St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-26
PUTTING OUT HIS WIFE's EYES.
James Da,csOH;s Thurman Hammer OF
Bringing Mrs. Dd,csoa to Terms.
IN Y SIM

James Dd3cSO7SS I3lIIt7nU7l manner Of
Bringing Mrs. Da,cso', to Terms.
N. Y. Sun.
A week ago last Monday the village of
Branfor on the New York and New Haven
road, became excited over the story that
James Dawson had deliberately destroyed his
wfes right eye. The excitement was more
intense because every one knew that Dawson
had already blinded the other eye while beat
ing her five years ago, and thus had wholly
blinded her by this last assault.
Dawson and his wife are both more than
SO years old. They have no children. Their
home is on the extreme outskirts of the vii
lage in little shanty built in the woods on
rocky hillside. The part of the village adj
joining them is called Dublin by the village
people. Dawson is a cripple. The present
Mrs. Dawson is his second wife. Although
they have lived in the village for many years,
the neighbors do not know how long they
have been married, but they are quite sure
that Mrs. Dawson brought her husband 5000
or $500 when she married him, and that after
their little shanty was built and paid for the
balance of the money was used chiefly for
drink
Dawson not only drank, but he made his
lameness an excuse for asking charity of the
town. For years he has received from 81 to
S1.50 week in orders on grocers. Occa-
sonally he did few days work, and his
wife did such work as she was able. Five
years ago, when both were in liquor, a dis
pute eliminated in a struggle, and blow
from Dawson's fist blinded the wife's left
eye No complaint was made, and Dawson
got no punishment.
Since that time Dawson has frequently
said to his wife when he has been in liquor:
s'Ill be having the other eye out Of We eff
you don't behave yerself.''
Two weeks ago to-day Dawson went to
Capt. Dibble, the chief selectman of the
town, and asked for an order on L. Buckley,
a dealer in groceries and liquors. Capt.
Dibble says he objected for time because
Buckley kept liquor, but finally yielded to
Dawsons entreaties. 1t is known that Daw-
son got Goldfish on the order. Buckley says
he doesn't remember inst what Dawson did
get. Mrs. Dawson says he brought home
liquor. In telling what followed Mrs. Daw
son said:
~ was cleaning the fish by the light of a
smoky little lamp, and asked him to edge the
knife for me.
Edge it yerself,' said he
to edge it, and then he said he'd thump me
if didn't shut up. With that I said some
thing more, and he up with his stick and hit
me whack in the back Then, when l be-
gan to holler, he claps his left hand on my
mouth, and one finger slipped in, and bit
it.
''Let go,'' says he.
Il WON'T says I, between my teeth like
I,nf no
says. 'I'll have yer other eye out, then, ~ and
jabbed me with his finger in my eyer
The eye was terribly bruised, bnt Mrs.
Dawson bound it up with wet cloth and
wentto bed How she passed the time until
the next Monday night is not known, but a
neighbor, Mrs. Shea, happened to call, and
found Mrs Dawson in bed, stone blind, and
her husband sitting in the house Mrs. Shea
atonce sent for Dr. Gaylord. The doctor
was not sure she would be wholly blind until
the ensuing Saturday. Then Grand Juror
Charles E. Van Zandt went before Justice
W. H. link and warrant was placed in
the hands of Deputy Sheriff Henry D. Lind
sey which charged Dawson with assault and
battery and deliberately putting out his wife's
right eye.
Dawson was not arrested until Monday,
because the officer thought that the lookup
was not suitable place to keep the man in
over Sunday. Then Dawson acknowledged
that he struck his wife in the eye because she
bit him, but he denies that ne deliberately
put out her eye. He was held for the next
criminal term of the court, and the wife was
sent to the New Haven Hospital.
The general committee of the county De-
mocracy of New York city, denounces the
civil service reform acts as dangerous te
liberty and the work of corrupt politicians,
and has appointed committee to submit Q