The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-09
POUNDED NEARLY TO DEATH
A ST. LOUIS MAN BRUTALLY BEATEN.
Capt. ID. p. slattery, a Popular Member of
the Board of Trade, Murderously As
saulted and Robbed-A Mystery
Surrounding the Affair.

CI. LOUIS, Oct. O.-Ndpls Os l. olhttSlgi
president of the Merchants elevator company
and a prominent and wealthy citizen, lies at
his home in the fashionable quarHrs OF the
city unconscious from brutal beating received
at an early honr this morning, his face being
scarcely recognizable, and an ugly hole being
in the back of his head, while his poeket-book.
containing a forty-dollar diamond ring, and
diamond stud valued at 81 500 and valuable
gold watch, are missing.
From the statements Of the parties implicated
in the beating of Capt Slattery, the affair has
an ugly look and the friends of the popular
board of trade and business man are mystifed,
while the victim is unable to tell his
side of the story. The first story WAS that
when Capt Slattery alighted from a cable
car at Twenty-hrst and Olive-sts.
he was struck from behind by highwaymen,
rendered unconscious and robbed. Later it
was ascertained that the assault was committed
near the southwest corner of Jefferson and
Cass-avs. At Nos. 260 and 262 Cass-
av., Ed. w. Klosterman runs a grocery
store, with saloon attached. He resides with
his family on the second floor of the building.
Klosterman's story is that u few minutes after
1 o'clock this morning his wife was awakened
ny u HolSt IN ltaulhB W hFA lOOh'
She thought her husband was coming TO the
room and called to him, but received no an-
swer. few seconds later she was greatly
alarmed by seeing a strange man, shoeless, nat
less and coatless, walking toward her bed. She
screamed and her husband and his bar-keeper,
John Hickey, were attracted by the noise
They rushed up stairs and found the intruder
in the landing, but not in the room. Kloster-
man claims TO have struck the man, who after
ward proved to be Capt. Siattery, with the
palm of his hand Alexander Hunt, aged fifty
one, who was in the saloon, came out, went up
stairs and told his friend KIoSterman 10 turn
the man over to him, which doue, and
Hunt proceeded to beat Siattery IN most
brutal manner, finally throwing him down
stairs.
All this time the captain had not spoken, ac-
cordlng to the statements OF his assallants.
After striking the pavement, Slattery was
dragged about sixty feet by Hunt, who was
striking the captain repeatedly, in the face OF
protests of the crowd which gathered. HINT
ordered the crowd back with an oath and lifted
his victim TO his feet, standing him up against
a fence and again striking him repeatedly. 4 he
captain tried to speak but could not and by
this time was pitiable sight. 1t was at this
juncture that parties in the crowd claim they
saw Hunt unscrew Capt. Slattery's fifteen
hundred-dollar diamond stud from his necktie..
John Meehan, teamster, interfered and Hunt
knocked him down.
Klosterman and Hunt then dragged the in
sensible captain to the Third district sub-sta-
ton, where, Notwithstanding the fact th at his
face was terribly mutilated and covered with
blood he was speedily recognized. The ser
geant in charge called in DIR. Hendricks who
pronounced the injuries dangerous, and Capt.
Slattery was removed to his home, where he
has lain unconscious all day
The prominence of thergietin cansed eaR..
siderable excitement in police quarters, and
detectives were quickly at work on the
nIry,
had been made: Alexander Hunt, no occupa-
ton; Edward Klosterman, proprietor
OF the Cass-ave. saloon; John Hickey,
bar-keeper; Oliver Garneau. a
baker,; Henry Barton, paper-haDger; T;
John Meehan, teamster Later Klosterman,
Garneau and Barton were released, but the
others will be held Hunt now claims that
Klosterman did the beating but the evidence
seems to be overwhelming agains- Hunt
During the morning Capt. S.attery's hat
coat, vest and shoes were brought to the
station. They had been found near the scene
OF the assault His gold watch has also been
recovered but the diamonds are still missing.
All sorts of conflicting stories are flying about
tonight to the actual facts in the assault on
Capt Slattery. 1t is claimed that Slattery had
been drinking in Klosterman's saloon and
had gone out and made improper ad-
yances to Mrs. Klosterman, and was thrown
out OF a second-story window. The fall rend-
cred him unconscious and while i'm that condi-
ton he was relieved of his diamonds. Capt.
Slattery lost his wife by death some months
since, and his friends assert that since
her death he has shown evidences
of insanity. He is known to have taken large
doses of chloral of late, and is supposed to
have been wandering about aimlessly
when assaulted Capt. Slattery recOv-
cred consciousness tonight, and when
asked for statement said that he was going
over to Washington-ave. to see a man named
Harris, who was formerly in his employ, when
he was struck in the back of the head Be-
yond that he claims to know nothing.
The affair has created a profound sensation
and prominent lefty officials and citizens were
working like beavers tonight TO suppress pub
lication of the details of the affair 1t is
thought by the police that Capt. Slattery's con-
dition was primarily responsible for the occur
renee. The greatest puzzle is as to who got the
diamonds.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. Capt ]. P. Slattery.
who was so mysteriously assaulted and
robbed early yesterday morning is resting
quietly, but his physicians will
not permit him to talk nor TO be seen. The
actual facts in the case still in the dark, but
the detectives expect to clear up the mystery
in the end. Warrants for robbery in
the first degree were this morning sworn
out against Alexander Hunt, the man charged
with so cruelty beating Slattery, and for Bar
keeper Hickey of the Klosternan saloon.
Hunt, who is charged with relieving Capt.
Slattery OF his diamond stud, is in tight fix.
for the gold frame in which the diamond stud
set was found in the closet in his
cell. When he dropped il there he thought the
sewer would receive II, but there is trap to
catch just such evidence, and the police are
elated over having secured what they consider
sufficient to convict the disnterested alleged
defender Of Klosterman's honor 1t is believed
that Hunt has swallowed the stone.
PROHIBITION DEFEATED