Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-03-02
JOHN w. MACkAY SHOT.
MURDER AND SUICIDE WAS At
TEMPTED.
The Famous Financier Serioully
Wounded In San Francisco by
Stranger--The Would
Be Assassin
VIII Die,
Probably Insane,

tinancier, was shot through the back to-
| day by Il man giving the name of w. Z.
Rippi, and narrowly escaped death. Kip
pi after firing one shot ut Mackay, shot
himself through the left breast and will
die. The shooting occurred III the paved
court back of the Lick house, which runs
from Suffer to Post street, between
Montgomery and kearney. A white
haired man was noticed walking around
SITTER street acting very nervOusly dur
ing the early portion of the morning
throwing his hand back toward his hip
pocket.
1t is the custom of John w. Mackay to
come about noon time to the jcwery
store at the corner of Suffer street and
Lick alley to compare the time Of day,
and he is always prompt. AS Mac
kay reached the end of the alley nearest
Suffer street and few feet away from
where the old man was standing, the lat
ter pulled out his revolver and fired one
shot. The bullet struck Mackay in the
middle of til" back. After firing the shot
The would-be murderer the supplemented,
his crime by turning the pistol on HIM
self and firing Il shot into his own body.
The self-intlicted wound was serious. but
Mackay up. trying to fire at him again,
hut he was so weak that he could not
pull the trigger. He then threw up his
hands. cNclaimiEg: My God. I am salts
ticd"' Mackay put his hand behind his
his coat. AS he drew his hand
out it WAS covered Will. blood
and he exclaimed to one of his friends
hat 1,., -,
die of his back. Macl;,y waS placed in
Il buggy and taken to the Palac" hotel,
where medical attention WAS rendered
him. Mackays assailant WAS taken to
the city receiving hospital. Mr.. Mackay
made the following statement:
Il WAS walking down Suffer street,
hound for my room to pack my valise. as
intended, to go to Virginia City this
afternoon Wien | reached Lick alley
| thought it would be Il short cut to the
hotel. had hardly taken two steps into
Lick alley when l heard IL pistol shot. I
paused for Il moment rather startled for
| had not seen anyone in the alley when
entered it. and did not ut first know
from which direction the report of the
pistol carlc.
Suddenly a voice exclaimed: Mr.
Mackay, YOU have been shot and looking
up l SAW il gentleman who brought me
to my room.
NO, am rot shot replied.
y cS you are. he insisted: for I saw
'!nSt ny FROM year coat when the bullet
struck YOU
put my hand around under my coat,
and sure enough. when l looked at my
hand it was covered with blood. | then
felt the pain in my back. 1t I'll hap
prn"d i'll Il second, and turning half way
arc 'ind, | saw my ass;liant standing at
tn" head Of the alley with his pistol
pointed ut me. | then hurried across TO
III" east side Of the alley, and as did so
| saw the old man put !; pistol, as l
thought. to his mouth. and fire it again.
He then rrelcd and fell. and l continued
up the alley until we reached Mr. Bon
nrr 8 cart, and he drove 10 the Palace
Er,cl.'
When Mr. Mackay WAS asked if lie
knew the man who had shot him, he
said:
Il never knew of Il man named Rippi
had good look at the old man who
shot me, and am certain do not know
him. | cannot give amy reason for the
assault
DIR. John Il. Morse, who extracted the
bullet i'll conjunction with DR.. Keeny,
said that the bullet entered below the
right shoudcrb]ade, and ranging slightly
to the light. struck the vertcbrac and
lodged in one Of the Spinous processes.
DR.. Morse said that the wound was
not necessarily fatal, but that the
patient was by no means out of
danger. He added that in case of
SunShot wounds therc~waS always danger
or blood poisoning or lOckjaw. VIXEN
closely questioned Dr. Morse said thar if
was too soon after the extra elton to fora
tell the termination of the wound, hu.
that MIR. Machay was resting quietly.
The old man who did the shooting was
taken to the receiving hospital in
wagon. The man was conscious. but
could not articulate. Examination re-
vcalcd that the bullet had entered his
left breast, passed through the trunk
and coming out just below the left
shoulder blade. The bullet was found
just under the skin. In his pantaloons
pocket was found 4S-c:liber revolver
of the bull dog pattern. and all car
tiidges intact. Also in his pocket was
purse containing 20 cents, also IN EN-
velope containing paper Oh which was
"Illtcu. Lie l. IL. lAlutOll, Lii Ialac2
hotel. End not yet A letter addressed
to the Examiner read as fellows:
Food for reflection. Paid $150.0OO
for sapphire TO place on the jaded per-
son of his wife. A sufficient amount
to have saved 500 of lis paupers from
a suicidal grave. Just think of it. H.
scribe it on his tomb
Macay was about tilc coolest man in
San Francisco. After being examined
by the surgeon he walked about his
apartments talking With his friends He
said he did not know The man who shot
him or why he did it. Not since the
shooting of Judge TcrrE At Lathrop by
United States Deputy Marshal Maggie
four years ago has there been such i'll
tense excitement in San Francisco.
will Hang in April.
Desmet, S. d., Special, Feb. 25.--Judge
Andrews today denied the n:otinE for Il rev
trial In the Thomas case and sentenced him
to be hanged in Des,net within sixty Gays
to be hanged in Desmet within sixty days.
The date is not announced but the Judge
has fixed it for April %. This prisoner made