery. From
his Similarity with all the parts of the mil
thus gained, 1t had become q habit of Mr.
HoIlton's and The employees of The mill when
there was break, or anything got out of or
der, to call on Mr.. Miller to put things to
right. ;,
gig oelt not working well, Mr.. Miller, with
the assent of Mir. houlton, the managing
proprietor, attached more weight to it, no.
/ ticiDg which Hopkins ordered 1t taken
/ off, at the same time telling Miller that such
matters belonged TO his iHopkinsD duties,
and when he wanted anything OF the kind
done he would do It, and for Miller to attend
| TO his own dates. This rebuff passed off
without no particular exhibition of bad blood
on the part of either, and IL e short time 1t
wasiprobably forgotten by both.
Saturday morning last foreman Hopkins
| left the mill, and came over TO this side, re-.
naming all day. During the day the gig belt
worrying, as Miller thought, 100 loosely, he
| again attached more weight to it, leaving it
on when the mil was shut down for Saturday
night.
Gying to the mill yesterday morning to start
| up, Hopkins at once noticed the extra weight.
| The discovery seems to have thrown him into
| a passion, for when Miller put in an appear.
ance little before O'Clock Hopkins opened
| on aim in loud voice and with an excited
manner, demanding to know the reason for dis
obeying his Instructions by attaching the extra
weight, Miller replied he did 1t to make the
mill work smoother. Hopkins retorted that
mill and that be wanted him (M,ller,) to at.
tend to his business, and leave his (Hopkins)
business alone, or -t.I'll break you in two'
Up to this point the accounts given of the
affair by both Miller and Hopkins as each
gave 1t in person to the reporter, substantially
agree, but as to what followed there is a dis.
crepancy in their two stories. Miller says be
merely answered back, "Well. then, stay here
and attend to your business" while Hopkins
CLAIMS that Miller's answer, ompanied by
rush toward m, Was: "You - I'll
give You chance now."
Whatever the provocation, Hopkins ac-
kneWledges that he stopped suddenly and
picked up an axe lying at his feet and dealt
Miller blow. The blow took eff ct on Mil
ler's p=rson with The blunt end, just under
the lett arm. and but few inches from the
backbone, knocking him senseless. AS Miller
fell Hopkins sprung upon him and
commenced choking him, but other employees
promptly in,erfeled, and tore Hopkins away
aud began to inquire into Mlller's ipju.
ries, which 1t was feared at first had resulted
In death. Miller, however, soon regained con-
seriousness, and though suffering intense pain
spoke with such force and emphasis of his as
sailant, as TO satisfy all he was far from q
dead man.
Meantime news of the assault spread rap.
Idly, and soon large and excited crowd were
on the spot, one OF the most thoughtful of
whom had the consideration to dispatch a
messenger 70 this side for q ply sician, in an
swer to which Drs. Murphy and Quinn
promptly responded. An examination of the
injured man showed that the blow had frac-
tuned two of his ribs near the point of con-
neeilon with the back bone, and fears were
fels he had alsn sustained internal Injuries |
After making Miller as comfortable as posi-
ole he was removed to his residence East Fifth |
street, Sixth ward.
While this was going on Hopkins had |
quietly slipped Off and come 10 this side OF the |
river, but Officer Destler followed him up and |
arrested him. He was at once taken before |
Judge Burr aud the examination continued |
until to-day To await the result of MllIer's |
ipJur e., bail Ing fixed at $3.50, In default of |
VII CHI he went TO Jail.
Seen IN his cell by the reporter, Hopkins
told the story above credited to him.
acknowledging his hasiy blow and expressing
deep regret for it, He said he had lived Ia
this Vale Of tears now fifty years. and he be-
lieved his character was as good as the ma
jorlty Of mankind, aud that this vas the first |
time he had ever had KEY turned on him. He
stands about six feet high, is rather sparely
built, hair iron gray, an open and by no
unpleasant countenance and al easy CONVERSE.
ticnalst.
About O'Clock, hearing that Miller was in
q critical condition, the reporter called again
at his residence. He was found lying at full
length In bed enjoying q smoke, now and then
Joining in the conversation with his wife and
q couple Of lady callers. Any attempt to move
gave him excrntiating pain, but when lying
absolutely still he did not suffer much. HIS
voice was full and strong and as he repeated
his story, given above, it held up to the end.
Of course 1t is impossible as yet to tell how
badly he is injured, but the outward indica-
ions last evening were decidedly favorable.
The recovery will of necessity be
slow, and 1t is very doubtful
t he will ever be the man he was before he re.
;elyed the terrible blow. He is q man appar-
'ntly about 80 years of age, stands about six
Get high and weighs probably $50 pounds.
lie is temperate and industrious, and possessed
he confidence of his employers to large de-
gree, and the esteem of his fellow wOrkmen,
With the one exception of Hopkins, who
eemed TO be jealous Of him. He is married
md has one small child.