The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-08
NEARLY A MURDER.
A Drunken Miner strikes n Man With
aGun, which Goes or.


The Esmond saloon. on the corner Of
First avenue south and Washington street.
was the scene of what came near being
murder last night. ]. Hunter. an old-time
miner of Idaho. of convivial tendencies.
while drinking with David Ludwig in
back room of the saloon. awoke from a
drunken stupor to find his watch and chain
gone. He suspected his companion of hav-
ing touched him, and drawing revolv-
er struck him on the left cheek. the wea-
pom at the same time going off. Fortunate
" for Ludwig the bullet went wide OF Its
mark. After being struck on the cheek
Ludwig ran out into the saloon. followed
by Hunter. but the shot had attracted Or
ficers Powers and Wickman. and the bel
ligerents were taken in custody. and soon
after sent to police headquarters In the pa
trel wagon. DR.. Palmer. city physician,
was sent for. and took several stitches IN
Ludwig's cheek and dressed the wound.
which was an ugly, but not dangerous one.
Hunter has been in the city for several
days and has been on a jamboree. prepar-
atory to a prospecting tour to Alaska. He
has been in the city before, and was we'll
known and valued customer OF Louis Paoli.
proprietor of the Esmond. He had spent
most of his time in the saloon yesterday,
and after having dinner with Paoli return
ed about $50 He called for several rounds
of drinks, treating the crowd in generous
manner. and as he had no money with him,
put mp a certified check with the bar
keeper for $500 as security for the payment
OF his whisky bill. In his maudlin way
he was loud in expressions against the ne
gro race, and the entrance OF Dave, the
Sinner" while they were drinking, threw
him into a rage.
II won't drink with a Niger" he sad
angrily, and calling TO two OF his COM
panions, David Ludwig and an old Ger
man, went into the back room. There
they had tn zee rounds of drinks. Hunter
still had his gold watch and chain. and
Paoli. fearing II might prove a temptation
TO some one In the house. sent the bar
tender for 1t, and 1t was taken from him
and placed behind the bar. According 10
the story OF the two men in the box with
Hunter, he then fea into s siupor. aSf ~
awakening later discovered his watch 10
be gone and accused Ludwig OF having
stolen 1t. at the same time drawing MS gun
and striking the man in the face. Just
about this time the barkeeper had enter
cd the box for the purpose of taking Hun
ter to his room, and saw the difficulty.
On arriving at police headquarters
Hunter told Tailor Peer that Ludwig
asked him If he had any money. al the
same time trying to go through him. He
then hit him in the face and as the fellow
started 10 run shot at him. His story IS
not believed. however. as he was too
drunk to even talk straight. On the way
to the station Ludwig threw a knife and
a handkerchief belonging TO Hunter out OF
the wagon, but they were recovered by
Jaiior Peer. He will not explain how these
articles happened In his possession. Lud-
wig Is well known in the variety district.
where for the past six years he has acted
as sort OF understudy in various theaters.