Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-12

Win. Mr.. mas l6IL 81. raul ABOUT q ulOHLn
ago, in company with Mr.. f. S. Curtis,
with the intention of visiting the lumber
camps inland from the Duluth railroad
and branches Of. the Northern Pacific road.
Leaving here on the Duluth road they pro-
ceeded TO Itasca county, taking IN the town
of Aitkin and proceeding inland about
seventy five miles from the railroad. When
in the vicinity of Big Forks, not far from
the British border, they stopped al
lumber camp run by one Davis.
This was last Tuesday. While here they
visited tavern kept by man named
Burns, on entering which Mr.. Haas OBJ
served young man whose face seemed IA
miliar. He wore iumberman's clothing
and was engaged in reading paper.
Believing that he recognized young
Pierce in the stranger, Mr.. Haas went up
to him and said: Il believe your name is
Pierce"
On hearing himself addressed, he slut
tered, turned as white as snow and re-
piled:
"What do you ask that for?"
He then gave the name of Geo. Melon
aid, when Mr.. Haas told him that he lied,
and that if he did not at once write and
relieve the distress of and sorrow of his
friends, he deserved to be shot.
Mr.. Haas then related the belief in st.
Paul thai he had been murdered, and af-
ter some hesitation Pierce confessed his
identity, saying he first took Haas for de-
tective, and he related strange story.
THE STORY OF PIERCE.
He said in substance as follows: Last
summer had difficulty with one of the
employees OF freight house in st. Paul,
and made him my enemy. On New Years
day I went to Minneapolis, where [ met
this party rhe name for the present is
withheld and a friend OF his. We played
q few games OF pool, during which quar-
rel arose. IN the evening we took the late
train for st. Paul, and on the way down
we had another fuss. On reaching St.
Paul I got OF at Sioux City
freight depot and went up stairs.
On coming down started up the track,
and after proceeding some distance I OBJ
served the same men with whom l had the
fuss coming after me. Surprising I was
to be attacked pulled off my overcoat and
took out my knife. On coming up to me
a third panty, not the one 1 had the fuss
with, made thrust with his knife and [ re-
ceived a wound in the breast. Islashed back
at him when he and the other fellow ran off.
The man I had the trouble with then came
at me with knife, when picked up an
iron bolt from the track and struck him
across the forehead. He fell and 1 sup
posed that he was dead. Fearing that
had killed man and that 1 would be ar
rested for the crime, picked up my coat
and went to the mouth of the sewer, whore
1 washed my hands and stopped the flow
of blood from my wound with shirt
sleeve.
While thus excited train came along and
I jumped in a box car and rode to Still
water junction where I got coat and hat
and took the train for Duluth. From
there 1 made my way across the country to
the pineries.
The above is the story related by Pierce.
Mr.. Haas states that he offered to show
scars on his neck and breast where
he had been cut. He (Pierce),
also stated that he had
seen but one paper since
leaving st. Paul, and that he did not
know what had happened.
THE STORY DTSCpFDTTT0
As stated in yesterdays extra of the
GLOBE, the police officials do not think a
great deal Of the story concerning the
manner in which the attack and fight took
place. If they possess any true inward
ness of the affair other than what is stated,
they keep it profound secret to them
selves.
There are several circumstances which
the story does not clear up. For instance,
there are the finding of the pocketbook,
tie bloody shoes,th pieces of watch chain
and other trinket5 strewn along the track.
All this appears queer and bewildering.
It Is tc be hoped that young Pierce may
come to st. Panl and square himself. Mr..
Pierce, father of the young man, has &C.
cepted the statement of Haas to % true,
and yesterday he wrote for his son to come