St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-06

Clara Blatz, the Slayer OF
Young Doherty, Is
on Trial.
Five Of the Twelve Jurors Re-
quired Have Already Been
Secured.
The Fifth and Final Concert
of the Great June
Festival.
Field Sports, Farewells. and
Some Eloquent 0ratory at
Hamline University.

The most attractive proceeding in the
district court yesterday was the lncep-
ton of the trial of Clara Blatz, the muir
deress of John Doherty. The facts OF
her case and why she is now to be tried
by jury of twelve men on a charge OF
murder in the first degree are we'll pre-
served in the minds of the public. 1t
was on the evening of the 27th of Febru-
airy last that John Doherty. a young man
about twenty-five years old, and hold
ing the position of assistant cashier for
the American Express company, met his
slayer on the corner of Robert and Fifth
streets. 1t was precisely at Cos O'Clock,
and the streets were thrOnged with
men and women homeward bound from
shop and store. As young Doherty LETT
the express Office and came up Fifth
street. he was met by the woman, who
had been his mistress for a long time.
1t seems Doherty, tired of his alliance
with the woman, had been for months
endeavoring to rid himself of her COM
pany and the demands she made upon
his earnings for her wild life. The two
met on the corner, the woman having
evidently designed to interrupt
Doherty on his way home. After
a heated discussion, DoEerty start
ed across Robert street, intending
to walk up Fifth. Clara Blatz stood
still in the crowd just long enough to
set determined look upon her hasten
ing paramour, and then rushed to the
middle of the street, and drawing re-
yOlyer from beneath her cloak, fired the
20 fol .lDf In l,on N
erty's heart. The wounded man fell
upon his face and breathed his last five
minutes afterward on the floor of the
Exchange laundry, where ne had been
carried by those witnessing the tragedy.
After Clara Blatz fired the cow
ardly shot from behind, she turned
Fifth Street. Officer Casserly, who
was patrolling his beat at the time,
rushed to the scene, and promptly re-
spending to the cry to catch the perpe-
traitor, followed the woman down Fifth
street and took her in custody as she
reached Jackson, concealing the smok-
ing revolver under her cloak. Since
that fatal night Clara Blatz has been
languishing in the county Jail. She
took to her confinement like duck to
water, and nothing seemed to worry
her, and her actions and expressions
have been those of woman who was
relieved of some great weight upon her
conscience. She has always claimed,
and her friends have corroborated her
statements in that regard, that
she was goaded to her terrible deed by
the abuse Doherty had daily inflicted
upon her during three of the four years
he had held her charms and life for
himself. She says he was brutal and
cruel, and when enraged. which was
at the slightest provocation, he gener-
ally vented his Ire upon her helpless
frame. AS evidence of such treatment
SHE SHOWS A BROKEN JAW,
which, notwithstanding that it was in
jured over year ago, still swells and
pains her so as to render masticatlon
impossible at times. On the other hand
she has been identified with the demi-
mondaine, and is by sucn considered as
belonging exclusively to that class of
women. She has been accustomed to
the fastest and most riotOus. living and
when she was first incarcerated it was a
struggle for her nature to maintain
itself without the usual indulgence of
alcoholic drink. In Jail she was
denied all these luxurieS and delete
rious fluids and fed on good. wholesome
food. Enjoying the best possible treat
ment from the matron and the sheriff's
and now comes to trial healthier
than when she was Doherty's
mistress. When the court opened
large crowd had gathered
to witness something startling. Dis
appointment was in store for many,
however, for Judge Kelly very wisely
had the sheriff station deputy at the
entrance, who allowed no one inside but
those the room would seat. County At
torney Egan is conducting the case for
the state, and A. ID. Warner appears for
the prisoner. The prisoner was accom-
panied into court by one Of her former
friends, Lou Mcdonald, alias Lou Bean.
The prisoner seemed to think rather
lightly of her doom, and chatted freely
and cheerfully with her companion, oc-
casionally looking about the room with
an air of contempt. She is attired
in new suit Of black, and
wears a large-brimmed hat with
feathers and pair OF dark blue
eyeglasses. Yesterday was the first
day she ever appeared in court without
veil. and all eyes, especially those of
the gallery gods, were centered upon
her when she took her seat. Everything
in readiness, the very tiresome work Of
impaneling a jury was begun. Chal-
lenge this and that, back and forth: and
forty-one talesmen had been examined
at 6 o'clock last night and but five
jurors were in the box. Among
these were Jacob r. Steiner, Fred
D. Sargent and Gilbert p. Rugg.
A special venire was issued early in the
afternoon, returnable this afternoon
and out of this it is hoped that the re-
naming jurors will be drawn. 1t will
be quick work if the trial is formally
begun by Friday morning. Attorney
Warner asked the court to order the
sheriff to serve a subpoena upon Pearl
Wilson. at Brainerd, very important
witness for the defense. The prisoner
has no money and is virtually destitute
of means to procure the testimony de-
sired. The court did not grant the re-
quest, bnt the county attorney stated that
he could settle that matter with the at
torney for the defense. Undoubtedly,
the case will be long and interesting
airing of one of the popular relation
ships existing among too many UNI
ScrupulOuS men and women Of today.
The trial will unveil the history of a
young man who was respected and rec
oeniZed as leading an exemplary life,
while in truth he was carrying on an
unlawful and loathsome liaison with one
of the worlds scarlet women. What
the history of the woman will be is now
merely suggested; but it will no doubt
be one upon which the morbid and SEN
suous can feed and listen.