The morning call., 1893-05-08

EGES7 Frank Carroll, received
ESTTT5MV a wound which will
a. q .,as,,ss x; result : ;5sssT q 55: 55s
E4> fallen on the home of
Michael Lawton, ma
STA chinist OF the Union
,fss ss.3sasssssrs Iron Works, which will
&.fssf;a sSs.s<T5sa never lift.
~ 1000 The tragedy was the
<etss5sc result Il carefully laid
~ :;;f; "a +! {: s; :;:. i
his wife's unialhful-
AIRS -Hic''ae' Aoo'"'' ness and at the same
time procure testimony against her which
he intended to use in an action Tor divorce
which he contemplated bringing. The
story which led up to the tragedy is gath
cred from the surviving participants and
neighhors and friends OF Michael Lawton.
Michael Lawtou worked as machinist
In the Union Iron Works for years. and by
his frugality managed to save up enough
10 invest in nice little home at JIG Con-
necticut street. Here, with his wife,
whose maiden name was Hart, he lived
peacefully and happily. having two chill
| dren born to him. He was so temperate
in his habits that he not only did not
| drink nor smoke, but even refralned from
eating meat, believing in the vegetarian
| theory.
In an unlucky day he took in his home a
| lodger named Daniel Daley. This was
| about SIX months ago. Daley was one OF
the men who, in the great iron strike sew
| eral years ago remained with the com pany.
| He was afterward made foreman oil the
| pipe-tlting department. lie possessed
wife, but decided to live close to the
works ana took a room in Michael Law
| tons house about SIX months ago.
His advent was the beginning OF tha
unhappiness Of Michael LawtOn. About
three months ago, from the actions Of his
wife, LawtOn began to entertain suspl-
cioDs of her faithfulness, but he could OBJ
tain no tangible proof against her.
Then his wife began TO abuse him in
| many ways, to act snappish and pettish,
and at ths same time to favor the ledger.
Daniel Daley.
NJ chael Lawton felt disturbance in his
breast at this treatment and the spark of
jealousy, once kiEdled, soon famed into
flame. His suspicious of his wife became
confirmation IN bis mind, and lie eonflded
MS troubles to several friends, among
them his brother and George WINNER Of
the Potrero.
LawtOD was advised to watch his wife
and if lie found any evidence against her
to get the proofs aud sue for divorce.
Acting under this advice he beganltO lay
what lie thought was splendid plan TO
entrap his wife.
After the relations between him self and
wife began to lack that domestic harmony
which had characterized them before, Law
ton slept in an apartment separate from his
wife. The arrangement Of the house was
such that Mrs. Law ton slept in tie front
room and Michael Lawton in the second
room. y bathroom interviewed, and Daniel
Daley occupied the third apartment, be-
yOnd which was the kitchen.
The cunning brain of the jealous husband
evolved clever scheme for detecting his
wife. He cut secret trap-door in his own
room so that he could descend 10 the cellar
without his wife knowing anything of his
movements. Next he cut an aperture about
tile size OF mans head so that he could
look from the cellar into Lodger Daley's
room without the latter knowing anything
about 1t. The aperture was cut out behind
lounge, and most carefully concealed,
even as TAR as the carpet was concerned.
From the aperture when opened he could
get complete view Of the room without
being noticed.
His object was to descend from his
room to the cellar, when his wife thought
he was safely in his own apartment, and
watch the room OF Daley through the
aperture, TO see If his wife entered and
made love to her favored lodger.
According TO the story told by Lawton
yesterday u is only three days since he cut
the aperture, but there is ether evidence
ended in the bloody tragedy of yesterday
shows that he knew Of his wife's unfaiih-
fuluess before. \ physician Of the Po-
trero stated yesterday that it was three
weeks ago that Law on first discovered his
wife in hagrante deIlcto. The man who
gave this information 10 the physician
was George Wimmel. u friend Of Lawtnn.
Wimmel said that Lawton had told him
that he had seen Mrs. LaIton and Daley
together three weeks ago; that he had de-
tel miue ed TO get divorce, and for that
end he would arrange some means of
catching the guilty couple together, so that
the evidence could be seen by others, thus
enabling him to get tie decree.
Acting on this idea, Lawton early yes
terday morning got his brother, j. j. Law
ton, young plumber; |. f, Klenk. a con-
tractor. and John and Frank Carroll, two
friends, TO be present when he should
prove his wiir's unfaithfulness. The
party all agree to assist him. and there
was no thought Of termination OF the
scheme in biOOdshed. From The size of the
| party il was not supposed for a moment
| that Daley would offer any resistance, as
lie was generally supposed 20 be a coward.
| Still it was known that he carried regol-
| yer.
Michael Lawton acted Is general of the
| party, and his orders were carried out
with accuracy, Early in the morning
| Lawton told his wife he was going in the
| y,
! Instead OF doing as he said he met the
| party mentioned and entered his house
| again by the side gate. He told his brother
John, and Klenk and the two CAROLS, to
20 in the rear, where they would fad q
big plank.
II viii go into the cellar" he said, land
| lcok through the hole. When l catch the
couple l will poke lath through the side
| of the house from the cellar and that will
be the signal for yau to rush in, when we
will;have all the evidence we want"
The quartet of amateur detectives pro-
| ceeded as told to the rear Of the house
| and awaited, not daring to whisper.
| Michael Lawton unlocked the paddock from
his cellar door on the side of the house, to
which he always carried the key. he en-
tered. carefully raised the carpet from the
| aperture and saw more than he wanted.
His wife and Daley were together in bed.
| Then he poked out the fatal lath, which
WAS the signal for the onslaught on the
| kitchen door.
The waiting party quickly obeyed the
| signal and battered in the door, using a
| big plank for a battering ram. They then
rushed to Daley's room, John Lawton
leading the way. Daley's door was open
and they rushed in, headed by the angry
| brother of Michael Lawton, whose wife
was caught in guilty liaisoD,
Both sides told a different story of what
occurred, but the result has only one YER
sion.
When John Lawton rushed toward the
bed Daley drew pistol FROM the coverle
and fired.
John Lawton received the bullet In hiI
heart and staggered back into ths kitchen
dying almost as he fell
A second time Daley blazed at the in
yading party and John Carroll received
the bullet in his chest. Tue other two
thought that this was enough and turned
and fed.
Daley fired third shot, but il strucl
the kitchen wall and entering the cup
board smashed a set of dishes. The
there were no more to fire at.
Daley dressed himself quickly, got out o
the house and started toward the Potrer,
police station to give himself up. Just a
he struck Kentucky street he met Officer
O'Neil and Madden and surrendered him
self into their custody, stating briefly wha
had occurred.
The officers locked him up and proceed et
TO the scene Of the tragedy. The noise o
the pistol-frlng alarmed the neighborhoo,
and soon large mum ber OF people wert
l