St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-17
John Doyle's Unknown Room
mate Surrenders to the
Police.
He Tells a straightforward
Story About His Partners
Death.
Rev. William Wilkinson De-
MES That There Is Any
Corner on Religion"
Arrangements Made for a New
Trade Paper--MOPe About
Drunken Soldiers.

A. G. Pierson, Familiarity known as
"Blondy," is either the victim of, to
him, an unfortunate series of circum
stances, or he is the slayer Of John
Doyle. whose body still repOses lifeless
and cold in city morgue. Readers of
yesterday mornings GLOBE will re-
of lodging house at 627 Washington
avenue, late Saturday afternoon dis
covered the dead body of Doyle in the
latter's room. Doyle had been lodging
in Smiths hotel about week, and
roomed with Woods and young
man known as 'Blondy." Doyle
had been i'll for several days,
and his wants were apparently at
tended to by his rOommateS and third
friend, one Harry Whitaker. When the
knowledge OF Doyle's death and appar-
ent murder was made known to the po-
lice, Woods and Whitaker were appre-
hended and closely questioned. Both
denied being implicated in Doyle'S
death, and both asserted that they had
left him evidently in good spirits and
alone i'll the room with "Blondy." The
police did not arrest the missing
"Blondy," but yesterday morning that
individual very deliberately and volun-
tarily surrendered himself to Inspector
Hoy, and after examination was as
signed quarters in Cell No. s at the
central station TO await the action of the
cOroner's jury and the result of his own
examination to-day. Last evening
"Blondy" was interviewed by GLOBE
reporter and his statement of his con-
| nection with Doyle and his knowledge
of the latters death was substantially
as follows:
My name is \. G. Pierson. l am a
| native of New York city and a book
keeper by occupation. l arrived in
Minneapolis about a month ago, and
shortly after my arrival became ac-
quainted with Doyle. l always called
HIM Billy Both of us were out of en-
ployment, and since our acquaintance
have become friendly and intimate.
Billy was in the habit of carrying
it L did. About a week ago
we went to Smiths lodging house
to room. Billy for several days before
his death had been drinking hard. and
remained for the most part in his room.
Jack Woods and myself looked after
him alone until last Saturday, when. at
his own request. l went after another OF
Bllly's friends, known as Harry Whitta-
ker. Saturday Billy complained of
sleeplessness; said he was nervous and
couldn't sleep. Generally he was bright
and cheerful, but during the latter part
of last week he became sad and gloomy.
About o'clock Saturday afternoon L
left Whitaker ard Woods with Billy
and went to drug store on the corner
of, l think. Washington avenue and
Sixth street. There / purchased
potash. l bought it believing that,
if Billy took it, it might quiet his
nerves and make him sleep. returned
to the room and gave him dose of the
medicine. He fell asleep almost i'm
| mediately. The others had left the
quietly for awhile, prepared to leave
the room. His revolver was beneath
his pillow. did not care to leave the
gun and Billy alone together, and tried
to slip 1t from beneath his pillow. do
not know why | wanted to take the re-
vOlver unless it was because l was
afraid to leave it with him in his nerv-
| ovs condition. While l was trying to
get the gun from under his head, Billy
awoke and told me to let the gun alone.
A moment OF two afterward l gave
and he again fell asleep. Seeing that
he was quiet l left the room,
locked the door and put the key in my
pocket. did not want him disturbed.
| then left the lodging house. do not
care to say where | went or where re-
| manned until | returned to the lodging
house. | will tell that tomorrow at my
examination. When got back L saw
DR.. Irving standing in the office.
looked at the clock and saw it was $40.
Our room was No. 10, at the end of the
hall, and person standing in the office
can see directly into it when the room
| door is opened. l walked to the door
of the room and saw that a key was in
| the lock. | opened the door and called
out: Billy! Billyn Hearing no an
swer, walked over to the bed and
| looked into his face. His head was
| thrown backward and upward. The
room was darkened. l saw
what thought in the dark was black
bandage across his forehead. | lighted
the gas. and soon saw that my friend
was dead. What l thought was a band
| age was stream of blood. Billy had
| been shot in the left temple. His right
| arm was thrown over his breast, and in
| his hand, with his thumb on the trigger,
was the gun l had tried to slip from be-
meath his pillow. l believe my friend
| killed himself"
During the interview Pierson talked
| quite deliberately. He was perfectly
| cool, and his statement, owing deal
| to his manner, carried cOnvlctlOn Win
it. He is rather a pleasant-looking
young fellow, is evidently fairly
well educated, and talks in low.
smooth voice. There is nothing,
so far as could be detected in his per-
sonal appearance, to indicate the
"tough." He did not act like man
who anticipated any serious trouble.
On being asked where he remained Sat
urday night he quickly and with great
deal of confidence answered: '1n my
room at Smiths lodging house. When
| heard this morning that l was wanted
by the police l immediately went to In
spector Hoy and gave myself up"
"How long did you remain alone with
Doyle after giving him the potash?"
Not more than fifteen minutes"
Pierson answered every question
asked him save the one regarding his
Whereabouts frem the time he lett Room
| No. 10, after locking the door and put
ting the key in his pocket, until bis re-
turn to find Doyle dead.
None of the dead mans relatives
have visited Gleason & Byorum's
morgue to view the body. nor have they.
So far as is known, made any inquiry
concerning 1t.