Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-08
John BlondoG, an Infuriated Miner,
BurieS His Pick in the Head of
His Friend Patrick Burns.
QUARRELED OVER A KEG OF BEER.
An lmputation Against the Formers Wife
Causes Hot Fight Which Ter
inmates in Murder.
CRIMES RED HAND IN A MINING CAMP.
Clever Work Of Constable streitenbefger in Running
Down the Murderer

John BIondon, another murderer, rests to-
day in the Allegheny County Jail. His
victim, Patrick Burns, died yesterday at his
home in Upper ST. Clair township from the
effects of wound in the head inflicted
with pick just two weeks ago. The affair
did not come to the attention of the police
until Wednesday, and last evening the
murderer was arrested by Constable Streiten-
berger, of Squire McCready's Office, in
Mansfield
Burns and Blondon were miners, and
worked in a coal mine at Beading station,
on the Pittsburg, CHARTERS and Yough-
iogheny Railroad. They were married
men, and Blondon and his wife
lived with Mr.. and Mrs. Burns.
Family troubles had separated the
two men. They were considered reputable
citizens, and neither one had a reputation
for being quarrelsome. On Saturday alter
noon, two weeks ago, the men, with several
Others, were drinking beer at the shanty of
Hugh Brace. About dark Mrs. Blondon,
tired of waiting for her spouse, went out to
search for him. Finding her husband drink
ing, she became enraged, and when the men
talked back to her she began to lombard
the shanty with stores. After breaking two
OF the windows she left.
Flared Up in Defense of His Wife.
As Mrs. Blondon disappeared, Burns re-
marked that Mrs. Blondon's actions were
not proper, and no decent woman would SO
conduct herself At this imputation upon
his wife Blondon at once fired up Burns
retained his seat in from of the ere for
time, but finally the men came to blows.
1t was claimed that Biondon could hav. es-
capped the fight, but as he retreated TO the
adjoining room he found a sharp pointed
pick. In an instant it was swinging over
his head and the next the practiced stroke of
the miner had driven it through his antag-
onist's skull. Bleeding proIusely, Burns
staggered to the door and fell as he reached
the outside. Mrs Burns heard OF the affair
and ran to the scene. AS soon as her hus-
band was conscious he was taken to his
home where DR.. Shriver attended him.
The next day Burns was rsving maniac
He was lucid at intervals, but soon relapsed
into a delirious state OF mind. In the
of his whereabouts could be learned, but
nothing was thought of this because it was
expected that the man would recover. This
week, however, he became SO bad that his
brother, Anthony Burns, made an informa-
ton Tor assault ana battery before Squire
McCready, of Mansfield.
Good Detective Work of a Constable.
Constable Streitenberger. of Mansfield,
went to work on the case. He succeeded In
locating Biondon's relatives, and learned |
that he had left his home at Painters Run,
in Upper st. Clair township, the day after |
the assault
Constable Streitenberge- was one of the |
first to learn Of the death of Patrick Burns |
early yesterday morning, and he went to |
work in dead earnest on the case and dis !
played powers that would do credit to an |
old detective. The theory that he worked |
on was that the friends of the man |
would at once try to give Borden the |
alarm and hurry him off to a place of |
safety Working on this line he KEEP: |
watch over Dick Farrell, brother-in-Iaw
Of Blondon, and William Jones, one of |
Blondon's nephews There was a great |
commotion at the home of the former when |
the news of Burns death reached them The |
constable's watch was soon rewarded |
by seeing the two men head for |
the railway station at Mans |
field. He bought tickets for Pittsburg and |
the constable did the same, and managed to /
escape observation until the train reached |
Union station.
In the meantime, however. word of the |
murder mad been sent to Coroner Mcdowell. |
who at once notified the Pittsburg police, |
who were given an accurate description OF |
the man. 1t was supposed that |
Blondon was in hiding with some |
friends in the West End. Several detec-
tives were dispatched there 10 work up the |
case, while general watch was kept up all |
over the city.
Nothing Learned at the Inquest.
Squire Mcmillan, of Mansfield, was |
deputized by Coroner Mcdowell and held |
an inquest yesterday afternoon. Nothing |
more than what is given above was diseov- |
cred, and the inquest was adjourned until |
tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock, when the
doctors will submit their report OF the post
mortem.
While the police were all at sea as to the
whereabouts OF BlondoR. Constable Strieten-
berger was still working out his theory. By
watching Jones and Farrell be dis
covered that they bought ticket. for
Turtle Creek. He boarded the same train.
The men got off at that station and entered
house about square and a half from the
depot. The constable waited for about an
hour and WAS rewarded by seeing Blondon
come out of the house in company with the
two men. He at once made the arrest and
neither BlondOn or either of his friends
offered any serious resistance. The consta-
BILE finally placed his man on the train and
brought him to Central station, from which
he was removed 10 Jail late last night
Blondon is about 40 years old, and has a
family. He has fne features and an inteili-
gent face, with hair much marked with
gray. He is rather slender in build and
about 6 feet tall. Although he wore the
rough garb of miner he looked ANYTHING
but a criminal, and seemed overcome with
the thought of his crime. When he left mis-
home he had gone straight to the West End
and stayed there until Friday night, when
he learned of Burns critical condition and