Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-11
DEATH DUE TO A FIST
John DsMollins Receives Fatal Fracture Of
Skull in Street Fight,
INJURED MAN IS LEFT IN GUTTER TO Dis
Charles Moore, Hack Driver, is Under
Arrest, Charged with Murder,
NO PRoVoCATIoN is KNOWN FOR ASSAULT
Assailsnts Escape Through Saloon with
Detective Force on Trail.
0 PRovoCATloN is KNOWN FOR ASSAULT
ARREST SPoILs THEIR PLAN TO LEAVE CITY
Neither the Accused Nor His Com-
paniops OTcr Any statemcrt-wit-
ncsscs Arc on Hand, However,
Who saw the blow struck.

John DeMollins, familiarly known as
"oyster Johnnie" died at the Clsrkson Me-
mortal hospital this morning at 1880 o'clock,
Death resulted from a fracture of the skull
caused by being knocked down on a stone
sidewalk in front of the Turf Exchange sa-
loon, 1906 Douglas street
Locked up in the city Jail Ave men are
held because of their connection with tho
trouble which resulted in DeMollins' death.
One, Charles Moore, hack driver, will be
charged with murder. The others will he
held accessories or witnesses. They are
William Atkins. Fred Sargent, William
shannon and Fred Meyers.
officer Pierson found DeMollins at o clock
lying unconscious in the gutter in front Of
the Turf Exchange saloon. Bystanders de-
clared he had been slugged by Charles
Moore. Word was Immediately sent to the
police station and the injured man was
| taken there for treatment. The officers be-
gan a hunt for Moore and the two men,
| Atkins and Shannon, who were said to have
! been his companions when he knocked De-
| Mollins down, but the trio had fed. Chief
White and Captains Donahue and Her put
| the entire detective force at work upon the
case and although the principals were caught
an hour later it not until midnight that
| witnesses were found who would admit hav
ing seen Moore strike DeMollins.
| Assault without Provocation.
Three men, whose names the police have
| withheld. were near when the blow that
| felled DeMolins struck. The stories
| they tell agree at important points. They
say that Moore, Atkins and Shannon were
! walking west on Douglas street. past the
saloon. when DeMollns stepped from the
doorway and walked along in front OF them.
! Without word being spoken Moore ran
| past DeMollins and turning, faced him.
| Then he landed two blows on DeMollinS'
! face, the first being struck with the left
| hand The second pusch Tilted the mans
head at such an angle that knockout blow
! was easy to place and Moore delivered a
| straigh from he shoulder punch on tho
| chin.
| DeMolins fell like a groggy pugilist His
| head struck the curb and he rolled into the
/ gutter unconscious. Moore followed by his
companions, ran into the saloon and out of
! the back door.
| officer Pierson appeared as the crowd
/ gathered. Running into the saloon to tele-
phone the station he encountered Fred Sar-
| gent, the bartender, who grabbed the tele-
! phone, remarking:
No Privileges for Policeman.
"I'll have none OF you fellows sending for
| the wagon from here" The policeman went
to the American District Telegraph COM
| pany's office adjoining and notified the sta
| tion. After DR.. Ralph's examination of De-
Mollns the physician stated that the man
| would not live and the entire detective force
was sent out to run down his murdcrers.
! All the outgoing freight trains wers
searched as it was feared the men would
attempt to leave the city.
| At o'clock Moore, Atkins and Shannon
we're located in the Midway saloon, Twelfth
street and Capitol avenue. Sergeant Wis
senberg sent with officers Riegeman,
Sauers, Rentfrow and Mitchell to arrest
them. The fugitives were taken into Gus
tcdy without difficulty, but no information
| could be gotten from them.
DeMollins was removed to Clarkson hos
! ptal at 730 o'clock. Drs. Summers and
| Ralph made a careful examination, finding
a fracture of the skull at the base OF the
| brain. Paralysis set in and DeMollins died
shortly after midnight
| Moore, ktkins and Shannon had made
| arrangeme& ~ to leave the city. having hired
| a closed ceSriage at the Windsor stables.
Their plans were frustrated by arrest.
Accused Makes No statement.
| Moore refused to say anything regarding
the affair with DeMollins, further than that
! they were the best OF friends. Atkins and
Shannon denied having seen DeMollins
struck. The three men had passed the after
noon together drinking at various saloons,
but were not intoxicated when arrested.
| The police are holding three men as
witnesses. One is Frank ONeil, who rooms
| at the State hotel. three doors from the
| Turf saloon. ONeil was citing in front OF
| the hotel when the trouble took place. His
| attention attracted by the sound OF
scuflng. He saw Moore strike DeMollins
| three times and says the third blow lifted
the man off his feet. He was TUNED partly
around by the force of the punch and when
bis head struck the curb the sound was dis
! tinctly audible.
After leaving the Turf saloon via tho
rear door, Moore, Atkins and Shannon vis-
! tied the Dellone hotel bar TO take a drink.
! They ordered a carriage when there. The
! men admit having run from the Turf
saloon. but will give no reason for
doing so.
| No Known Cause for Assault.
No cause for Moore striking DeMollins
| can be found. The latter told friends Mon
| day morning that he had had trouble Sum
day night wish party OF hack drivers in
the saloon where he works. Hamiltons. on
| Dodge street near Ninth. The trouble is
said 10 have been regarding a woman to
| whom both men paid attentions.
DeMollins was brought to this city by H.g-
| gins, the restauranteur twelve years ago.
| He was frst-class oyster and fsh cook.
| lie was also a capable bartender. having
worked at both yocations. He secured a
position at Hamlton's last Saturday and.
| being required TO begin work at I o'clock.
vas on his way 10 the saloon when he en-
| countered Moore
Chief White received Mayor Moores' order
10 have the Turf Exchange closed and en-
| forced it. All the employees we're placed
IN Ia aHg Ont ta..
! refused to allow the police 20 use the tele-
phone, will be held on the charge OF resist