St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-04
SAINT PAUL.
SHOT BY A kUFFIAN.
A Bloody ARRAY Which Narrowly
Escaped Murder.

One Of the most desperate cases of
robbery and attempted murder on the
police records of the city was that which
occurred last evening in the Dawson
block at the corner of st. Peter
and Fourth streets, and in con-
nection with which William Van
Allen, Of Omaha, nearly lost his life.
The man who did the shooting is none
other than the notorious Frank Scheffer,
whose escapades have given him the
reputation of being the most notorious
and thoroughly desperate black
guard within the city limits.
Van Allen, the victim of
Scheffer's latest and most vicious out
break is news agent, visiting in ST.
Paul from Omaha aud rooming IN the
Dawson block, where the affray took
place. Messrs. Tyson & White, the
firm of news dealers doing business at
the corner of Robert and Seventh
streets were Van Aliens hosts in st.
Paul, they having invited him here to
spend week. Late last night Van
Allen had been IN Donnelly's saloon on
Wabasha street, where he had an ac-
quaintance named Fred Ebert. employed
in the saloon as bartender. Shortly
after - O'clock Van Allen said he would
go to bed, and having wished his friend
good night proceeded to his room in the
Dawson block. Scheffer had been
there before him and had just
rified the room of another roomer in the
block named Charles Forester. Schef-
fer was just descending the stairs
with his booty in one hand
and a 32-caliber revolver in the
other, when Van Allen began the
ascent. The latter, in the dim light.
took Scheffer for one of the roomerS and
would probably not have molested him.
Scheffer, however, thought Van Allen
to be an officer and at once opened fire
on him. The first shot struck Van Allen
above the knee on his right leg, and
sent him to earth. He is man of great
personal courage, however, and deter
mined to make a fight. In trying
to grapple with Scheffer he
gave the ruffian chance to fire another
shot, which struck him in the groin:
by bunch of keys and
pocket knife, which saved Van
Aliens life beyond doubt.
Three shots were fired by Scheffer, but
only two took effect. The reports were
heard at the central station, and Detec-
tive John O'Connor and Lieut.. Phil
SweitZer ran to the scene, and after
a sharp fight placed Scheffer unde
arrest. Despite his deSpera tely wound
ed condition Van Allen had made good
fight. Scheffer's head was cut deeply in
two places, and MS clothes were lit
orally saturated with blood. The
wounded man was taken to
the central police station and DR.. Coggs-
we'll was summoned to dress his
wounds. 1t is believed that neither of
them could, except by the ensuance of
After all possible care had been taken
of him at the station Van Allen was re-
moved in the patrol wagon to st. 10
seph's hospital, where at last accounts
he was resting easily. A GLOBE repre-
sentative interviewed Schetfer, who APP
peared to be under the influence of
liquor. 81 wish the - had killed me-"
were the first words he uttered as the
surgeon examined the wounds in his
head from which the blood was flowing.
To all queries as to his object in shoot
ing Van Allen he would but reply that
he wished the latter had been a good
shot and had killed him outright.
Scheffer is finely built young fellow,
not more than twenty-five years old,
and with face which would hardly be-
speak him so hardened ruffian as he
undoubtedly is. 1t is not more
than four months ago that he made a
record for himself when shot by Officer
Davis In an alley. by walking in his
wounded condition to the hospital with
out assistance. He has been arrested
innumerable times for highway robbery
and other OffenSeS.