The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-09-16
FRANK J. MEAD.
The Well KNOWN Dakota Politician and Newspa-
per Man Of MSndan, Shoots his Fellow Towns
man. Frank FarnsWOrth. In St. Paul.

The Well KNOWN Dakota Politician and Newspa.
per Man Of Msndan, Shoots his Fellow Towns
man, Frank Farnsw0rth, In St. Paul.
The following are the newspaper reports
OF the mysterious affair. Farnsworth has
been in st. Paul for several days,
stopping at the Merchants, while Mead
had been recently employed in the office oil
the n..,nasers of the State Fair. Tues
day evening" the 7th inst, Mead entered the
hotel. He went up to Farnsworth and the
two shook hands. They talked lew
minutes when their conversation became
loud enough to attract the attention OF
some men near at hand. One Of these say
Mead was very abusive and called Farms
worth some bad names. The two men
separated. Some time later they met
again. Mead says Farnsworth went out
OF the hotel and returned, while the latter
says Mead went out and returned. However
this may have been, the two met again.
The men disagree as to what then occurred:
Eye witnesses state that after they had
talked u short time Mead pulled a
revolver. He held it up with the muzzle
pointed to the ceiling and waved it
in the air. All ut once the muzzle was low
cred and the revolver discharged. Farms
worth Immediately placed both hands on
his st omach and said. ooh, my God! I'm
shot in the stomach My poor little ones,
what will they do!' AS soon as the shot
was fired A. II. Warren, who was sitting
near, rushed up, caught Mead around the
neck from behind and tried to get the re-
volver. This was taken from Mead y
hand Meanwhile Farnsworth had stag
gered around making II circuit OF the
rotunda. AS he came up to where
Mead stood he struck the latter a
terrific blow in the face. Mead drooped
like IL log, while the blood began to flow
from his nose and deep cut in his face.
Farnsworth was taken hold OF by some OF
the men at hand and taken to room
in the hotel where an examina-
tion showed that Mead's bullet had en-
tered Farnsworth's abdomen near the
naval. The surgeons were in doubt as to
the result. One OF them said: 1--WE arc in
hopes that the bullet has simply
passed down between the abdomin-
al muscles. II that theory is cor
rect the chances for recovery is good. IL
the bullet has passed straight through the
abdomen and injured any OF the intestines
his chances are doubtful. Farnswo orth has
wife and three children at Mandan, and
seems to be most solicitous as to them.
When he was conveyed to his room
after the shooting he said: Save
me, doctor, for Gods sake! l can't die.
What will become Of my little ones?'
Farnswerth and Mead had been friends,
and both dsclaim any enmity to each other,
though they differ as to the circumstances
OF the quarrel Farnswerth says: II sup
posed that Mead and myself had al
ways been friends, and am at an utter loss
to know why he should have shotme We
have lived in the same town for q number
OF years. He must either have been drunk
or else a crank"
Mead says: II have known Frank
Farnsworth since 1871, We have always
been the best OF friends. Farnsworth was
about half drunk, and had been drinking
myself considerable
A. H. Warren OF st, Paul was standing
near the entrance to the hotel, and heard
Mead call Fransworlh id thei," his
attention being first called to the diff
ficulty by that remark. Farnsw orth
appeared to pass it off and, in order
to avoid any alteration, left the
corridor OF the hotel and went upon the
street. Returning soon afterward he enter
ed the office, the first man he met happened
to be Mead himself. Mead walked up to
him in an apparently cool, collected man.
mer, and called Farnsworth a ''son OF a
b-h," at the same time placing his hand be-
hind him as il to draw a weapon. Advancing
near to Farnsworth he repeated the oppro-
bious epithet. Franswor then spit in
Mead's face and turned about to leave:
put MettQ nau NJ tnlS tiIte uEaWl Hts ~
volver and fired. Mr.. Warren rush I'D for
ward, grabbed Mead about the neck. at the
same time reachingf for the revolver. twas
fired just as Warren reached for it. the ex-
plosion blackening his hand. Mead at
tempted to fire the revplver a second time,
but Warren managed to secure the weapon
and thwart Mead design.
Frank J. Mead is one OF the best known
men in the Northwest. He has been promi-
| nent as a newspaper man and politician.
| He came to Minnesota twenty eight years
ago and settled in North lfeld, where he
worked on q newspaper. He afterwards
ran paper at Hastings. Mead then came
| to St: Paul and worked as compositor
on the ole, st. Paul Pieneer; During
MINNESOTA Mir sah "a and ''f4 IN Hatchs 1t ss battal.
| ion. After the war he returned to
| st. Paul, and was city editor Of the old
| Pioneer for several years. He then went tn
| Omaha and Salt Lake City. where he work.
ed on newspapers: He afterward returned
to ST. Paul and warked on the Pioneer
again. He next removed to Minneapolis,
and fpr four years-fr0m 1874 to 1878
ho occupied the position Of city clerk. In
| 1879 he removed to Mandan, where he has
| since resided.
Frank Farnsworth formerly resided in
| St. Paul. He removed to Mandan and
engaged in the dry goods business: He is
| recognized as a young man Qf usual busi-
| ness ability and stands high in the estima.
| tion Of both St. Paul and Mandan people
| who know him. He is about thirty five
years Of age and has 2 wife and two chill:
dren: He came to st: Paul TO purchase
goods.