The herald., 1898-11-30
DANGEROUS CUSTOMER
WHILE CRAZY DRUNK A HOTEL
PORTER GOES CUNNING
Shoots Himself, Fires at
a Bartendernnd Threatens to
Kill an Officer

| Crazy drunk is the cause for John kerns
being now locked in the city prison with
charge of assault to commit murder against
him. His intended victim is William Walsh,
the barkeeper of the Temple saloon, corner
of Temple and Spring street. The aim OF
Kerns was so poor however, that it seems a
joke to charge him with trying to kill Walsh,
nevertheless the malice was evidently in his
heart.
For some time past Kerns who has been
in bad financial circumstances. has been
working in the United States hotel as night
porter. He had been discharged several
times but out of pity for the mans unfortu
nate condition Mr.. Mesmer, the proprietor,
took him back to work. Kerns has been on
good terms with the barkeepers of the Tenn
pie saloon and made a habit of going there
early every morning for little nip and u
talk. Yesterday morning Kerns went to the
place as usual and met Walsh who has not
long been employed at the saloon. 1t soon
became evident that Kerns was badly in
toxicated for he grew quarrelsome and noisy
Walsh told him to cease the noise. The sa-
loon had not beer opened for regular busi-
ness, as the Spring street entrance was yet
closed, and Walsh dA not care to be an
noyed by the loud talking while he was clean
ing up preparatory to opening Kerns con-
tinued to be boisterous and finally Walsh
caught hold and led him from the place.
This treatment incensed Kerns for he went
at once to the hotel and took a revolver from
drawer and started back to the saloon with
the evident intention of wreaking his ven.
geance upon Walsh. While passing the north
end of the Temple block, at the Temple,
Spring and Main streets junction, Kerns
must have attempted to do quick pull of
the weapon from his pocket. In any event
he accidentally discharged the pistol which
was 32-caliber, and the bullet struck in the
lower heshy part of the leg just above the
knee and passing under the skin came out
above the calf. Kerns evidently did not rea-
lie that he had been injured, for he hurried
up Temple street to the side entrance and
bounded into the saloon, pistol in hand.
Walsh had heard the.noise of the report and
he had premonition that perhaps it might
mean the return of Kerns, so when he saw
the latter's warlike demonstration Walsh
grabbed up a revolver from behind the bar
and lost no time in rushing out of the place
by the front entrance. In the meanwhile
Officer Fowler, who had also heard the shot.
hurried to the corner and on being told about
Kerns went into the saloon after him.
Kerns did not propose to be baked, for
when interference in the person OF the Off
Ger arrived, he became more angry and point
ing the revolver at Fowler threatened to
shoot him. Fowler, although covered with
the revolver. advanced toward kerns and
endeavored to pacify him. Kerns might have
shot the officer as he threatened, had not
his attention been diverted in another direc-
ton. Walsh, the original object of his
drunken anger, thrust his head through the
front door to see how the row was progress
ing. Kerns heard him, and turning perceived
Walsh looking in his direction. With a
whoop he leveled his revolver at Walsh and
fired as he ran towards him. The bullet
went yards wide of its mark but Walsh took
no further chances and got away at the top
of his speed.
Kerns then turned toward the officer but
Fowler gradually edged his way up to him
and when close to the drunken porter grab
bed the revolver just as it was leveed at his
face. The falling hammer caught the heshy
part of the officers hand and cut it severely.
but Fowler jerEed the weapon away from
Kerns. disarming him. kerns fought des-
peratey against arrest but the officer was
able to put the handouts on him and sent
him to the police station 1t was not until
after Kerns had been locked in a cell that
the wound he had inflicted upon himself was
discovered. DIR. 1lagan attended him in the
receiving hospital but instead Of allowing
the physician to extend him this aid Kerns
fought wildly and several men were neces-
sary to subdue him. lie will be arraigned
before Justice Morrison this afternoon at
|: 80 o'clock