, 1890-10-02
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.

A Wifes Faithlessness and HuS-
bands Jealousy the Cause.
The story of the trouble which led
up to the shooting dates back sew
eral months, when Mrs. O'Connor
was keeping boarding-housc at
the Little Dalles, and Canning
was employed as dishwasher by
her. She seems to have been greatly
unfortunate with the man, and de-
serted her husband for him. About
year and IA half ago, while O'Con-
nor was in Seattle, he gave his wife
power of attorney, and she sold the
property owned by them on Front
street, in this city, receiving about
$1,000 from the sale. Instead of
Joining her husband she skipped
with the money, and remained
away until last winter, when she
returned to Spokane, where her
husband was then working. Some
time ago she secured position as u
cook In Il boarding-house on the
corner of Division street and River
side avenue, where she Is at present
employed. Canning has been In the
habit of visiting her there, and last
Saturday night, when O'Connor
called to see his little boy, who lives
with his mother, he met Canning
talking to his wife at the front door.
An alteration arose between the
two men, and O'Connor was struck
on the head with large rock which
Canning threw at him. Since then
O'Connor has been on the warpath,
and last night, meeting his assail-
ant, he shot him down.
o'CoNNoR MAKES A STATEMENT.
Andrew O'Connor, the man who
did the shooting, was seen in the
Jail by REVIEW reporter few
minutes after he was brought in by
the police. O'Connor told the fol-
lowing story of the shooting:
Canning has been laying for me
for the past three months and al
ways goes armed. Last Saturday
night found him talking with my
wife and n difficulty arose between
us. He struck me on the top of the
head with n large rock. l had him
arrested and on Monday he was
fined. / haven't seen him since un-
til tonight. When | left
my room this evening /
took down q large revolver
that hung on the wall and which
belongs to my room mate. Istarted
to walk over to where my wife lives
for the purpose of taking my little
boy out to walk, as is my habit. On
the way over hid the revolver un-
der some bricks that were lying
next to Grimmer's stable on Main
street. i did this because i was
afraid | might meet Canning and
get into trouble with him. | took
the little boy out walking and when
near the American Resort / met
Canning, who called to the boy to
come to him. / walked on
without saying word, as ! thought
he meant trouble. He called after
me several times, using pretty hard
words. left my boy at the gate,
and started for my room, which Is
on Mallon street, on the north side
of the river. ] got the gun on my
way and stopped for u moment OH the
corner of Stevens and Main streets
to listen to man who was selling
something. There was n large crowd
present, and the first thing
l knew felt some one brush against
me, and looking around l saw Can
ming, who said, you are u c. d.
g. of b. saw he had his hand
on gun which was stuck In tho
front of his pants. l had mine in
my inside coat pocket, and l pulled
1t, and shutting my eyes, fired. l
then started to run, but WAS caught
by two men, who held me until the
Officers came up. / never fired
q gun more than dozen
times In my life and never carried
one before tonight" The prisoner
refused to say anything more.
THE MURDERER AND HIS VICTIM.
OConnor Is short man standing
about Ave feet and five or six inches,
dark complexion and dark mus
tache. He was dressed In blue over
alls and IA flannel shirt. He talked
nationally, and inquired how the
man was getting on whom he had
shot. The reporter evaded the latter
question by stating that the man
was in charge of physician.
O'Connor has lived In Spokane
Falls off and on for about ten years.
-Four years ago he WAS employed on
the police force. Lately he has been
addicted to drink and has been run
ming down hill. He was in the en-
ploy of the Washington Water
Power Company.
Thomas Canning. the man who