Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-28

tions in the history of st. Paul as, perhaps,
the greatest fasco, sell, or canard on rec
ord. In the outcome it reminds one of the
real old plays, whore tbs tragedy was
placed before the roaring farce.
On the ID of January the citizens of
st. Paul were shocked beyond parallel 10y
the discovery of what seemed to be one of
the most brutal and blood-curdling muir
ders that had ever been perpetratsd IN the
state. The blood ran cold at its very recital
and curses and contumely were hsapsd up
on the heads of the outlaws and perpetrs-
tors.
Richard 4. Pierce, young man Of high
connections had been met, so the circum-
stances went,at midnight, waylaid, slugged,
robbed and murdered.
The finding Of the coat with the tell-tals
stab in the back, the bloody shirt sleeve
and collar. the cap and Cnsanguined over
shoes, ETC., ali pointed to a foul and brutal
crime.
The circumstances OF this affair have
been narrated so often and the public is SO
thoroughly familiar with all the details of
the case that there is at present no coca
sion for reiteration.
Two weeks ago last Satur-
lawyer of st. Paul came down from Cald-
wells camp, northwest of Grand Rapids,
and made the startling statement that he
had seen and conversed with young Pierce.
The GLOBE in an extra edition gave to the
public the first intelligence of his reported
discovery.
The story of Mr.. Haas was given as COM
ing from Pierce. Briefly it was to the
4ba
night of Jan. l, he was followed up the
track by two men, one an old enemy and
with whom he had had fuss
that afternoon in Minneapolis;
that the men sprang at him near elevator
a. and that during the encounter that
followed, Pierce struck one of his asssil-
ants with an iron bar or bolt; that he was
wounded himself, and supposing that he
had killed man he walked to Saltwater
Junction, where he took the train and went
north.
This statement will be attended to fur
Their On.
Two weeks ago last Monday Mr.. S. L.
Pierce, father of the young man, started
north to verify the report of the discovery
of his son, and if possible to get at the
bottom facts of this strange business. At
q
each way, was made by wagon, Er. Pierce
reached CaldwelPs camp, situated Resr tbs
British possessions, 100 miles northwest
from Grand Rapids and 165 miles from
Aitkin.
His errand was not bootless one for he
found his son, about whom SO much had
been said and written, alive and well, and
at work in the camp.
! -, I'D L. -
the latter part of last week, arriving in st.
Paul yesterday afternoon.
Il order that the young man might have
a chance to square himself and set at rest
matter which had been the occasion of
so much distress, anxiety and suffering to
his family and the community at large,
Mr.. Pierce deemed it wise to have his son
appear and answer in person.
HIS STATEMENT.
Concerning the affair he makes the fol-
lowing statement:
The circumstances of this affair are
briefly as follows, starting from the time
l visited the residence of Mr.. Hale at Min
neapolis at 7 o'clock: After leaving this
place proceeded up Washington avenue
to meet friend at the Nicollet, and finding
/ had some time on my hands which to
while away l stepped into a billiard hall
on the north side of the street. just above
the st. Paul. Minneapolis i Manitoba
depot,where | secured a table,and was play
ing a mere practice game alone when the
party with whom the trouble subsequently,
occurred, accompanied by his companion,
unceremOniOusly removed the billiard balls
from my rack and commenced placing
them in position on the table Naturally,
I demonstrated forcibiy at this presump-
tion, when l was invited out upon the
street 10 settle the argument, which l Gc
cepted. Nothing came of it, however. l
acknowledge having threatened to make
a corpse of him. or words to that effect,
should he ever cross my path
again. We separated after this brief
alteration. l might add that while IN
loading 4 car load of oil at the docks this
fall we had a violent passage Of words or
account of his sloWness in removing his
dray from the track.
Tnence l went to the Nicoleet, read the
papers few moments, tried to get a ten
dollar bill changed at that place and after
wards attended the theater. Where these
parties we're during the interim or what
they were doing l do not know, but they
were ABOARD the opera train that night
when | got on to return home. While not
positively afraid of their harboring any
evil intentions against me then. was suf-
fciently apprehensive Of danger to en-
deavor to throw them of my track by
jumping off the train just before coming
TO the union depot, and starting up the
S, @. track homeward, route which had
often taken before. They too jun ped off
and followed few rods back. reached
the W. Div. Office and went up stairs, re-
naming probably thirty minutes I came
down stairs closely followed by the watch
man. Seeing the coast clear 1 set
out up the tracks, and when near elevator
A the parties stepped out and confronted
me. An engine with box-cars attached
passed at this iuncture, and I was strongly
tempted to give them the signal to stop,
but desisted. One of the parties then made
remark to the effect that this was the
proper place to adjust all difficulties.
consented and asked time to remove my
coats. 1 had kicked off my low shoes, re-
moved my overcoat and partially removed
my under coat when the afray began. My
stocking feet came in contact with car
link, which secured, and planted pow
erful blow upon the head of the man in
front He dropped like a log, and l am
dimlV cons ciOus that the other party was