Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-13
A DEADLY BLOW.

George Marsh Struck With Drag-Pin
by Dennis Sullivan and Probably Fatal
Iy WOunded---All About Midnight
Lunch---The Assailant Jailed--His State
menu of the Affair.
A terrible encounter took place early
yesterday morning between two employees
of the American Express company, which
resulted in injuries to one of the men
which it is feared will prove fatal. The
fight was between Dennis Sullivan, a
porter employed in the rear of the build
ing of the company in the rear of the
union depot, and VIM. Marsh, night
Waterman.
The men met about 1870 o'clock and en-
gagged in petty dispute over lunch,
Marsh accusing Sullivan of having eaten
his dinner. The latter repealed the charge,
and from words they came to blows. Dur
ing the melee that followed Sullivan
picked up a heavy oak pin from one of the
freight trucks, and struck Marsh fearful
blow on the back of the head.
The latter fell to the ground senseless,
and it was found that he had been very
seriously injured. DR.. Quinn was sum-
moned and pronounced the wound a frac-
ture of the skull. Sullivan was put under
arrest and taken to city hall, the wounded
man being conveyed to ST. Josephs hos
pital.
During the forenoon the prisoner was
taken before Judge Burr and bound over
to the grand jury in the sum of $4,000, the
case to be Investigated by that body at
both men, Sullivan having hitherto borne
a peaceful character and he is said to have
supported couple of sisters by his in
dustry.
Soon after the arrest of Sullivan a rep
resentative of the GLOBE called at the Jail
and interviewed him. He was found in
cell next to the last one in the south tier
with two other prisoners. It was evident
that he had at that time pretty healthy
comprehension of the terrible situation in
which he was placed. he had been weep
ing. He had heard that Marsh had died
and he was so scared he did not
know what to do. The story he told was
substantially as follows: He was the day
Waterman and porter at the lower Ameri
can express Office down below the union
depot, and William Marsh was the night
watchman. The latter has been in the habit
of taking lunch down to the express
Office, to eat during the night. For some
days this lunch has been stolen by some
one, and yesterday Marsh charged Sulli-
van with the stealing. At first the charge
was made in half good natured,
pleasant way, and was so under
stood by Sullivan. 1t was
noticed, however, that Marsh kept harping
upon the matter until it became evident
he was partly, if not wholly, in earnest.
Finally it became monotonous and disa-
greeable when Sullivan demonstrated with
Marsh about it. The latter did not stop,
but seeing that it annoyed Sullivan he
continued to reiterate the charge even be-
fore other persons. The consequence was
that hard words passed between the two
men upon the subject, and Marsh called
Sullivan outside the Office, where the two
soon came to blows. Marsh got the best
of the struggle, and soon after they got
back into the Office, Sullivan, smarting
from the result of the contest, picked up
sled stake about four and half feet in
length and going up to Marsh struck him
on the back of the head. Marsh fell
Immediately to the floor and was soon
after removed to the st. Joseph
hospital. Sullivan went about his
ordinary business after he struck
the blow but he says he was a
good deal worried, especially after he
heard that Marsh was dead. After that he
could not do much work. He went
through the motions, however, and was at
work when he saw the police officer COM
ing. Then he said to himself there is no
use to try to work any more, and quit.
When the officer came up he went to him
and surrendered.
Up to a late hour last night Marsh re-
NAMED i'll an insensible condition, with
very slim chances for recovery.
NDHFEQ a. NACJ UFES