Daily globe., 1883-07-08
A SHOOTING AFFRAY.

| q Statement.
Last evening between and O'Clock
shooting afray occurred on the sidewalk
near the Academy of Music, which will
probably result in the death of the victim.
One story goes that Jasper Johnson, well
known citizen of Minneapolis and son of
the ex-superintendent of the water works.
made the acquaintance yesterday of one
John Morgan, sporting man from St.
Louis, and while in a Hennepin avenue
saloon hot words were exchanged over
some trivial affair. Morgan grew
very angry and assaulted johnson in the
saloon and after following him out upon
the sidewalk, struck johnson a stinging
blow in the face with light cane, and
followed up to repeat the blow when john
son drew his revolver and began firing in
quick succession, aiming low.
Morgan was struck by a bullet in the left
leg and staggered to the ground. A gentle
man sprang to his assistance when John
son aimed the revolver again. The gentle
man cried "For Gods sake, Johnson, don't
| shoot me-" and Johnson cooIlY replied,
''get out of my way then"
The gentleman then let go OF Morgan
and johnson fired another shot, the bullet
entering the abdomen at the right. Nor
| gan fell helplessly into the door of the sa-
loon. Detective Hankinson appearing
upon the scene at this instant disarmed
johnson and imprisoned him in the city
| lookup.
DR.. Jordon was summoned, and the
wounded man. whose clothes were now
| saturated with gore, was removed to Dun
nington q Mayors saloon, and after a
cursory examination DIR. Jordan ordered
the body removed to his rooms.
Mr.. Morgan has number
of friends in the city who
state that Morgan has until recently been
IL the show business, and that he is ordi-
narily quiet and gentlemanly behaved
man, very seldom having trouble with any
one. He is man of great nerve, however.
for when asked for a statement in view of
the probability of almost certain death.
he displayed his unusual courage by re-
markingS 'No, I don't wish to
make any statement. don't
want the man prosecuted. 1 was
to blame, and he did right IN shooting me.
He said something which offended me and
l struck MIN in the face. I refuse to make
further statement.
DR.. Jordan stated to GLOBE represen-
tative that he considered the wound quite
Il.
There were but two wounds, as mentioned
above, although there were four shots
fired.
Although there was large number of
eye-witnesses to the shooting, their state
ments regarding the same vary widely.
but the above is undoubtedly the correct
statement.
"a oh
reporter was accorded an interview with
Mr.. johnson. He was found feeling very
Iow-spirited, and exceedingly sorry for
the trouble that had occurred.
His face showed evidences of pretty bad
usage, and showed dark colored swelling
where he had been struck with a cane on
both sides of the face. Being asked if he
was willing to make a statement he re-
piled that he was perfectly willing and
had nothing to withhold from the public.
He believed he had acted squarely and
purely in self defense The following is
his statement:
JOHNsoN's STATEMENT.
Went into Myers & Dunnington's saloon
an hour before the shooting happened;
Morgan and two friends came in. and I
think the barkeeper was with them; the
barkeeper asked US to take a drink; we
stepped up and I was introduced to Nor
gan, Moody and another man; when the
barkeeper introduced me to Mr.. Morgan.
he said, Mr.. N. is an old and bad man, and
you ought to be acquainted. We
took a drink with the barkeeper
which was followed by social conversation.
A little fellow then came in who is called !
commodore, newsboy. He seemed to
know the people, and he invited US TO take !
drink, also, and finally I bought cigars: !
1 made fun with Ryan, the newsboy, who |
attempted to sell paper. I said to Nor
gan, Make your friend buy a paper" He |
replied, "No use; he is in the same bust |
ness"
This led to talk about business and the |
manner in which people earned living. |
Suddenly Morgan said to me, ''you are
all right; you have got some nice girl who |
Is taking care of you, and you can take
the world easy" I took no offense, but
replied, L don't understand what you
mean. 'Pll show you what I mean" he
cried and struck me in the face. We we're
III the saloon; my hat fell off; my nose
bled. He kept following me up and
struck at me repeatedly. 1 asked what it
was for. 1 took the revolver out
as was backing out the
door: he kept following me up with his
cane, and putting his hand to his hip
pocket, as if to get revolver, and shouted
PUT up that gun, you s. of a b, or
I'll massacre you" I still backed off. and
said Il want no trouble with you; let me
alone went out on the sidewalk in front
of the apple stand; he followed closely,
| swinging his cane. and shouted 'Fll kill
you, you s. Of b" he then
| rushed upon me and struck me
blow with his rattan cane, blow which
staggered me; I instantly pulled ny re-
voiver and shot at his legs; he staggered
but rallied again and struck at me. when
| I again shot at him and he fell headIong
I into the saloon
PUBLIC OPINION.
| Il IS The opinion Of the public that John
I son shot in seIf-3efense, and the shooting
was iustifaole.
! At midnight the surgeon IN charge con
sidered Morgan's condition quite hopeful.
He was resting easy aud comfortable.
The wouad in the groin has not been
( prooed for the bullet. At first death from
internal henorrhace was feared, but that
fear is now disustIel ETa orlv saws John