The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-07
HAPS FATALLY, IN A FAMILY
ROW
BY HER TWENTY-YEAR- OLD SON
WHO TOOK SIDES WITH HIS WIFE
IN A PETTY ARGU-
MENT.
SERIOUS RESULTS ARE FEARED
And Young Mason Is Locked Up on a
Serious Charge, Awaiting Physi-
cal Developments.

Mrs. Mary Mason, a woman sixty
five years old, is lying in a critical con-
dition at the city hospital as the re-
suit Of a brutal assault by her son,
John Mason, yesterday afternoon. Ev-
cry portion of the womans body shows
the effects of the terrible usage to
which she was subjected, being COW
cred with bruises and Commissions from
the heavy shoes of her son, who nick
ed her unmerciufully after knocking
her to the floor with a blow from his
fist. The left cheek Is badly bruised
while the womans left breast is swol-
len beyond all proportion from repeat
ed blows, and both sides, as we'll as the
abdomen and back, are covered with
large black and blue bruises. 1T is al
most certain Mrs. Mason is seriously
injured internally, while it is also
thought that several ribs on the left
side have been crushed in but the
swollen portions of the body prevent
ed the physician from wholly ascer-
tanning her condition. So serious is it,
however, that County Attorney Ander-
son was summoned to her bedside last
night to take her ante-mortem state
ment in case the injuries hould prove
fatal. This is not Immediately feared,
but the summoning of the county attor-
ney was. taken as a precautionary
measure. John Mason is locked up at
the Ducas street police station on the
charge Of assault and battery and
drunkenness.
The assault took place at the Mason
home, 70 Eaton avenue, shortly after
2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. AS soon
as the Ducas street police authorities
learned of the affair the son was placed
under arrest, and Mrs. Mason sent to
the central station, where she was at
tended by DR.. Brimhall. She was I'M
conscious at the time. and little could
be learned of the circumstances Of the
case DR.. Brimhall learned the pre-
carious condition of the woman by a
superficial examination, and at once
ordered her taken to the city hospital.
Last evening Mrs. Mason recovered
consciousness, and, though in terrible
pain, told the story Of her unnatural
treatment.
According to the woman, she was
rocking one Of her sons young chill
dren, meanwhile carrying on dispute
with her daughter-in-law, when Mason
came home The husband took sides
with his wife in the disagreement, and
walking over to his mother knocked
her to the floor with a savage blow on
the head. Then, Mrs Mason claims,
despite her cdies for help and appeals
to the son, he repeatedly kicked and
stamped upon her until she was in
sensible. Mrs. Mason stated that she
thought her son was under the inf1u-
ence of liquor when the attack took
place.
Thinking there had been a general
fight, Chief Goss ordered the arrest of
Mason's wife, and requested Secretary
Hutchins, of the Relief society, to look
after the unnatural sons five young
children. An investigation, however,
established the innocence of Mrs. Ma
son so far as the assault was concern
ed. and she was permitted to remain
with her children. The police state
that Mason is a brutal son and hus-
band, who has previously been arrest
ed for abusing both his wife and
mother On one occasion he was ar
rested on complaint of his wife for
non-support.