Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-27
A SALOON MURnA
COLD FLOODED K1111,c i
1NGToN. NEnRAsk, at

amos rooney, y Cook, s.o,
Erwln-An Attack ON "os FL
Provocation-The Dea,, Nv. very
nocted-story of tho Cr,ms aA Vol
and Mishaps Of the N,cl.. oshe
tunate. and
Elmer E. Erwin, oldsst so
Erwin, the we'll known who, son Of
OF Sioux City, was stabbed " Ne me
James Ioohey, in the saloon " dd
dorf u Leader, in Stanton na,of
Neb., at about 2 o'clock on Snss
ing. Stanton is q place hav; Hunoay
ence in the postothce directors no 1s
newer part of Covington, and 81 ~
be confused with the town Of 81 .ioa
Stanton county. - slant
The scene of the murder 10 oa
murder is one of the best in tbo ou *,
is quietly conducted. In the ra praoI
OF the room are lunch countsr
stalls, and in the rear of them ~
room, is the kitchen. Toohev m ~
Erwin, has been at work as cool Ia 10
o month or more. He was forn .n
ployed as cook in the Chotean et
Fort Benton, Mont. 'o %
The account of the crime &c
Sheriff Brassfeld and his dsnnss
we're on the scene almost immaaia.
as they collected it from somewba.
dictory reports Of the witnesses 10
lows: 's
The bartender who was on nioh.
in the saloon had just stepped ont I,
q party unfamiliar with the hn,;u
stay until his return. Erwin cams s'.
ordered drink. The party on VAT,
Wait until the bartender returns
win answered this by saying: ~
money to pay for my drinks h
at this time got up from his chair ~
Give him drink; he's all right. u :
him." Erwin, it seems, cot insu1l
this and said: What is it to yoJ
Cd d-n s-n Of b-h?' Ho HI
followed. resulting in a knock 4
Erwin coming out best. Toohav
went back into the kitchen and ss:r
butcher knife, and started for tba
of the saloon. Parsons FOLLOWED
took the knife from him and advised
to go to bed ana forget the occur,
which he said he would do. Int II
went back to the kitchen. secured a. N
knife and walked straight toward tho a'
as If intending to go out. 'N'
When opposite Erwin, who was 6,
ing leaning with his arm on the h
drew the knife from his sleeve and nj,
it clear to the hilt in Erwin's breast
ing it through part of the heart.
dropped lifeless, while at the same
VIM. Meth, a barkeeper at the sameb
who was conversing with Erwin. era
Toohey by the throat and threw him
In an instant crowd gathered and
and every one seemed to have q Ii
blow for Toohey, and when City NJ,
Cramer and Marshal Luther arrive
murderer was more dead than alive.
through strenuous efforts, succeed
liberating him and brought him L
place. The threats against Toohey
loudiand various, and it is doubtful
had remained in Covington that he Y
ever again see daylight. The iury bird
in a verdict of deliberate and bred
tated murder
Toohey, after recovering conscious
was taken charge of by the officer
placed in the Stanton Jail. There was
talk of lynching. Toohey was tax,
Dakota City. however, before the e,
ment grew to a serious extent ar
neck was probably saved by that 81
He is of Irish parentage, light compile
about feet 6 inches tall. His col
about Stanton has been that Of
offensive, quiet man, determined and
sistent. His part in this tragedy We
acted with elaboration almost fer
and stoical cruelty which tell Of hi
rible rage at being slapped in the
The men in the restaurant, when he
after the knife, took one knite away
him. He said not word, but found
other, and quietly stole out with it
sleeve. He was perfectly calm a,
epithet he applied to his victim
raised the murderous weapon
Kissed from between his teeth. B
count of the murder is this:
1 went to work as cook for Mr.. Pa
who owns the restaurant in the +
Tierney g. Leaders, saloon In Sta
the day before Thanksgiving. Y
day duty. I came from Montana, vi
had resided for the past eight years
Saturday night, the night of the k
Erwin, without any just cause, hit Z
asked an explanation and received
the shape of another blow, which KIN
me down. After this / remember nc
until I found myself in Jail. / h
been drinking and never had wor
the man in my life.
The victim was we'll know in Siou
where in earlier days he held positl
trust. He was Of exemplary pare
the family being among the most
cratic and highly respected people
northwest. The story is not mat
different from many others. Drinl
its accompanying evils had practical
lied Elmer Erwin from the frlen
associations of his earlier years, a
pretended in later years to no vocatlt
intimately associated with liquor
and liquor drinking. His remains
taken to his fathers home and burle
the family residence.
OTHER nEEnS M DARKNF