The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-03
Three MEN BADLY INJURED
Two Shot in the Abdomen and the
Third Fell Off a Bridge.
REVOLVER THE WEAPON USED
John Lawson and Charles johnson Quar-.
relied and Shot Each Other with the
Same WespOu-They Are in
Dangerous Condition.

In q scufile for the possession Of q
revolver, John Lawson and Charles
Johnson. two Swedes, We're badly
wounded last evening on Sherman ave-
nue. in boarding house kept by Mrs.
Magnus Johnson. a widow. Two shots
were discharged. both taking effect at
almost the same places in the abdo-
mems Of the two men. The result may
be fatal in each case.
Lawson with two others board at the
house. At about 3 o'clock Lawson en-
tered the house. He was under the in
iuence of drink ana was excited over
something that happened q few mo-
mentS before. In his hand he held q
32-calibre revolver with the six cham
bers filled. A few moments afterward
Andrew Gusthoffson. another bOarder
entered. He also was drunk and his
face was clotted with blood.
a few minutes before he and lawson.
who were together during the night
were walking on the keyser valley
branch of the Delaware and Lacka-
wanna and Western railroad and when
crossing on u small bridge over the
HAMPTON creek which flows near
Prices breaker. Gusthoffson fell ten
feet upon the Jagged rocks. When he
came I'm the house he accused Lawson
of showing him over. Then Lawson
brandlshed his revolver saying. IF
can't fight: I Shoot
LuWSOu fiVeu at Johnson.
Charles johnson, who was in the
Kitchen at the time. went behind the
drink-crazed Lawson and made a grab
for the revolver In the wrestling law
son fired the pistol directly at John
son. Then the revolver changed hands
and n shot from the hand OF Johnson
entered the body of Lawson. Emil
Johnson. who saw the shooting. escaped
unintured.
After he had been shot. johnson
walked to Or. w. A. Paine's Office on
Washburn street. distance of about a
mile. He showed the bullet wound to
the doctor who took him co the West
Side police station. The Moses Taylor
hospital ambulance was summoned and
me injured man taken to that institu-
tion.
Lieutenant of Police Williams and
Patrolman Saul left immediately for
the scene of the shooting. The revolver
was found In the garden at the back of
the house, where ii had been thrown
presumably by lawson. after the de-
parture Of Johnson for the doctors Of
flee. When q reporter for The Tribune
called few moments after the arrival
or the police, Lawson was sitting with
his arms crossed on a table and his
head bent upon the arms. He seldom
spoke. but was conscious. The wound
had not been dressed or attended to in
showed where the two men had fought
for the revolver. The women of the
house could not tell anything about the
shooting. When the scuffie began they
had locked themselves in an adjoining
room. too frightened or too sensible to
interfere. From the broken English of
Emil johnson the reporter learned the
details. Lawson carried his revolver
during the entire evening.
Fired Four shots i'm the Air
Before he came 20 the house he fired
four shots into the air. The women
said that Lawson had Quarrelled with
gang of young men before he came
into the house. This, with the accusa =
ton of Gusthoffson riled the man with
the revolver. He went upstairs and re-
loaded the revolver: then came down
and brandished 1t with the result given
above. Lieutenant Williams sent for
Dr. s. +. Feinberg, who arrived at the
house at about 10 o'clock and examined
LawsOn's wound. Nothing but small
hole over the abdomen could be seen.
As the bullet had remained inside the
mans body. the doctor advised that the
hospital was the proper place. DIR.
Feinburg states that the wound is q
serious one.
During all the excitement. Andrew
Gusthoffson was suffering on bed up
stairs from the injuries he had received
of the house paid no attention to hom.
DR.. Feinberg went up and examined
Gusthoffson. He found that this man
Is also in dangerous condition. A cut
over the eye. q 4-inch scalp wound. and
seven internal injuries are the damages
to the man that fell over the bridge.
Two Of the injuries are liable to prove
fatal. Charles Johnson is young mar
ried man. He lives on Washburn
street He livesshrdlu etaoin taoin 2oin
street and Is employed as roiHer I'm the
Hampton colliery. He was born in this
country. Lawson came here from Swe-
den about year ago. He talks imper-
feet English. His occupation il that
of a laborer in Prices mine. Mrs Mag
nus johnson. who keeps the boarding
house. Is also a Swedc Her husband
was killed or the railroad about four
years ago. The house where the shoot
ing occurred is situated within 100
yards OF Prices breaker.