St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-06
THE FATAL FOURTH.
Independence Day Marked by One Fatality
and the Usual Minor Acct
dents.
William WEIGH Dies From Shot of a
Pistol Fired by His Friend, John
Marion.
The Fire Department Kept on the
Run Responding to Late Alarms
at Night.
Einor Damage Inflicted by Festive
Fireworks. But Nothing
Serious.
The Shooting ARRAY.

by his friend and roommate, John j. Ma
rion yesterday afternoon was a shocking
tragedy which marred the celebration of
the anniversary of American Independence.
The two young men had communicating
rooms on the second floor at the Sample
block on Fourth street, between Nlcollet
and Hennepin avenues. In the morning
they had been celebrating, and had become
somewhat intoxicated. They went to their
rooms, and Welch got out 81 calloer re-
volver. An old tin sign IN an alley way
afforded a convenient smark and he plazed
AWAY at of It, torned Mafi0n which hu he
threw against the wall of an adjacent
block. A young man from the boSton
beanery, a friend of Welch's. stepped ont
and said, Don't shoot your revolver, Billy.
it's dangerous" Get out there and hold
up your hat I'm dead shot, " he answered.
''Thanks. not to-day" was the response.
Welch stopped firing and with Marion went
over to the Clark house across the street.
Here they visited the bar. Marion said it
was his treat, and Welch said it was his
AS a result they both treated twice, drink
ing cocktails. Coming out of the bar-room,
they met Charles II. Seman, bartender at
lG Third street south. WEIGH commenced
to brag in a joking way about his
MARKsMANsHIP WITH A REVOLVER.
and said: Come over and see me shoot"
The three went over to the room, and
WEIGH loaded his revolver and fired five
shots at the target. A bit OF card
board sticking in the top Of the sign was
his especial object, and the last shot struck
it. Turning to Marion, he said: bet
YOU ten TO five you can't do that in ten
shots" cpl take YOU" replied Marion.
Wech loaded the revolver again and laid
it down on the waSh-stand cooked, and
then pulled out a SO bill. Marion picked
I'D the revolyer-the two were standing
side by side at the window. Instantly
there was an explosion, and Welch cried,
Pm shot" He stood still, and hardly
moned Seman, who was sitting in
chair, sprung up and helped him to the
bed Marion seemed almost paralyzed
with horror. Finally he gasped
Billy you know it was an acct,
dent didn't mean to shoot you"
WEIGH answered simply Eyes" Seman
rushed out into the hall and summoned
Mrs. Dan Webb, the lady who rents the
rooms. AS she entered the room, WEIGH
said
''wHY DID YOU DO TIP"
and Marion answered, lit was acclden-
tai. DR.. Meyers was summoned at once.
The shirt was removed and the wound
showed that the bullet had penetrated the
right side at point just below the nipple.
WEIGH was unconscious and evidently
dying. Once he murmured. ooh, God.
give me something to stop this awful pain"
AT thirty-seven minutes past o'clock he
was dead, having lived but twenty-five
minutes after he was shot.
The above statement of the sad occur
renee is substantially that of Charles n.
Seman, who was the only witness. He
said, There is no doubt whatever that the
shot was purely accidental. Welch and
and Marion were IN the best of spirits,
laughing and joking together. L am sure
the revolver was cooked when WEIGH laid
it on the washstand. Marion had no
sooner picked it up than it exploded. [
distinctly heard WEIGH say yes when Mer
riam asked if he did not know it was an
accident. [ had never seen Marion be-
fore but knew WEIGH very we'll"
Marion was taken to the central police
station and placed in cell 1, to await the
result OF the coronerS examination. The
liquor he had drank had seemingly mud
died his brain somewhat and the aWfulness
of his situation seemed to oyerwhelm him.
He was completely unnerved, and his eyes
were filled with tears, while his voice
trembled. At first he was incOherent and
could only cry. ''Oh. how could it have hap
pened." Finally he Gained down and gave
STATEMENT OF THE OCCURRENCE
which differs only slightly from that given
by Seman. He did not recoIlect making
the bet, and did not know whether he
picked the revolver up from the wash
stand. He thought, however, that WEIGH
handed it to him. All he knew was that it
exploded as soon as he grasped it, He did
not know that Welch was hit until he heard
him say 81 am shot"
He seemed very much depressed. and ap-
parently has a full realization of the fact
that he is in measure responsible for the
death of human being. He repeatedly
stated that he did not want his folks to
learn of his trouble if possible, and an
agony Of remOrse seemed to sweep through
his mind. In the evening he seemed to
lose his voice as well as his heart, and could
hardly talk. Numerous friends called to see
him and condoled with HIM in his unfor-
tunate position, besides trying TO cheer him
up with assurances that he would surely be
acquitted from alleged responsibility by the
coronel's jury. In appearance he is quite
prepossessing, being tall and well
formed, with dark hair and
ewes and light mustache He
came to Minnesota a few years ago. He
worked in ST. Paul for two years and then
came to Minneapolis, having been since en-
ployed as gas and steam filter by the
Porter Steam Heating company at 210
Third street south. His former home was
in Wisconsin, and he was acquainted with
WEIGH before coming here. He roomed
with William BOerchard, a West hotel
barber, and Welch roomed with Frank
Baker, another barber, the four occupying
suite OF rooms. Both these young men
say that Welch and Marion were warm
friends, and almost seemed like brothers.
MariOn'S employers give him good reputa-
ton for sobriety and industry, and state
that they had never known him to drink.
There seems to be no doubt in the minds of
all acquainted with the parties that the
shooting was purely accidental.
WEIGHS REMAINS
wer takeI. to. Conolly's morgue, where an in
quest will be held to-day. In the evening
friends called by the score to view his body,
and the expressions of regret and sorrow
were general. He had been employed as
messenger by the American Express COM
pany for nearly ten years. running between
Elroy and Portage fol four years. and be-
tween Minneapolis and Elroy during the
past six years. He was genial in bis dis
position, warm in his friendships, and was
generally respected and liked. His
widowed mother, Mrs. John d. WEIGH,
lives at Madison. Wis, and sister, Mrs.
Mary Montieth. lives at Milwaukee. An
uncle, Judge William Welch. of Welch,
Botkin & Welch, of this city, was
summoned at once and will take
charge of the remains after the coroners in
quest. He also notified the family of the
deceased and will be present at the inquest.
He stated last evening that he did not care
to express any opinion and wanted simple
justice done his dead nephew. If he was
not thoroughly convinced that the shooting
was accidental he should insist upon prose-
cutting Marion to the fullest extent.
The Days Casualties.
But four fires occurred yesterday, not
withstanding that during the past five hours
over 500 0nn worth of fireworks were burned