Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-03-14
The McGinn Creek Tragedy.

Lemuel Sperry. who was SO nearl,
murdered last week, is yet at the hos
pital and doing we'll, and has excel
lent chances Of recovery, but suffers
considerable pain. Want of space
prevented us last week from givini
details.
Mr.. Sperry is settler of Alconi
county, is about so years of age, il
unmarried, and his residence is neal
McGinn creek.
Ed. Abbott, who is charged with
the cold blooded brutal attempt al
murder, has not been very long in
this part Of the State. We under
stand he first came to this port as a
deck hand on a steamboat. He got
a hospital ticket and passed some
time in the hospital. He went to AL
coma county, was arrested on charge
of burglary, but was released as there
was not sufficient proof against him.
He then went to the back part of Al
coma county and secured job from
Anterior, a near neighbor of Sperry's,
and worked for his board.
On the day of the attempted MUIR
der, the story, as related to us, is as
follows: Sperry was at work on his
farm saving wood, when Abbott came
up to him and inquired if some hunt
ers had passed that way, and was told
they had not. A few more words
were spoken and then Sperry resumed
his work, but minute or so after
wards received revolver shot in the
face, the ball entering the face near
the ear and nearly passed through to
the opposite side, making painful
and dangerous wound. Sperry then
recognized Abbott as his assailant,
and he endeavored to gain place of
safety. Abbott fired several other
shots at him, as he retreated, but did
not hit him again.
Sperry repaired to the residence of
Mr.. Anterior. his nearest neighbor,
and related what had been done, and
Anterior walked over to Sperry's res
idence but found no one there. Soon
after his return home, the man Alb
bott arrived. He denied the deed.
Atherton armed himself with rife
and made Abbott follow his tracks in
the snow, causing Abbott to march in
front of the rifle. Abbott's tracks
led to Sperry's house. Abbott was
then made prisoner. and was brought
to town by one of Mr.. Deadman's
teams, arriving here Tuesday evening,
and was placed in the city lock up by
Sheriff Denton, and remained there
until Thursday when the sheriff of
Altoona county took him to Harris
vile.
The object of the dastardly deed
vas, no doubt, to obtain money that
Sperry was believed to have. The
house was ransacked as if some per-
ION had been searching for the sup
posed hidden wealth, but the search
vas unsuccessful, as what money Sper-
y had, is said to have been on his
person. Mr.. Sperry's revolver was
missing and is, probably, the weapon
With which the dastardly deed was
lone.
Abbot admits he was at the resi-.
lence of Sperry the same day the
murder was attempted, but denies
having done the shooting, but his ac-
count is very rambling and discon-
lected, and did not favorably impress
is, as we listened to his remarks while
lie was eating his supper in Jail, Tues
lay night Of last week. He said he
anne from Boston, that his father
,ept livery stable there, and blowed
bout his ability as a steamboat
toward, claiming to have held sever
j responsible situations. He did not
ppear to be concerned about his sit
alton. and seemed to be more inter-
sted in his supper than he was about
he charge against him.