Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-10

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-About month ago
an article rejecting upon the character Of A..
NJ. Soledo, this city, and clerk to senate com.
mittee on railroads, appeared In the local col.
umns OF the National Republican. Since that
time several similar articles have been pub
lished in the same Journal, and this morning
another appeared. The last publication ap-
peared to trouble Soleldo, and during the day
he is said to have been in conversation with
friends, from whom he solicited advice as to
what step he should take to prevent the ap-
pearance OF further stories of like charac.
| ter.
| The evening paper referring to The subject
said: "Soleldo In speaking of the way the
Republican of this morning, paid is respects
to him said, the articles In part was amenable
to libel, and he thought he would proceed in
that direction; and he further thought 1t
would demonstrate the fact They laugh best
Between 9and 10 tonight, while Clarence
NJ. Barton, news editor, and Frank CoHger,
| business manager of the Republican, were
| alone in the editorial room, Soieldo and his
seats by the side of Barton. According to
the statement of Conger, A. NJ. Soleldo, look
ing Barton full in the face, drew from his
pocket paper or manuscript, which he re-
quesfed Barton to read
Barton inquired IFS that another of your
statements?"
so!eldo persisted in the request that Barton
should read the paper, which was finally COM
piled with. After concluding reading Barton
informed Solelco that he must confor with
Gorham, the editor, on the subject; that be
(Barton) could not act in the matter, and
passed the paper back, at the same time rising
from the chair, whereupon Soleldo struck
him knocking him against the table at which
he had been sitting. A scuf1e ensued, during
which a lamp on the table was
Tilted ts and b.s GSpgsr left who TO- picked
Three or four pistol shots in quick succession
were heard When an alarm was first given
the compositors upon the floor above rushed
into the hall and found Barton ejecting the
younger Soleldo from the editorial room.
Two of the force at once seized Soleldo upon
Barton's calling out. ~ am shot," and against
some resistance npon his part took him down
to the street, where he was turned over to the
police, and by them lodged in the station
house.
Barton was found to be shot twice, once in
the neck and once in the left breast. Neither
wound, however, is thought fatal. He was
placed in carriage and driven to his home on
Capitol hill, where DR.. Bliss was shortly af.
terward IN attendance upon him.
It was not known for several minutes the
elder Saleldo had been shot, but soon the in
quiry was raised, "where is the other Soleldo!"
and one of the attaches of the paper, entering
Barton's room, found A. M. Soleldo uncon-
sciOus upon the floor, with blood slowly ooz.
ing from bullet hole in the neck.
The news quickly spread and in few min
utes crowded. several hundred perso MS had
assembled in and about the Republican Office.
The business Office, and editorial rooms
swarmed with newspaper reporters, friends of
the respective parties and many others merely
curious.
The place where the shooting occurred is a
small room In the second story Of the build
ing about 1912, with one window
overlooking Pennsylvania avenue, and
a single door opening direct
ly into the editorial rooms affording
its only entrance and exit. The furniture this
room consisted of a single desk used by Bar
chairs besides the one occupied by Barton.
Stretched at full length upon the floor, with
his head pillowed upon file of news papers
the unhappy victim of this sad tragedy lay
pOwerless to move and apparently
unconscious of the whispered consultations
going on about him. Drs. Nc Blair aid Adams
leaned over the dying man, and, as each
COuutCQ tuC ACcuiC UCdtluR vi ZIG puisC tuCy
announced. she Is sinking fast, and his death
is but the matter of few
hours" Blankets and mattresses
were procured, and the wounded man was
made more comfortable. The lieutenant OF
police took charge, and only the directors and
few intimate friends were admitted to the
room. Shortly after 10 o'clock the wounded
man opened his eyes, called for water, and
moaned "cut 1t out, can't move my hands,"
Some whisky was put to his mouth, but he
refused 1t, and called for ''pure water" which
was given him. His pulses became stronger,
and 1t was decided to move him to the hospis
tai, which was done about II O'Clock. Physi-
clans in the hospital concurred in the opinion
he could live but few hours, and might die
in few minutes.
The ball entered back of the
neck, shattered the vertebrae and lodged in
the throat
Frank B. Conger makes the following
statement: 81 was in the room talking to
Barton. The student lamp was on the desk
and Barton's table was covered with papers.
Some one said: How are you,' and thinking
it was some one to see Barton5
got up and gave him my chair and stepped
to me the man was Soieldo and 80 returned
and stood in the door. A. M. soleldo handed
Barton paper or letter and said tread this"
Barton replied: "This is not my business.
See Mr.. Gorham." Soleldo replied: 81 want
you to read it," After Barton had looked 1t
over he said: "Well, have nothing to do
with this. Take it to Mr.. Gorham."
Immediately Soleldo pushed his hand toward
| his hip pocket. Barton noticing the move'
ment started up without word that can re-
call Soleldo sprang for him and pushed Bar
ton against the desk. The lamp was knocked
| over. grabbed the lamp and set it on the
| table in an adjoining room. As did So Sol
eldo's brother, who came in with him, drew
| revolver and placed it to Bartons head.
When put the lamp on the table, heard the
first shot. / did not come back
stairs and out on the street. There I called
police. As Twas going down stairs heard a
scuff1e In the room used by Barton. Some Of
| the printers looked out of the window up
stairs. called to them to come down, as we
needed all the assistance we could get. then
went back into the business office and Barton
and young soleldo came down
three shots, but saw none of them fired. AT.
| ter had set the lamp down l went to see what
they we're doing, and saw pistol pointed at
| the back of Barton's head. When they got
to the shes5 got Barton to one side. The
printers got hold of young SoleldO. After
they had him he tried to break away and get
at Barton. This happened shortly after 9
O'Clock, probably Is or 20 minutes after g.
! sent Barton home. l called police six or
eight times, but there were no police around.
heard no angry words that can rccollect.
A. C.. Soleldo, in an interview at the police
station, made the following statement: "My
brother and my self went to the Republican
Office about o'clock. When entering Bar
toms room he (Bnton) became much excited
and at once put his hand behind him. My
brother thsn handed Barton statement which
he desired to have published In the "Republi.
can" Barton then became very much excited
and again put his hand In his pocket and drew
a revolver and began shooting. Barton then
turned toward me pistol in hand. When
II saw him pull out his revolver I
drew mine. Barton and myself then clinched,
and in the scuffle his pistol went of, and, /
believe, he shot himself. We then wrestled
o,rf IF fha room, forords fho efoir,rov ond