Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-05
STABBED ANDDYING
TWO AGED VETERANS FIGHT
Peter rhemas Kills James Johnson With
J.sk-knifs-i is Sewers Fsnox>i
Artery Death WIN Ensuss.

tsrmer in ths left xrsin. ssvsring the
fsnofAl artery.
Jehnson. Who draws . psnsion Of tia
Der month, came 70 town during the
afternoon 20 have ms pension voucher
Executed. He returned about 3 o'ciock
well n.lsd with lsquor and very quarrel
Dome. he proceeded 20 the apartments
Set ASIDE for eolofed inmates, known -
hoe old aisgensexy on the fourth floor.
where Joseph Clark, known as the pro-
lessor. janice W. carrey and Peter
Thomas we're sittsng. purlng the after
hoon various pollt.eal arguments were
INDUCED III. Whea che first horn blew
for supper johnson left, be beng the
pnly oae Who ate 1T the hrst table.
When he came back Thomas asked
him what there was for supper.
johnson replied that there WAS no
meat. Thomas, Clark and Currey
Ment to supper and found that John
Son bad misrepreserted the spread.
On the table there were pork and
beans. Wnen Thomas returned TO the
hid dispensAry, al out o'clock, ne said
To Johnson:
81 thought you were q temperance
man, You said there was no meat for
puppsr, and We had pork and beans.
That's just the way With you repub-
acans."
"Republicans are bout as good ~
you d-n democrats" retorted john
Son.
"Now don't you begin 10 abuse the
democrats, exclaimed Thomas. .'Dem-
ocrats are Just ss good az republicans"
"Wbat did the democrats ever do for
you? You always stick up for the
democrats and you ought 20 be . re-
publican"
II stick up for just whoever | please.
I'm free American citizen, is."
An exchange OF words similar TO the
hbove eontanued until the men began
20 call each other hard names. John
yon made = rush for Thomas, who
picked up Currey's cane from the end
Of q cot and dealt Johnson several
blows over the head. Finally the lat
Ter grsppled with Thomas and
A Terrific seuAas Ensued,
Johnson throwing Thomas down and
kicking him in the face, side and back.
Thomas called for some one to take
johnson OH. saying he could defend
himself If he once gained his feet.
.Currey 10 lame in both legs and Clark
h iafifm. Both left the room. the
former summoning Sergeant Chatfieid. i.
.whe rushed into the room and separ-
ated the combatants. He clung to
johnson and ordered Thomas 10 leave
the room. Before he could do SO John
con broke away and made a lunge at
him. Sergeant Chatfield. who il small,
WAS unable to control the two men and
went Tor assistance. Clark stood in the
a tfx~E Ewk 81 . hn{ ,.h
For moment furious blows were ex-
changed. Then they separated. Thomas
reached his hand IN his pocket and
pulled out q jack knife with
. wooden handle and . blade about
three inch1s long. Johnson came for
Thomas again. As he approached,
about an inch long and quite deep in
stead OF checking Johnson's onslaught
this seemed 10 increase Its fury and he
made another rush. Thomas eIashed
again with an upward stroke forcing the
blade up tc the handle In Johnson's 8
left groin, seyering the femoral artery.
johnson staggered back exciaimiug that
he had been cut. lie managed to make
his way to the door and walked down
sank to the floor. Every step he took
the blood spurted in streams from the
wound, saturating the floor. BY this
time Commandant Mckee, Qusrter-
master shank and superintendent
Chstfield reached the scene. Johnson
was sent 10 the hospital, where DR.. ID.
&. spauiding, the Home physician at
tended bIm.
Thomas made no attempt TO get
away, bat sat down on the edge of q
rot. Two men were placed in charge of
him. Sheriff Mcqueen Was notified
and Deputy Sheriff Beaver detailed to
place Thomas under arrest. Beaver
went 10 the home, brought him back
and locked him up. Thomas was seen
I'm his cell by reporter for The HER.
AID. to whom
Ne Told His story.
johnson made for me frat, and to
defend myself struck him with the
rane. lie threw me down and kicked
me about the face and head. Then
yome one pulled nim OF and I got up.
lie came at me again and | stabbed
him in self-defense. The whels trouble
srose over golItlcs. don't know Just
bov The argument started. bat think i,
vac something about supper. Now,
don't write that am an ugly man, be-
rausc | am not. am psaceabIe man
,rd did this only IN sclf-defense."
Atshe soldiers home the records of
lbe two men were sseertained. Peter
Thomas enlatea IN the Thirty.frst reg
sp,ent. United states colorcd truope, At
schenectady. June "A, 1864, and vas a
member Of Company G.. He was mar
red twice. HIS second wife and four
children are living 81 Flint, this state,
from which place he was sent TO the
bone three years ago.
johnson enlisted in the One Hun
fred and Twentieth Mich. colored
troops st ~. Joseph, Mich, October 81,
istS. He went 10 the bone from this
vsty about one year ago. lie has never
been admitted, but kept on the ct. A.
p" list. Temporary at Post Ia
making application he said his nearest
rim was q wife hvlng ut No. go Taylor
srset. this city. since that tiFne he
tss married another woman sni she
sss with him last night.
Thomas record for good behavior u
FAIR. He had . tight with SamueI
Forest. the old splsiler who wasked out
OF the window q few weeks ago, in
which kis r,rhs arm vas broken. Other
wise he was regarded - being an
orderly innate. He draws peusion OF
tl2 per month.
-scnssss's nsesvd - Ba~."
sad Qmartermssser shank. "He has
sivsss been of an ugly, qsAfreisonae
asgortsanz lie vas republican, and
titoavsst 81 special ~ mon here wss ta
scnvest hls eelofed bretors2 70 she