New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-09-15
FRANK ]. MEAD.

/. FRANK J. MEAD.
The Well known Dakota Politician and Newspa-
per Man Of Mandan, Shoots his Fellow Towns-
i man, Frank Farnsworth, in St. Paul.
The following are the newspaper reports
OF the mysterious affair Farnsworth has
stopping at the Merchants, while Mead
had been recently employed in the Office of
the managers Of the State Fair Tues
dayevening, the 7th inst, Mead entered the
hotel. He went up to Farnsworth and the
two shook hands. They talked a few
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 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 stomach and said, .Oh, my God! I'm
shot in the stomach! My poor little ones,
what will they do!' AS soon as the shot
was fred A. H. Warren, who was sitting
near, rushed up, caught Mead around the
neck from behind and tried to get the re-
,yolver. This was taken from Mead's
hand. Meanwhile Farnsworth had stag
gered around making a circuit OF the
rotunda. AS he came up to where
Mead stood he struck the latter a
terrific blow in the face. Mead dropped
like 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-
tered Farnsworth's abdomen near the
naval. The surgeons were in doubt as to
the result. One OF them said: 1--WE are 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. Ii
the bullet has passed straight through the
abdomen and injured any OF the intestines
his chances are doubtful. Farnsworth has
! a wife and three children at Mandan, and
seems to be most solicitous as to them.
|
after the shooting he said: "Save
mo, doctor, for Gods sake! I 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
| in ho %ow f1r 1or
OF years. He must either have been drunk
| or else 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. II. Warren Of St. Paul was standing
near the entrance to the hotel, and heard
Mead call Fransw orh Il I'D thief" his
fculty by that remark. Farnsworth
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 an 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
b-h,' at the same time placing his hand be-
hind him rs il to draw weapon. Advancing
near to Farnsworth he repeated the oppro.
bious epithet. Fransw orth then spit in
Mead's face and turned about to leave.
But Mead had by this time drawn his re-
volver and fired. Mr. Warren rushed for.
ward, grabbed Mead about the neck, at the
same time reaching for the revolver TWAS
| 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 8 design.
Frank J. Mead is one of the best known
men in the Northwest. Hehas been promi-
nent as a newspaper man and politician.
He came to Minnesota twenty-eight years
| ago and settled in Northield, where he
worked on newspaper. He afterwards
ran a paper at Hastings Mead then came
to st. Paul and worked as compositor
on the old St. Paul Pioneer. During
the war he served in the First
Minnesota and in Hatchs battal.
ion. After the war he returned to
st. Paul, and was city editor Of the old
Pioneer for several years. He then went to
Omaha and Salt Lake City. where he work
| ed on newspapers. He afterward returned
to St. Paul and worked on the Pioneer
again. He next removed to Minneapolis,
and Tor four years-from 1874 to 1876
he 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 OF usual bust
nees ability and stands high in the estima-
ton OF both St. Paul and Mandan people
| who know him. He is about thirty ii We
years OF age and has wife and two chill
dren. He came to St. Paul to purchase
goods.
Heavy Boston Failures.
The failure OF Cloutman & Bingham, boot
and shoe dealers, was announced few
days ago, creating sensation in the shoe
trade. Their liabilities are not positively
| known hut IL is holiauod thor, ,..;ll .ooaI