The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-29
MURDER, in PAUL
enLD ALLEN CUTS TnD THROAT or
JOHN n. CLAPP.
In . Quarrel Over Woman the
Well kn0wn Merchants Hotel
Clerk Murders the Travsllng Agent
for w. 8. Dennis.


salesman for w. 8. Dennis, the cigar
dealer, was killed at 1880 last night, and
Ehle Allen, the popular and well known
hotel clerk, son of Col. Allen, the livery
man, is locked up at the central police
station, charged with his murder. There
ts q woman connected with the case.
Her name is Louise Leyde, and she is u
daughter Of John Leyde, ex-market mas.
ter. She is also locked up in the female
ward Mt the central police station, and
will be held as witness, having been
detained by order of Coroner Whitcomb.
The murder occurred in the streets In
front Of No. $50 West Fourth street
where the Leyde woman lived. Two
stories are told as to the cause of the
murder. One version is that furnished
by Louise Leydc us told by Coroner
Whiteomb and Deputy Coroner Robert
Wheaton. Miss Lcyde says she was
walking west on Fourth street just across
from where she lives with q, young wo-
p an with whom she is not very we'll ac-
qrainted. She claims she Is not well
enough acquainted to know her name,
but thinks her companion's name Is
Wilkin or Wilson, She says Clapp ap-
proached herself and companion from, be-
hind and made some insulting remark 10
her; that she SEW Ehlc Allen across the
street and asked him to protect her.
Clapp followed her across the street, she
claims, and when Allen asked him why
he had insulted the woman he applied II
vile epithet to Allen aud said something
further of an insulting nature to the
women. Then, the Lcydc woman claims,
Allen interfcred and. Clapp reached
around toward his hip pocket, and Allen
threw one of his aims around Clupp's
netk. Further than this she refused to
Talk, and would not say whether she
81 W Allen cut Clapp OF not.
The ether story is that Ehle Allen has
been in the habit Of visiting the .Lcy,i,.
woman In her apartments ut No. $50
West Fourth street, and that John Clapp
was also visitor at the woman in her
art rtments. That Allen was jealous Of
Clcpps attentions to tlle Leylc woman
and that last evening he visited the wo-
n, ms apartments and found her in COM
pony with Clapp and the murder cllsuctl.
Clapp was killed with knife. His
threat was cut and the knife blade sew
cred the carotid artery and the. jug,llar
vein: After receiving his death wound
Clapp ran from tho scene of the murder
to the Metropoliton hotel. through the
large open doors facing Washington
street into the hotel corridor and SINK
down in ono Of the corridor chairs.
Ralph Meyer, a'young son of julie Meyer,
of the hotel bar, was sitting within three
feet of Clapp when he sut down in the
chair aud hc gave the alarm, arousing
the attaches Of the house and the per-
sons In the corridors. When Clapp sat
down bis head fell forward and he
gasped in voice scarcely audible: "(io
get II doctor; I'm stabbed, Those were
the only words he said, aud Immediately
afterwaN became unconscious. Young
Meyer asked him who stabbed him, hut
he did not reply. The night clerk noti-
fled the police authorities ut once and
called Drs. Mctcalf, Marquis and Pine.
In the meantime somebody had wrapped
towel aroud Glapp's neck and attempt
cd to stop the flow of blood, but in vain,
and shortly after Clapp was dead. Allen
md the woman were later arrested.
John H. Clapp. the murdered man,
was about thirty.five years DID,. md has
resided In St. Paul about fifteen years
He is q printer by trade, and twelve
yenrs ago was employed IN the iol
office Of the Pioncer l'rdss.' He quit the
printing business to accept a position
with thesfirm of Perkins & Lyons, whole.
sale liquor dealers, az travelling salesman
and was with the firm n long time, leav.
ing their employ to enter the service Of
w. 3. Dennis, the cigar dealer, as city
salesman. He held the latter position at
the time Of his death. aud was, well and
favorably known by nearly every business
man in st. Paul. He was married
man. but leaves no children. He lived
with his wife OH :Selby avenue. Mrs
Clapp was notified about an hour fnftcr
the murder occurred of her husbands
tragic death, and she is almost frantic
with grief. Is
Ehle Allen ts about thirty years old
He was born and raised in st. Paul and
is we'll known and liked. by u hOst :of
friends and acquaintances. He learned
the hotel business with his father when
Col. Allen owned and conducted the AIcr.
chants hotel, aud when Mr.. Carson took
charge Of the hotel be- remained MS head
CLERK, which position he still retains
Coroner Whitcomb had the body of the
murdered man removed to the morguc,
aRd some time to-day he will hold an iii
quest, at which tho .Loyde woman and
her companion, whose name. It has since
been learned, is Thayer, will be tho
principal witnesses.