The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-02
Cold RlOOdCd Murder.


Police Officer Calvin, who by the
way is one OF the oldest and most eff
cient officers on the St, Paul (Minn,
force, arrested, few nights ago a sus-
piCious character who turns ont to he
one of the most cold d-blooded murder
ers OF the age, and had Just come red
handed from the scene of a most vi
nious and shockinglX brutal murder.
When first aCCosted by the officer the
fellow gave surly and pvasiVe answers
to all questions az to his name, ante
Cedents and intentions. The officer
then took him in custody and started
for the patrol box. On the way the
prisoner, after walking along i'll silence
for a few moments, suddenly said
We'll, suppose | may rs we'll give
myself up. | am horse thief. /
stole q horse at Anoka last Thurs
day" They proceeded a little fur
ther, when, suddenly turning to the
officer, the fellow exclaimed; II sup
pose may as Well give up and tell the
whole truth am in for it anyway.
have just killed man
The officer was at first inclined to
doubt this latter statement, but the
manner OF the speaker was so impress
siVc that he was forced to admit to
himself the possibility that it might be
true. He then decided that instead of
calling the patrol wagon he would
walk his prisoner to the station on
Margaret street. As they walked
along the sclf-confesscd murderer told
the officer the story of his crime, with
all it's revolving details, i'll a harsh
monotone showing not the slightest eV-
idenCe of feeling, although his narra
tive at times made his listener almost
gasp for breath. He gave his own
name aS Charles Price and that OF his
victim as John MCGraw and SAID that
although they were old aCquaintances
they had not met for two years until
they came across one another at the
Wisconsin Central junction on Satur-
day The story of the murder Price
told as follows
II met him yesterday morning and
he told me that he had $500 in bills
which he had taken from man Mt
Fergus Falls, and which he would
split up with me- We spent the day
drinking at the Shakopee house, at
North st. Paul He played cards,
but wouldn't stake me in the game,
and as | had no stuff couldn't play.
In tie evening he bought a pint OF
whisky and gave me dime, which |
spent for eggs had made up my
mind to get that $500 from him,
aud while we were walking down the
railroad track in the evening made a
pretcxt to go to one OF the Wisconsin
Central coal sheds, getting him to ac-
company me. As soon as we entered
the shed pulled my gun and fired at
him, but missed | shot again with
the same result and then threw my
gun away and grabbed a coal pick,
with which | hit him over the head.
He fell, and | struck him again--this
time with the point of the pick, which
penetrated his head. saw that
had killed him, and proceeded to- go
through his clothes after the money,
but found ] had been fooled The
s--of a b---didn't have cent. |
| covered his head, from which the
brains were OOzing out, with an old
coat and skipped out
Lieut. Pendy, Of the Margaret street
station, sent message by telephone
TO Marshal George W. Stroupe, who
| drove with the telegraph operator to
the shed where Price said the body OF
his victim was to be found. There
they found only too convincing evl-
| dcnCe of the correctness Of the story
| related by Price. There lay the body
| of Mcgraw stretched out in an easy
| attitude, face up, as though in sleep.
| His arms were crossed over his breast,
and the head was covered with a coat,
On raising the coat a sickening specta.
Gle was shown the two men by the
| dim light Of their lantern. The head
| OF the murdered man was badly crush
ed about the forehead, and on the
| back OF the head and under the left
ear are two large holes, The pick hav
ing evidently entered at the former
| and come out at the latter. The body
was brought by Marshal Stroupt
to the Margaret street station anC
placed in charge of Deputy Coroner
| Amoss, who had it cared for by OHal
loran & Murphy and placed in th'
morgie.
Notice was sent by telegraph to tin
authorities of Washington county
within the confines Of which the crime
/ took place. and Price was held await
ing the arrival OF an officer from there
to take him in charge. The murders
was seen in his cell at the station bu
he positively refused to talk.