The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-08-23
A MIDNIGHT QUARREL,
IN WHICH CARDS, WHIsKEY AND
A POCKET KNIFE PLAY A
CONSPICUOUS PART.
One Man Dangerously Wounded
His AssaiIant Also Dangerously
Wounded, is Placed in the
County Jail.

Yesterday morning about fifteen
minutes past twelve O'Clock, police
officer J NJ. Rowan ran across a
white man on south Main street
who said be was looking for doc
tor, "and wanted him quick" Off
Ger Rt.wan's attention was attracted
oy the excited actions and talking
of the man, whom he halted ard
ihterrogated as to the nature of
the call i5r d physician at that tine
of the morning. In reply to the
officers questions the party stated
that John Carver had been cut By
Berry League across the river"
The officer then proceeded to the
scene of the affraY, going at once to
a house at the foot of the railroad
bridge on the other side of the
French Broad, where most horri-
BILE spectacle met his eyes. Lying on
a bed, in the dimly lighted room,
was man named John Carver,
with three frightful gashes upon his
person that were sickening. He
was groaning and screaming in his
agony, while the few attendants sur
rounding him either did not know
what to, do or refused to do anyA
thing to alleviate his sufferings un-
til the physicians should come. In
another corner of the room was
Berry League, Carver's assailant,
who was also bleeding from a wound
in the head administered by Car
yer during the melee which had
taken place only a few minutes be>
fore. League was washing the
blood from his face, head and
clothes when officer Rowan entered
the room, and was making prepara-
tions to skip" out. The officer
placed League under arrest, and
sent Immediately for sheriff Wor-
ley, who arrived a half-hour later,
and to whom Rowan turned over
the prisoner. Drs. M. H. Fletcher
and Clingman Starnes soon after ar
rived and proceeded to make an ex-
animation of the wounds upon Cars
yer, which they found to be as fol-
lows One wound just above the
lett hip, five and a half inches in
length, and penetrating the abb
dominal cavity; another wound just
above this one, one inch and half
in length, and also penetrating the
abdominal cavity, and another
wound in the left arm, laying open
the main muscle from the shoulder
almost to the elbow. The wounds
were made with a knife, and the
protrusions therefrom were fright
full. The physicians sewed up the
wounds, and administered the neces-
sary surgical assistance in such
cases. Carver's injuries are of a
very serious nature, and it is more
than probable, will prove fatal.
Leagues wounds are slight, and con-
sists merely in light scalp wounds
on the left side of the head. His
coat was also cut in one CIR two places
On the right breast. The whole
trouble grew out of dispute over a
game of cards; both men had been
drinking, but were not intoxicated !;
high words came about, blows were
struck, and then the cutting took
place. The knife used by League
is a horn-handled, three bladed
Rogers pocket-knife. and the blade
which he used in the stabbing is
about three inches in length.
League was brought to the city
Immediately, where a guard was
placed over him until the arrival of
a justice Of the peace. before who n
preliminary examination could be
held. At ten o'clock, Justice sum>
mey committed him to Jail, without
bond to await the result of Carver's
injuries. We refrain from giving
other particulars until an investjga-
tion is held, in justice to all parties
concerned. Carver is in very
critical condition.