The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-30
E. B. SUTTON MAY DIE.
He Is Still Unconscious From
His Injuries.
A NEW STORY OF THE ASSAULT
When offered a Revolver to Defend Him
self With, He Refused to
Take It.

Rev. E. B. Sutton, who was assaulted
Almira Friday afternoon by a brutal
saloonkeeper, still lies at his home in this
city, in an unconscious and critical condi-
ton and his death is feared by the physi-
clans. He mutters incoherentiy at times
and in answer to questions gives half ra-
tional accounts of the assault. He still
thinks he is in Cheney, where he was taken
from Aimira. and. although he IS sur
rounded by his family and friends. he
does not recognize them.
The following account of the assault is
. found in the Spokane Spokesman OF last
Saturday:
The Rev. E. B. Sutton. who organized the
State Temperance Alliance, left Spokane at the
adjournment OF the recent convention OF Pro-
hoitiouists to go over the state to organize tenn
perance clubs. Yesterday he YVES in Almira- He
went about distributing handbilis. calling for a
meeting of Prohi5itionists. These bills he was
putting in stores and shops.
He stopped in front OF squarely -bHilt brick
edifce. and not being sure whether 1t was pri-
vate dwelling or store, asked lady who was
looking out OF a window whether the house was
a private or pubic house. Whether she became
incensed at the words public house" or at
some subsequent conversation is not known.
but when the clergyman pa sed on she told her
husband, who is q bartender, that she had been
insulted by a stranger.
The husband told his employer, who it is
said, was somewhat under the fnf1uer ee of
liquor. The latter. af'er getting description
of the stranger from his employees wife, started
to find him. He traced him TO the hotel. went
to his room. and without asking for expiana-
tons, with a curse upon his lips, sp.ans upon
the clergyman aud threw him 10 the floor. The
saloonkeeper, whose name is Clark. Is power
full man, while Mr. Sutton is small and not
strong physically. Clark began with the feroci-
ty of a maddened dog to beat the PROSTATE
clergyman. The punishment inflicted was
brutal, and possibly fatal
The proprietor of the hotel heard the noise of
the scufiie and hurried up stairs with revolver
in his hand. When he rushed into the room the
saloon man had the preacher on the floor
pounding his face and head in the most brutal
manner
The hotel man pulled Clark off and threw him
down, at the same time hand ing the pistol to
the clergyman and saying, take il and shoot
him."
The minister refused to accept the gun
Mr. sutton was placed on sstretcher yesterday
and taken to Cheney. BE was out of his reason
ard murmured continually about his family,
and asked why they hadn't met him. etc.
From gentleman who was at Almira at
the time of the assault it was learned yes
terday that Clark. alter kcocking his victim
insensible, remarked with curse, -
you, if you stay in this town twenty
minutes longer will kill YOU" The hotel
keeper who handed Rev. Sutton the re-
volver and told him to shoot Clark says
that Clark was backed by mob which
waited on the outside of the hotel, ready TO
rush in and overpower the prohibition
leader should Clark fail to 'do him up.''