Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
A HEAD SPLIT OPEN.
]. d. Sherman, in His Ante-MOrtem
Statement, Says John Rodgers
HACKED HIM WITH A RATCHET.
A Rumpus on Steamboat That Will Prob
ably End Mans Life.
THE ASsAILAKF IS UNDER ARREST

What will most probably end in another
murder trial occurred on board the George
Shiras, while coming up the river about
opposite Beaver. on Saturday night. The
ante-mortem deposition was taken last
night of j. II. Sherman, a coal
passer on the boat, which relates
that on Saturday morning, while opposite
Beaver, he had some difficulty with John
Rodgers, while on the late watch, and
Rodgers calling Sherman some ugly names,
the latter picked up lump of coal and
struck Rodgers on the forehead,
making an abrasion. Rodgers then
said he would not work alone with
Sherman. and the latter went up
to the pilot house to ask the captain for
some more help, and on reaching that part
OF the companionway was struck in the head
and lost consciousness. He could not say
who struck him, but he afterward saw a
hatchet which was covered with blood and
which he thought was used. The quarrel
was brought on, he said, by the action and
language Of Rodgers himself
THE CHOPPER ARRESTED.
On the arrival of the boat in Pittsburg she
was met about A. NJ, on Sunday. by Cap
tain Stewart, of the Southside police dis
trict, and Rodgers. was arrested and taken to
the Twenty-eighth ward police station, while
Sherman was taken to the Marine Hospital,
where he lies with but slight hopes of recov-
cry. as the cut, running vertically up his
forehead and fracturing his skull, is very
serious one. The sufferer can speak but
very little, and the doctors in attendance
regard the case as almost hopeless.
The story of the assault as told by
Rodgers is as follows: On Saturday one Of
the fremen of the boat was engaged in
working about the boiler and as it was a
custom at those times for the coal wheelers
to work little more slowly than ordinary,
Rodgers, who was at the head of the pro-
cession of barrows, stopped when he got
close to the place where the fireman was
at work. Sherman was the next man
in the line and shouted in a
peremptory tone to Rodgers to go ahead.
The latter refused to move, and told Sher-
man the reason why, but he retorted that
Rodgers would have to move on, and that if
he did not he (Sherman) would hit with a
lump of coal. Rodgers states that Sherman
did not wait to see whether his command
would be obeyed, but picked up q piece of
coal and threw it at Rodgers with consider
able force, striking him on the forehead,
making an ugly cut above the eye and leav-
ing bruised spot at one side. A fight fol-
lowed in which neither man had any adj
vantage, but Immediately after Sherman
went upstairs, as he said, to have Rodgers
put off the boat.
While he was upstairs Rodgers secured a
hatehet, with which he proposed to attack
Sherman as soon as he came down. Before
he reappeared below, however, Rodgers
concluded that hatehet was too deadly an
instrument to use in such case and threw
it away. Lying near at hand were some
pieces of an old barge and one of these he
picked up and waited for his antagonist to
come downstairs.
HAD NOT LONG TO WAIT.
He had not long to wait, for Sherman
soon came down, and according to Rodgers,
was evidently prepared to renew the battle
begun few minutes before, for he had
shovel in his hands. As soon as the men
got close enough the combat commenced,
but was Of short duration, for Sherman was
struck a terrific blow over the head that
fractured his skull, rendering him uncon-
scious
The boat, at the time Of the affray, was
running between Smiths Ferry and East
Liverpool. A landing was made at the
last named place and telegram sent to In
spector McAleese by the Captain of the
boat, telling of the encounter, and notifying
him of the probable time of the Shiras' ar
rival in Pittsburg. A watch was put on
Rodgers, but he made no attempt to escape
from the boat.
Rodgers made the above statement to
Captain Stewart after being locked up. He
had no hesitation in talking about the affair,
as he considers himself fully justified in
what he did. He stated that from the time
he shipped at Louisville he was made an
object of attack by the wounded man, who |
was, he said, q very aggravating bully. He |
had been annoyed, as also had others, in |
many ways by Sherman, and 1a+.ymined on |
that he would endure such treat |
ment no longer, although he expected to be |
worsted in physical contest.
The Southside police officials are favor |
ably impressed with Rodgers statement and |
appearance and believe that Sherman was
largely responsible for his fate.
Both the men are young, neither being /
over % years of age. Rodgers home is in
Louisville, and Sherman lived at Long Bot
ON, o.
Sherman was very low last night and
eemed to be sinking slowly.