St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-12
Editor V. G. Seward, of Still
water, Assassinated by
a Ruffian.
George Peters, His Former
Employe, the Author Of g
the Deed.
Revenge and an Unsound Mind
Supposed to Have Been
the Motive.
Pierced With Bullets, the Ed
itOp Survives but Seven
Hours.

Special to the Globe.
SALTWATER, Minn., Oct. 11.-One of
the most cold-blooded shooting affairs
ever witnessed in this state occurred
yesterday afternoon shortly after 80 in
front of Frank Dreehsler's music store
On South Main street, in this city, and
V. C. Seward. the editor and publisher
of the Saltwater Messenger, lies at his
home in the agonies of death with two
hirty-eight-caliber bullet holes in his
head. The assassin was George Peters,
residing in the town of Baytown. about
three miles from this city,
young man who has for a num-
Der of years been engaged in
market gardening. Nearly three years
ago Peters, then merely boy, was en-
gagged by Mr.. Seward to do his city re-
porting. He began work, but made
very little progress, none of his writ
ings ever appearing in the paper. In
due course of time Mr.. Seward real
lied that Peters would never succeed as
a Journalist, and one day informed him
OF that fact. Peters grew angry and
SWore vengeance, not only on the man
who had befriended him, but on everv
one of the office employees. Very little
attention was
Paid to His Threats,
but one or two of the office boys who
realized that Peters was mentally un-
balanced felt unsafe when he was near.
Recently his visits to the Messenger
office have been less frequent than for
the past two years, but yesterday, as the
writer OF this article was sitting at his
desk in MIR. Seward's office, he came up,
walked into the office. and, without say
ing word returned to the street. The
writer did not pay particular attention to
him, but noticed a wild look in his face.
a moment afterwards three shots in rap
id succession rang through the air, and
the residents of this otherwise quiet
Sprang hastily to where the shots were
fired, and there lying on the floor writh-
ing III his blood was MIR. Seward 1t
appears that his assassin had been look
ing for him all day, but Mr.. Seward,
having been i'll attendance at conven-
ton, was not around. Peters sauntered
up and down the street, and spying Mr..
Seward on the opposite side OF the
street, accosted him. The words that
passed between the two men were brief,
and as far as can be ascertained
no one knows what was said.
but in an instant Peters whipped
a SS-caliber revolver from his pocket
and fired. Seward fell to the floor. and
the assassin, not content with the sue
cess he had made by the first shot. fol-
lowed up with two others in rapid
succession. The first shot entered Sew
ards left eye, passing partially
Through tlae Head.
The second eetered the back of the
head and grazed the brain.
A large crowd congregated in an in
slant, and watched the murderer as he
placed the revolver back in his hip
pocket. He coolly remarked that he
had killed Mr.Seward. but that he would
make an explanation later. He then
asked for Chief of Police Shortall and
started to move on, but before he had
gone many steps he was seized by two
citizens, who pinioned his harms behind
him and held him until Officers Costello
anC Lundgren took charge of him. The
ugly-looking revolver was removed
from his pocket, and as the officers
marched him to the intersection of Main
up of Lynch him." Hang him. - 'sDo
away with him Immediately" No vio-
lence was offered, however, and as he |
stood on the street waiting for the |
patrol, your correspondent asked him
why he had killed his benefactor. He |
replied: 81 had just cause, and this is |
no time to talk. l will explain later,
and L will be upheld" Peters was
taken to the county jail. and there Sc
curely locked in his cell. He refused |
to answer any questions relative to the |
crime. Several physicians immediately |
surrounded the wounded man, and.
after washing the blood from his face,
he was taken to the Office of DR.. W. Ii. |
Caine, where an examination of his !
wounds was made by Drs. Crane and |
Freleigh. One bullet was extricated,
but the other was not found. Mr.
Seward was removed to his home. |
but his chances of recovery are very
poor. V. c. Seward is a popular resi-
dent of this city, and has also many ac-
quaintances throughout the state who
always regarded him as an upright, hon
est and STRAIGHTFORWARD man. The city |
is thrown into fever of excitement,