St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-23
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Ehle Allen Cuts John Clapp's
Throat.
he DIES IN A FEW MINUTES.
Dissolute Woman at the Bot
tom Of the Case.
DIFFERENT STORIES TOLD
OF Events Which Led Up to
the Awful Aete
ALIEN AND LEYDE WOMAN
Are Locked Up at the Central
Police Station.
Are Locked Up at the Central
Police Station.
INQUEST TO Be HELD TODAY.
Clapp'S Revolver Found Near
The Scene Of the Tragedy.

A cutting affray took place last night
as result of which one wellknOwn
young man of this city lies cold in
death while another is locked up at the
central police station. with charge of
murder placed against him.
The murdered man is John Ctapp.
city salesman for the cigar firm of W.
S. Dennis Il Co.. whose circle of &C
Quaintances is limited only by tine num-
Der OF those who are dealers in his line
of trade.
His slayer is Ehe Allen. son of Col.
A. Allen, owner of the Merchants
hotel property, than whom no man is
wider nor more favorably known in st.
Paul or the Northwest.
1t is owing to the prominence of
both men that the appalling tragedy
comes with crushing force to all who
knew them. and especially to their
immediate families.
Though there are many conflicting
reports, as is usual upon so exciting all
occasion, the direct cause of the tragedy
seems to have been a woman of aues-
tionable repute, residing at No. $50
West Fourth street, thelfirst house west
of the Metropolitan hotel. 1t was on
the street, opposite this residence, that
the tragedy occurred.
JUST BEFORE THE MURDER
Clapp was in the bar room of the Met
fopolitau hotel engaged in conversation
with julie Mayer. He took several
drinks at the place and related to Mr..
Mayer the successes of his days sales.
The cable line cars were not in
operation at the time. owing to a
down town fire, and Clapp was await.
hug resumption of traffic, in order to
get car for home. his residence being
1t PSI Selby avenue. When the cars
resumed running julie Mayor told Clapp
10 60 home, and the latter started out
through the lobby of the hotel, turning
the corner of Fourth street. That was
1t 10:40. Ten minutes had
bearce elapsed when bell
boy came rushing into the bar
room and cried out that there was a
man IN the Office who had been stabbed.
and who had been in the place just
little while ago. Mr.. Mayer came out
and identified the deceased at once. He
was then gasping his last breath, and
Boon passed to the beyond.
PROMPT ACTION.
Word was promptly sent to police
headquarters. Chief Clark, Lieuts.
Sexton and Murphy had just returned
from the fire, and were on the scene in
q remarkably short time. They ran up
on Fourth street, where trail OF
blood was plainly visible. 1t led down
the alley in the rear of the Steele block
of residences opposite the Fourth street
side Of the hotel, and it was in
the rear of that bloc! of build
ings that the alteration seems to
have occurred. The woman mixed
up in the tragedy lived directly oppo-
Bite, and there the officers went, Chief
Clark entering the front door, while
Lieut.. Murphy ran to the rear entrance
of the building.
AS the chief entered man ran out of
the back door and landed in the hands
of Lieut.. Murphy. A woman soon fol-
lowed and started down Fourth street,
but was soon taken in charge by the
officers. The man was EhIe Allen, and
the woman Lulu Leyde. Both were
taken to the central police station and
locked up.
THE DEATH SCENE.
The victim, in the meantime, had run
across the street, leaving large pools of
blood; and from there he entered the
lobby of the Metropolitan, having re-
crossed the street. In the lobby his
strength failed him, and he sank in a
chair, crying out: '.Calf doctor, am
stabbedp'
Albert Mayer and George Hall, who
were in the dining room taking a lunch,
heard the cry and rushed out. Hall ran
across the street and summoned DR..
Metcalf, who responded quickly.
Young Mayer secureds some wet towels
and wrapped them tightly around the
wounded mans throat to staunch the
flow of blood.
DR.. Metcalf was followed by Drs.
Marquis, Heselgrave and Pine. The
medical men laid the wounded man on
the floor of the lobby aud did what was
possible for his relief. But beyond adj
ministering opiates for the relief of
pain, nothing could be done. as life was
rapidly ebIing away, and Clapp died
within few moments.
The wound was all ugly one. It had
been made with sharp, large-bladed
pocket knife, and. commencing at the
ear, had severed the jugular vein,
carotid artery. pneumo-gastric nerve,
and left side of the wind pipe. From
the nature Of the wound there was from
the first no hspe of saving fthe life of
the victim.
Deputy Coroner Wheaton was notified
at once and was at the hotel half an
hour after the commission of the crime.
He ordered the removal of the body to