The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-09-16

The Well Known Dakota Politician and Nswspa.
per Nan Of Msndan, Shoots his Fellow Towns
man, Frank Farnsworth, In St. Paul.

The Well Known Dakota Politician and Nswspa.
per Nan or Mandan, Shoots his Fellow Towns.
man, Frank FarnswOrth, In St. Psul.
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 OF
the managers 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 oil
some men near at hand. One al 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 at once the muzzle was low
cred and the revolver discharged. Farms
worth Immediately placed both hands on
his ST stomach 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 .
hand. Meanwhile Farnsworth had stag
gered around, making u circuit OF the
rotunda. AS he came up to where
Mead stood he struck the latter a
terrific blow in the face. Mead dropped
l., 10 <ha To How
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 NJ to
the result. One OF them said: I'VE 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. Farnsworth has
q 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! [ can't die.
What will become OF my little ones!
Farnswerth and Mead had been friends,
and both disclaim 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 shot me. We
have lived in the same town for number
OF years. He must either have been drunk
or else q 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 thief" his
attention being first called to the diff.
ficulty by that remark. Farnsworth
appeared to pass it off and, in order
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 ''son OF a
b-h," at the same time placing his hand be
hind him as il to draw a weapon. Advancing
near to Farnswor he repeated the oppro.
bious epithet. Fransworth then spit in
Mead's face and turned about to leave
But Mead had hF this time drawn HIS re.
volver and fired: Mr.. Warren rush ed for.
ward, grabbed Mead about the neck, at the
same time reaching for the revolver. 1t was
fired just as Warren reached for it: the ex-
plosion blackening his hand. Mead at
tempted to fire the revolver a second time
but Warren managed to secure the weapon
and thwart Mead design.
Frank J. Mead 10 one OF the best known
men in the Northwest: Hehas been promi:
pent as q newspaper man and politician
He came to Minnesota twenty eight years
ago and settled in Northfeld. where he
worked on newspaper. He afterwards
ran paper at Hastings. Mead then came
to st: Paul and worked as q compositol
on the old St. Paul PieResr pqrin1
hane gsE b and served Hsteh ts ba t,s
st. Paul. and was city editor Of the ole
Omaha and Salt Lake City, where he work
ed on newspapers. He afterwaFd returned
to ST. Paul and worked on the pioneer
again; He next removed t9 Minneapolis
and for four years-fE0m 1874 to 1878
be occupieA the position OF city clerk. II
1879 he removed to Mandan, where he hal
since resided.
Frank Farnsworth formerly resided ir
| st. Paul. He removed to Mandan anG
engaged in the dry goods business: He i
recognized as a Ynung man Ai usual bust
ness ability and stands high in the estima
ton 81 both st. Paul and Mandan peopl,
who know him. He ~ about thirty :fiv.
years of age and has q wife and two chil
dren: He came to St. Papl to pufchas,
goods.