The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-05-08
A DESPERATE scRIMMAaE.


Last Sunday morning about foul
O'Clock nightwatchman Blake had an
other encounter with man armed with (
knife, which necessitated rough treat
ment on the part of that official result
ing in the fracture of the assaulting par
| tvs left arm above the wrist, and the
loss of the small finger Of the right hand
The wounded man gives his name ~
John Mcdonald and he arrived in tn.
city on the noon train from St. Paul
Some time later he went to the Mime
opa House and called for dinner, and
designated that he would pay for the
same after eating. but was refused by
the landlord. During the afternoon he
was seen at different places about town,
having with him small tin pail III
which he carried beer. AT supper time
he called at the Washington House and
made an effort TO revive pretended
former acquaintance with Mr.. Duane,
who stated To him that he had no rec
objection of ever having known such a
person. He requested supper, lodging
and breakfast, which he stated he would
settle for afterwards, but was refused the
same. About nine O'Clock in the even
ing officer Blake observed him coming
out of Laird Norton Co.'S lumber
shed, and Il half IN hour later was noti-
fled that there was an intoxicated man
down in the vicinity of Frank Berry's,
on Front street, who should be taken
care of. Upon repairing to that locality
he saw the fellow i'm the street standing
looking about, and at once aecosted him
by way of inquiry as TO where he wished
to go. He said he desired to go to the
Northwestern depot TO take the morn
ing train. Mr.. Blake stated that he
would escort hinrto the depot, which he
did, and the man was soon asleep OH "a
settee. Later in the night the officer
found him on the floor, il being suppOs-
ed that he had fallen from the seat.
The train was over an hour late and up-
on its arrival Mr.. Blake awoke his
charge and tod him that the train was
about to depart. Mcdonald went out
onto the platform and after looking the
train over, remarked that he'd he ID
if he was going on that train. Then the
officer told him that he would have To
go with him and he refused, saying he
would 60 to the City Hotel where his
clothes were, but Mr.. Blake was well
aware that he had no clothing with him
and told him so. He started from the
depot toward Front street and the Off
Ger followed after to see what course he
would take, and all ut once Mcdonald
stopped and remarked that he would
not 60 with the police, when he was in
formed that he must go, and was direct
ed to take the sidewalk and follow it,
which he did, ut the same time using
very insulting language toward the Nam
kato police, which he kept mp more or
less all the way down until when about
Sherk's butcher shop he whirl-
ed about and declared that he would
not be put up by any Mankato police,
(this being stated in pretty abusive ian
guage) and advanced toward the officer
with both hands up, the right contain
ing some weapon that glistened in the
light which Mr. Blake knew was either
n knife or revolver, and he struck at his
hand To prevent his using the instru-
ment. After receiving several blows
he (McDonald) expressed his willing
ness to go up, and was taken and placed |
in cell at the City Hall. He made no
of being hurt, but the officer
observed that the hand was badly cut. |
hours later when the chief called the |
man complained of being i'm pain and |
DR.. Davis was sent for, who discovered |
that the small bone of the left arm was
fractured, which he set, and the |
bone of the hand was severed. |
1t is thought that the knife was so
held that when the police struck |
at it he knocked the blade shut, thereby |
the cash, The man was yet
under the influence of liquor Sunday |
and it was found necessary to |
defer an operation until Monday,
when the arm was set, and the |
small finger of the left hand amputated.
Tuesday evening the wounded man was
taken to the poor farm, where he can be |
more properly cared for. Mcdonald |
says he worked in this city or 7 years
ago, helping on the work of grading |
down Agency hill, and that he boarded !
with Mr.. Kron. He also says he was |
soldier in the Sixth Minnesota regiment
and that since, he has been an inmate of
the soldiers home ut Milwaukee, also |
that he is Il pensioner, and had some
money with him at the time of the oc-
which was lost, but diligent
search has failed to find any.
1t Is All occurrence which every one
regrets, yet no blame can be attached to |
the officer who did the clubbing, for an
encounter in the dark with strange
man, and a powerful one at that, armed
with deadly weapon Is anything but
desirable situation, and it is natural that
a man so assailed will use the most eff
fective means of defense mt hand. and
u public official is perfectly justifable in
doing so while taking such risk in the
performance of duty. These men do not
show fight, unless when provided with
the most deadly kind of q weapon, and
u little leniency on the part of an officer,
though preferable, is liable TO be the
price of serious injury if not death.