The morning times., 1897-02-16
KNIFE THRUST HIS ANSWER
William CaIlOw Stabbed While Try
ing TO Collect Bill.
His Assailant Was Eugene Speer,
Chief Of Division in the Sec
ond Auditors Office.

Difficulty over the collection Of debt
led yesterday afternoon to ii serious ASA lit,
in which Mr.. william Callow, a tobacconist,
at 1oI Seventeenth street northwest, re.
oeived three ugly wounds from Il pocket
knife in the hands of Mr.. Eugene p. Speer.
chief of the military division in the second
front of Mr. Callow's store, on Seventeenth
street, and was over SO quickly that be
fore policeman half a block a " ay could be
notified Mr. Spcer had boarded one of the
Avenue cars bound east. toward his home,
at No. 200 East Capitol street.
Mr.. Callow was moved Immediately to
the Emergency Hospital, where three ugly
gashes We're found, one on the fleshy part
OF the upper arm, another across the left
wrist and the third and most serious
across the left ear The wounds were
sewed UP and bandaGed by the house sur
gcon, and in q few hours Mr.. Callow
was able to return TO his home, where
he was later seen by reporter Of The
Times
According 70 his statement Mr.. Callow's
acquaintance with Ma ior Speer dates from
the time the latter was appointed to his
present position in the Treasury Depart
ment about three years ago. He was in
the haiti of coming into Callows store
auG purchasing cigars. one day last fail
he came in and told the proprietor that
he was very anxious 20 go to Atlanta,
where he formerly lived, and bring his
wife and daughter to Washington, but
he was short Of money. He then asked
Mr.. Cailow 10 loan him 500, promising
to ret urnit in shorttime ThetobaCConist
took $50 from his safe and borrowing
the remaining 500, Loaned IL to his friend.
He says he saw ajor Speer two days
later, but he had spent the money he
loaned him without going to Atlanta.
The borrowed money was returned in
sums of 20 and 30 cents at various in-
tcrvals until only 50 remained unpaid
Mr. Callow called six times at the de-
partment yesterday to collect the sum
due.
Mr.. Speer happened to pass the
store yesterday when Mr.. Callow ap-
preached him ard demanded his money
Go away, or III cut you" said the
former He drew n knife from his pocket
and in an instant drove the blade up To
the handle in Mr.. Callow's arm as he
threw it across his breast.
ii
the second blow from the knife was aimed
| at him. The keen steel slashed across
his ear, and would have buried itself in
his cheek, but for a quick upward stroke
of the arm which swerved the blade 1t
left in its wake a deep. Ugly cash across
the wrist, from which the blood gushed
in manner that threatened the life Of
the victim, Until its flow was finally
checked at the hospital.
A warrant was sworn out for the arrest
of Mr. Speer, charging him with com
mitting an assault with intent to kill
MI Callow says he is determined to bring
the whole force of the law to work on
his asBailant. THAT man. he said, lis
| Il coward and a dead beat, and | will
make him pay for this
Major Speer had retired at O'Clock
last night, when a reporter called at his
residence. He admitted having done the
cutting, and stated that he regretted the
affair, and was very solicitous as the the
| welfare of his victim The only excuse
he would offer for the murderous assault
was that being repeatedly "dunned'' for
money which he owed, was a greae hu.
initiation to him, and in a fit Of passion
| he stabbed the man.