St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-09
SALTWATER NEWS.
Tho Kerr Sufcfde--Chief of Police
ShortaIl Interviewed.
Memorial Doings in This Cfty--C1ty
CounciI--Other News.
n. w. Kerr,s suicide.

Chief of Police Matt Shortall aTrlNeu
from the East yesterday morning and was
the center of attraction on the street, as ali
We're anxious 10 hear the truth OF the story
as to the death of the late r. w. Kerr.
Chief Shortall had attended the coroner 5
inquest in Quebec, and he said it was the
most thorough one he had ever attended, as
the people of the city were determined, as
well as the authorities there, that the mat
ter would be sifted to the bottom. r. w.
Kerr had influential friends in the city, MS
uncle. Alexander Kerr, being prominent
business man. The decision OF the coro-
ners jury that r. w. Kerr came to MS
death by suicide was arrived at after hlucn
deliberation, and the coroner wrote the YER
dict in the presence OF the jury, VINO
signed it. The facts bore out the Verdlct'
and no one. however biased, could come
to anv other conclusion. The people of
Quebec were much mcensed against De-
tective Jack Kehoe of Chicago and also
against Shortall for coming, as they do not
like the American detectives and call them
sleuth hounds. Chief Shortall gave a full
account of the whole matter, and the fol-
lowing is snort synopsis:
When Detective Kehoe first arrived IN
Quebec he went to the office Of the police
magistrate and asked for his assistance Ill
locating Kerr, for which purpose Detective
Walsh of the city force and Skifiington OF
the Provincials were detailed to assist nm.
He soon got on the track, but Kerr did not
know he was Swallowed for some days, aud it
was only found out by one of his friends
who knew Detective Walsh and saw this
stranger with him. Kerr then determined
to leave the city for the West, and had his
uncle accompany him part of the way.
The crossed to Point Lewis on the ferry
boat. on which the three detectives also
crossed, being appraised Of what was gong
on. On nearing st. Charles. some seven
miles Wess of Quebec, Kerr srepped out
side, when Kehoe, thinking lie was
to Jump fgOm the train followed him, and
for the first time spoke to him, asking him
to come inside, as he expected Matt Clark
from Saltwater by that evenings train, and
then they could arrange these matters.
To this Kerr replied ''All right" and came
inside. To get back to the passenger
coach. the mail coach had to be passed
through, but such cars are different from
those here, as a passage way leads outside
of where the mail matter is assorted
Kehoe was ahead, and when he was enter
ing the Second-class apartment OF the car
he heard a shot fired. Surprising Kerr was
firing at him, Kehoe sprang inside, and then
he heard a second shot fired. He was not
near Kerr when he shot himself, two doors
and the length of a car being between them.
the first shot fired by Kerr struck him in the
forehead, and glancing upwards followed
under the scalp to the top of his head, go
ing out through the crown of his hat. This
shot did not injure him. The second shot,
however, entered the center of his forehead,
passed through the brain. lodged in the
back part of the SKULL causing instant
death. The surgeon afterward cut this part
Of the skull out and it was shown to the
coroners jury with the ball lodged in it.
The revolver was fired so near his head that
the powder was pushed into the hole made
by the bullet. Kerr's body was immedi-
ately returned to Quebec, where the inquest
was held. The detective who ac-
companied Kehoe, proved con-
pistols with Kerr, as Detective Walsh had
Inspected Kehoes revolver, which was a
self-cocking 80 Smith & Wesson. A shell
which was still in showed the marks that
Walsh had made with his knife to remove
1t. Kehoe was arrested On the Monday
following Kerr'S DEATH and was not re
leased until Thursday night. The police
magistrate fully eXhonerated him OF shoot
ing Kerr, and so did all others who were
present. Kerr's father was present at the
inquest, but his brother had not arrived al
the time Chief Shortall left Quebec. Kerr
was buried in Quebec, as the body began to
decompose soon after his death.
In reference to statements that have been
published by Minneapolis morning paper
emanating from this city, Chief Shortall
says there is not word of truth in them,
ond he was surprised to hear them. If any
thing could have been proven against Kehoe
he would hive been certainly detained by
the Canadian authorities, but it was so clear
a case of suicide that he was discharged.