The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-12
THE ED1TORS LICKED.
ms '.wITNEss" GETS 4 BULLET.


poss Of lsvyins blackmail or otherwise in
this city was yesterday proven 70 b very
serious vocation to the editors and pub
fishers Of the Sssddy Nercssy. One Of
them, Frank Lavere, IL now at his home
suffering from brutal beating, while his
partner, DON E. johnson, il under arrest
for shooting ct and wounding one Of the
men who attempted 70 flick the editor. !"
John Considins. Of Peoples theater and
divorces court notoriety, gave the editor
the beating, and William E. King, his
assistant In the management of the the
atricsi enterprise. was the man who got
the bullet in his person while aiding his
employer IN transforming the Mercury
Office into shambles.
John Considine was IN bad temper when
he went to the courthouse yesterday after
noon - . witness In the case of Eugene
Way and George Gates. who were charged
with contempt Of court. About $50 he
left the court room and came down town
Just about the time that tho newsboys
commenced to cry, "Sanday Mercury"
One was handed to him aud the first thing
that caught his eye Was . column article
headed. Branch Of Hell, with sublime
stating that John Considine ran tough
place and laughed ct the police. In the
body OF the article some Of the strongest
adjectives In the English vocabulary were
used in referring to the character of the
Peoples theater. and in making tho as
sertions that Considine ran . gambling
room in open defiance of the police or with
their connivance. The article also referred
to the mayor and Chief Jackson, the
former being called 1.-THE laughing stock Of
the city," and the latter being declared
unfit to Be chief Of police.
Considine read the article and then re-
marked: "What does this mean?" He
thought moment and then said to him.
self: II see. / zee. It is bold attempt to
blackmal me-" Considine was in q bad
temner and the article made him worse.
He decided to 20 up and interview the
editor of the Mercury Immediately.
On the way he met William E. King,
the assistant manager of the theater.
"Come along with me-" said Considine.
II want you TO be q witness in little
business have on hand"
King complied and together they walked
TO Cherry street and thence to the lower
side of the building on the southwest COR
ner Of Cherry ana Third streets. where,
over the door, was sign reading. SUNDAY
Mercury" A they stood there Considine
saw someone come to the window and
dodge back.
.Come on" said Considine to King, 81
want to interview the editor of the paper,
and he may escape through the back
door," Suiting his actions to his words,
Considine walked rapidly into the place,
King following several feet behind him.
The occupants of the Office had seen the
portiy form of John Considine coming,
and knew that trouble vas in store for
them. Frank Lavere, the editor-in-chief,
asked his associate. Don r. Johnson, what
had better be done. The time for de-
cision was wanting. for the door opened
and in came Considine, red in the face and
ready for business. About half way down
tho room II curtain than hangs in front
Of the cases. and from behind this came
Lavere. Considine pounced on him
like . hawk and with tho words:
you dirty cur" still on his lips,
caught the object of his wrath
under the jaw and drove him across the
room against window. Then he followed
up his advantage, and was using the editor
for q football when the fun commenced in
other quarters. just ~ soon a. Considine
came in the door Johnson, who had got
ten of the stool at the case, reached for
his gun. He saw the heavy fist of Consi-
dine land on his partners jaw, and he
came to the conclusion he would take q
part in the game. As he stepped into the
front part of the room King, who was be-
hind Considine. had Just entered the door.
johnson and King came on in direct
line for each other. the former with his
gun in his hand and the latter with his
hand at his side pocket.
'.Stop" cried Johnson: but King kept
on coming and Johnson pulled the trigger.
Whether the shot was meant for Consi-
dine, who still had Lavere on the floor be-
side the window. or for King, seems to be
doubtful; but il went close to Considine's
head. Again the revolver was heard and
King felt a sharp tingle in his left
shoulder. He stopped and Johnson
covered him. AT this moment he reeled,
and Considinc. who had left Lavere to
come to his friends help, approached the
curtain behind which Johnson stood.
johnson could see Considne's form
through the ilimsy cloth, and says he
turned the gun on the figure and snapped
but the cartridge failed to 60. However
that may be, the next moment John Con-
sidine stood face to face with him with q
4o-Colts in his hand.
drop that gun, you dirty
-" cried Considine, and he had the
muzzlc of his weapon pointed at John
sons stomach.
Johnson hesitated moment and Consi-
dine took step nearer. Johnson saw
that he was in the power of his adversary
and dropped the gun to the floor. Consi-
dine stopped down and picked it up, still
keeping Johnson covered. A, that mo-
fnent his life was not worth much, but
King at this moment said to Considine:
'Shoot the - -, he shot me-"
Johnson thought the jig was up and.
folding his arms. said: John, if YOU do
that you will commit murder"
II don't want to kill him anyway" said
Considine. He heard the footsteps OF La
we're. who had slightly recovered from the
mauling and was thinking about leaving
the room.
"Doa't let him get out" cried Considine,
and King grabbed Lavere and dragged
him TO the middle OF the room.
Snow, gentlemen" said Lavere, II don't
war, any more shooting: lie. me explain"
Youth expi ain. will YOU" cried Consi-
dine, whose wrath was at high tide. and
before Lavere knew what had happened
he went dying into the corner from
eow on the head from the revolver in
.,onsidine's left hand. Considine followed
III the blow by kicks and thrus.s. but all
the time keeping Johnson covered with
his right hand. He then whscked John
son on the head with the revolver in his
followed by King.
u a.