The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-07-08
SHOT DOWN IN A SALOON.
Samuel Gassenheimsr Shoots Frank
BlaCkfOrd.
The Former Claims He Acted Only In
self-Def nce---What Led to the
Tragedy BlackfOrd a Form
or stark County Boy.

Tie following from the W. slington
Post is of local interest to residents Of
Canton and Stark county generally:
The report of a pistol, followed In
rapid succession bJ three other shots,
startled the pedestrians passing the
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and
Sixth streets, about half past ten last
night. The shots came from the base
ment of the house on the northwest
corner, which Is occupied by Samuel
Gassenheimer as a restaurant and dining
room. Hardly had the und of the
firing ceased when man was seen 10
stagger from the basement entrance to
the saloon and fall heavily to the mar.
b Q flooring near the steps leading down
into the saloon. Officer Costello, of The
Seventh precinct, who was near the
ing, Immediately rushed RcrO.s the
street to the saloon, where upon enter
Ing he found GassenheimeT, the proDrie-
tor, standing In the mi idle of the bar
room with the still smoking yolYtr In
his hand. The room was In the greatest
disorder, chairs and tables being ever
turned, while from the neatly-furnished
dining saloon IN the rear of the bar
room to the doorway into the street ran
small stream of blood. GasJenheimer,
on seeing the police off ser, Immediately
walked up to him and said that he had
done the shooting in self-defence.
The wounded man was at once Teeog-
nized as Frank s. Black'ord, a we'll
known gambler and hard charact gen.
orally. Health ofi,er TOwnshend and
DR.. Il. E. Leach, who were Immediately
summoned, arrived at the side Of the
wounded man too late to be Of service.
The death rattle had entered the throat,
and the heavy breathing told that pro.
fessiOnal aid was useless. BlackfOrd
died In about three quarters Of an hour
after receiving the wounds. Al exam
inatiOn Of the body showed that one of
the bullets had penetrated the abdomen
and lodged In the kidneys. The other
ball entered the groin on the left side
and took q downward course. Death
was caused by internal hemOrrhage.
Gassenheimer, who was seen by a re.
porter, when asked about the shooting,
said he killed BlackfOrd In self-defence.
He said the deceased and his crowd had
been In the habit of hanging around In
front of his place, and that he had COM
planned to the police to keep them
away, I'D had often been threatened by
several of them. Yesterday evening
BlackfOrd and his party were In the "a
loon, and Blackford commenced abusing
and threatening him. A friend handed
BlackfOrd pistol which the latter
placed against Gassenheimer's breast.
He Knocked the weapon aside, bat was
pursued and felled to the ground by
BlackfOrd. Thinking his life In danger
he fired. with the result already stated.
Blackford was about twenty-six years
of age, and is son of Mr.. S. s. Black
ford, formerly superintendent of the
Capitol police. He was repudiated by
his family about six years agj. He is
we'll known as professional gambler,
and has been arrested by the police for
attempting the lives of several persons.
Gassenheimer, who did the shooting,
hiss been proprietor Of the saloon about
one year, aud had endeaVored to keep
an orderly place. He Is about tweAty-
four years old, short but stout, with
light, sandy mustache.
BlackTOrd Is a former Stark county
boy and his father, Samuel s. Blackford,
was until about 1867 q resident Of MARI
bOrO township. The latter was consid-
ersble Of politician and ran for Sheriff
on the Republican ticket but was de-
feated by Mr. AL. Dunbar Young Black
ford VII, b. remembered by many Can
tOnians and other residents Of Stark
country.