St. Paul daily globe., 1894-07-17

dict Expresses No Opinion, Re
1ating Only How Luth Was
Killed.
The inquest over the remains of
Charles j. Luth was held yesterday aft.
ernoon at Guthunz Il Rocketron's under.
taking rooms under the direction Of
Deputy Coroner Xanten.
The following gentlemen were i'm
paneled as jurors: j. NJ. Leendecker,
George j. Mitsch. William Egan, B. F,
Ferris, l.. Ii. Borton and e. E. Cooper.
After viewing the body the taking of
testimony was promptly commenced.
The testimony introduced developed
few new points. Mrs. Margaret Hanson
was the first witness called. and told
her story in fragmentary manner, not
quite IN accord with the story she told to
newspaper men last Saturday night,
shortly after the tragedy. Mrs. Hanson
related the affair as follows:
About supper time on Saturday two
men came into my house and asked if I
had room for ten or twelve men for SUD.
per and over night. They were roll
lowed by two more men whom did not
know. One of these, who was after
wards found to be Charles Luth, called
me to the rear of stove and said:
Don't take these men; they are scabs.'
One of the men who came in first, lit
tie man. said to me: Don't mind this
fellow at all. The company will pay
your BILL l said that being a Door
woman. needed the money and would
take the men. Luth then ran over ia
where the little man was standing and
knocked him down. l stood behind the
counter and the other man near Ii, in
front. Luth started for the other man
and they commenced fighting. l tried
to pull Luth away from the counter,
but did not succeed. Then | ran to the
back room where my children were"
Coming to the actual difficulty be-
tween the men. Mrs. Hanson became
rather rambling and uncertain in her
statements. She says that she could not
tell whether Leonard was knocked
down or not. 1t ali transpired so quickly,
in her opinion. that she could not tell.
She could not tell who struck the first
blow, Lutll or Leonard. When return.
ing from the street, where she had gone
to look for a policeman, she saw the
men lying OH the counter, and the little
man (Leonard) had a revolver in his
hand. Neither could she say whether
the counter had been tipped over before
or after the first shot had been fired.
Joseph Cox, an engineer of the st,
Paul & Duluth railroad, was the next
witness, and one of the eye witnesses of
the killing. He said:
"When going home last Saturday
night, met Luth at the corner of Third
and Sibley streets. Wewere talking for
few minutes and had decided to go
home to supper together. Then two
gentlemen passed us, whom did not
know. Luth said. There are a couple of
fellows | want to see.' l asked him if
he knew them, to which he replied that
he did. They went over to Fifth and
Rosabel streets and entered the house
where Mrs. Hanson keeps her boarding
house. Luth said, Come on in hes
itated about entering, thinking it was a
saloon. When we did enter the two
men were talking to Mrs. Hanson about
some boarders. Luth said to the woman
that these men were trying to bring
not TO take any notice of them or to take
in the men. One of the two men said to
Luth, 1t is none of your business
Then Luth knocked the speaker down.
Leonard did say something which could
not hear. Then Lath said, You are no
better YOURSELF and putting up his hand
before him started towards Leonard.
The latter then whipped out a revolver.
Luth rushed at him and grabbed him so
as to prevent his shooting. Luth had
his arms around Leonard. Leonard
fired three times. Then took hold of
his ann and wrist and the remaining
two shots were fired: one of these went
into the floor. l do not know IL he iu-
tended to shoot me. After Luth fell I
put my hand on his body and called
him by name. He did not answer, and
taking the revolver l started up the
street after the two men, who had gone
out"
Questioned by the coroner, witness
said: Il made jump at Leonard for
the purpose of getting the gun away
from him. We all fell in a heap, and
the counter went down with US. Three
shots had been fired before the counter
fell over. When we fell Leonard was
underneath, and Luth was in the mid,
die. There was short struggle for the
possession of the gun, and finally Sc.
cured it. | took hold of his arm and
turned it upwards. have never seen
the men before and had no conversation
with Luth concerning them."
Questioned by juror, witness said
that Luth did not strike Leonard. In
dicating the movement, he said: "He
just put his hand up like this in front
of his body. l think he could have
reached Leonard from where he stood.
l saw Leonard pull the gun from his
pocket, and thought when Luth rushed
on him he was trying to stop him from
shooting. | was looking directly at the
men. and paid no attention to the man
called Nash. 1 don't think | would
know him now.'
Asked again if any blows had beer
struck, witness said: II do not know.
Both men were close together. 1 don't
think Luth had struck him when the
first shot was fired. Leonard com,
menced to shoot at once, and before
Luth reached him."
ALBERT NASH
told about the only coherent story of all
the witnesses. He said:
''AbOut O'Clock Saturday evening I
met Mr.. McCabe near the Merchants
hotel, and he said that Leonard was
around Third and Sibley looking for
place for some new men. l Informed
Mr.. McCabe that l had been out the
day before and made arrangements
with Mrs. Hanson to put some of the
men into her house. Mr.. McCabe told
me to go and inform Leonard of that
fact and take him there. As we went
into the house we found one man in the
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