St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-02
OVER THE GOVERNORSHIP.
Several Men Fatally Wounded in
New Orleans Fight.

Sreclal 10 IEe Glbpo.
New ORLEANS, Jan. 1.-At 1 O'clock
this morning a tragedy occurred at
JOhnson's saloon, No. 81 st. Charles
street, that hal caused great excitement
throughout tile city. Hon. Patrick
Mealy had Invited a party of about
twenty political friends into the saloon,
among them ex-Congressman Nat Wal
lace, Z. Ii. Parker, editor of the Plea
yune, and Police Captain John McGaf-
frey. All Of the party were supporters
of Gen. Nichols candidacy for governor.
After they had been drinking for some
time Louis Clare, John Gibson and three
other men belonging to the opposing
political faction entered the saloon.
Soon after their arrival some one hur-
rahed for Nichols, and the newcomers
responded with cheers for McEnery and
Sheehan. Soon after fight occurred
between Mealy and Clare, which
of pistol shots, about twenty-five in
all. Of the origin of the difficuity
little is absolutely known, as each side
gives an entirely different version.
The friends of Clare claim that the
Mealy party began the fight, while the
other side state that after the fisticuff
between Mealy and Glare, the former
was walking away, when Clare opened
fire on him. However this may be, it is
certain that 3, several members of
both parties took part in the
shooting, the entire glass front of
the saloon being gwrecked by pistol
balls. When the fight was over it was
found that Mr.. Mealy had received
pistol ball IN the stomach, just above
the naval, and was fatally wounded.
Mike Walsh, another of the Mealy party,
was hit twice in the right side, and is
now lying at the hospital in critical
condition. Dan Markey received pis-
tOl bali in the mouth and is seriously
hurt, and William j. Delaney received
a severe cut in the hand. Clare and
Gibson were Immediately arrested. The
former was
TERRIBLY BEATEN
about the face. All of the wounded
were at once carried to the hospital,
where the wounds of Mealy and Walsh
were at once pronounced mortal. Mr..
Mealy began sinking Immediately and
is still living, but will probably
not last through the night. Mr..
Mealy was commissioner of pc
ice and public buildings, and one af
the most prominent politicians in the
city. He was one of the big four, conf
posed of himself, Administrator of lni-
provements Fitzpatrick, Recorder Dave
Yandey and Sheriff Butler. He ran the
First ward, one of the largest in the city,
and had such hold on its voters that it
was considered well-nigh impossible to
defeat him, no matter what side of a
question he might espOuse. He had held
the office of commissioner of police ten
years and had been delegate to the last
two Democratic national conventions.
In the present campaign Mr.. Mealy
with the other members of the big four
was supporting Gen. Nichols for gov
ernOr against S. ID. McEnery, the pres
ent executive. The contest throughout
the state has been an exceedingly bitter
one and four men have previously been
killed in the county parishes and one in
this city in political difficulties. All
parishes except this (Orleans) have
expressed their preferences for COVER
nor and the primaries will be held
Thursday next. The result outside of
this city has been so close that the vote
here will decide the contest, and bitter
and exciting canvass has been inaugu-
rated. 1t may be that to-day's tragedy
will have an important bearing on the
governorship, as it will undoubtedly
have OH the government of this city for
the next four years.