The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-04-17
"BoRoIIfTE."
Battle About a Bad Bill.

On last Tuesday morning bloody
encounter took place between Kee r.
Mckee, business manager of the
South KENTucKiAN, and Prof. Henry
G. O'Neill, scientific inventor of this
city. The circumstances leading to
the fight, and the combat as reported
by witnesses, were as follows:
On March Both, during the small
pox scare, Prof. O'Ncill came to
the Office of the South KENTUcKIAS
and had some circulars printed ad-
vertising "Boroline," an invention of
his, as sure preventive for small
pox. He stated that the bills would
be paid for when he got them,and the
matter was regarded as cash trans
action. When the work was finished
Prof. 0'Neill did not call for it him
self, but sent friend who stated that
ONeill had just used all his money
ordering drugs and that he would
settle the bill the next day. With
this understanding he was permitted
10 take the bills without paying for
them. At the time set the account,
which was only 81, was not settled
BY O'Ncill. Some days afterwards it
was presented to him and he prom
Used to pay the following Saturday.
Mckee, who presented the account.
reported this and on Tuesday morn
ing was instructed to see O'Neill
again and tell him that the account
must be settled without further
promising. Mckee found O'Neill in
the vacant store being fitted up for j.
p. Nolan and again presented the ac-
count. O,Neill again promised to
pay in the future and Mckee told him
that his instructions were 10 collect
the bill then, as it was regarded as
cash transaction. O'Neill became
highly incensed at this and, as Mckee
says, told him that he had promised
to pay Saturday, but now he would
say that he would not and didn't
know that he would ever pay It, and
eaded by ordering Mckee to get out
Of the vacant store in which they
were standing. Mckee Indignantly
refused aud O'Neill replied that he
would put him out and laid hold of
him. Mckee showed him back and
O'Neill then dealt him a savage blow
on the nose with his fist. Mckee
then proceeded to draw a dull bar
low knife, but before he could do SO
O'Ncill struck him again and was
following up his blow with another
when Mckee began to use his knife.
He stabbed O'Ncill once in the breast,
but could not cut through his cloth
ing, so he began TO cut him about the
face, while 0'Neill continued to dis
play scientific pugilism by pounding
Mckee In the face with his fists.
They fought for perhaps minute
when they were finally separated by
a step ladder being thrust.between
them. Mckee was found to be badly
bruised and beaten about the face, as
Prof. O'Neill is said to be profess
sional boxer and is a man of iron
and athletic movements
ONe.ll was severely gashcd about the
face and soon began to grow weak
from loss Of blood. His nose was slit,
one eyelid was cut nearly off, the ball
narrowly escaping, and his face and
head were cut in probably half dozen
places. The cut in his breast was not
serious, as It did not 90 to the lung.
Mckee was able to be about in a
day or two, though he still retains
relies Of the fight in the shape of
black eye and the unsettled bill.
O'Neill is still confined and probably
will be for several days longer and
the trial for breach of the peace will
not be held until the aggrcssor is able
to appear in court. e
Mr.. Mckee is Young man ofquiet,
gentlemanly demeanor, universally
courteous and polite in every respect,
but Is courageous and cool in the face
Of danger and when Prof. O'Neill
made his fierce and unexpected as
sault upon his youthful adversary,
tho latter proceeded to defend him
self and but for his dull pocket
knife O'Neill would quickly have dis
ablcd him with his scientific blows.
McKee's action in SO CALAMITY de-
tending himself against an exper-
fenced pugilist was universally APP
plauded by the citizens of Hopkins
vile, old and young. He is one of
the most popular young gentlemen
in the city and his friends crowded
around him by the score to congrat-
ulate him upon SO fearlessly and sue
ccssfully defending himself against
his more powerful combatant with so
inferior weapon.
ta.as M. o.t1 rN