The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-16


Struggled With the Murderer
The Victim an InOfPensive Veteran
of the Civil War-Friends of the
Murderer Claim He Is Insane.
Without apparent cause, Fred r.
Guion, living at 25S East Water street.
killed James Miller, of 166 East Fairfield
avenue, in cold blood yesterday afternoon,
blowing out his victims brains with
shotgun, and in murderous rage also
tried to kill Justice of the Peace Joseph
Smith. That Guion did not kill Justice
Smith was undoubtedly due to the inter
ference of Attorney Ferdinand Barta,
who grappled with the murderer as he
leveled the gun for second shot, after
he had killed Miller, at Justice Smith and
turned the weapon aside as it was dis
charged. sending the load of shot into
the ceiling of the room, instead Of into
Justice Smiths body
The tragedy took place at the office Of
Justice Smith, SO South Robert street,
shortly before o'clock Guion had half
an hour before threatened to kill Justice
Smith, and it is believed that was his
object when he returned to the office
with the shotgun. He had no quarrel
with Miller. 1T is said, and deliberately
murdered the old man without cause. The
grievance which Guion cherished against
Justice Smith grew out Of a lawsuit in
which the murderer was interested that
was tried In the justice court some years
ago and appealed to the district court.
Justice Smith claims he had never
wronged Guion in the least, and declares
the grievance held by him was merely
imaginative on Guion's part The excuse
offered by Guion's relatives for his ac-
ton is that he was not in his right mind.
AS nearly as can be learned the differ
ence between Justice Smith and Guion
arose last Saturday, when Guion visited
the justice in connection with the old law
suit. Guion desired to have the suit re-
opened and consulted Justice Smith, so
the latter says, concerning the best
course to pursue. 1t is said that AttOr-
ney J. v l. Dodd had Guion's case in
charge when it was in the district court
ana Justice Smith says GJliOn asked him
to confer with Mr.. Dodd about reopening
the matter. Justice Smith saws he did
this, and when Guion called upon him at
about -2:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon he
ATTORNEY
said he was willing to take charge of the
case again, but that a IS fee would be
necessary. Guion was not pleased with
this arrangement, Justice Smith saws. OBJ
Jectlng TO the payment of the fee and
ahgrlIy declared he would not pay the
money. Justice Smith says he was acting
wholly as GuiOn's friend in the matter
having consulted Attorney Dodd gratu-
itously, at Guton's request, and that there
WHY C1,iO,
peen angry at him. He says he appraised
Culon OF theelegal aspect of the case and
informed him that the fee was necessary
Whlch fact he says aroused Guion to
state OF excitement in which he saws
Guion abused him and threatened to xiii
him. Then Guion left the office.
When, GuiOn first visited the office o@
justice Smith, James Miller, the murder
ed man, and j. P. Maynard were present
Miller ana Guion- were we'll acquainted
poth having lived on the West side for
years. Miller listened to the argument
between Justice Smith and Guton. If 10
sald. without entering into the discussion
AS Guon left the office, It is alleged ba
addressed Miller, calling upon him TO re-
member what Justice Smith had said
ABOUT the lawsuit. After Guion departed
Justlce Smith, Miller and MAYNARD in
uulsed IN some discussion of the case ond
Gulohs actions, joking about his alleged
threats to kill Justice Smith and II va
not belleved Guion meant what he said
shortly after Guion left the office At
tCrney Ferdinand Barta called to Sou
Justice Smiths signature to a..1e,oI ~
per. Justice" Smith signed the Document
ana the tour occupants Of the room sot
ABOUT taking together. Hair an bo,,r
after Gu1on angrily left the office he 70
appeared In the doorway, armed with a
4au,.p. III Ihose within saw him turn
toward the doorway from the street and
feared danger, but before thew con1d -
CIoe what to do Gufon had opened tha
door and stood just inside, with the eIIn
already half drawn to his shoulder. Mil
Ter sat dlagonally opposite from whare
Culon stood, with Justice Smith occunIy
ing chair short distance to tha rieI+
OF MIN, while Attorney Barta sat on fhe
opposite OF the table, near the door. and
within a few feet of Guion. Mr. Me-
nard sat behind Justice Smith .s+o,15
ing IN the open doorway Guion SLOWLY
raised the gun to his shoulder. noin+ino
II toward Justice Smith. Not word uTa9
spoken. Suddenly, with an inaudibTa re-
marx Miller Jumped from his chair and
started toward Guion. A few steps
nlousIlt MN directly in front Of the shot
gun. AS he started to escape the line of
| aim Gulon pulled the trigger. There was
dedIenlng report, Miller threw I'D his
| hands and dropped over onto a platform
forming the inside Of the front show win
| dow, where he lay with blood no,r;no
! from his head. The full charge of sbot
| struck him directly in the mouth mass
| ing through the head and SCATTERING bis
| brains about the platform.
! so quick was Guion's act thai mono had
! the opportunity to interfere with him
| or scarcely realize that he contenonIa to5
a cold-blooded, desperate deed. but with
| the sound of the first shot Mr.. Mavnord
! escaped into room behind the offioe
while Justice Smith and Attorney Rarte
remained transflXed for a moment nv tho
horrible spectacle. Apparently unmove6
| by the murder he had committed. Onion
| swung around, with the gun still AZ his
| shoulder, and leveled the weapon at ms
tlce Smith. At this juncture Attorney
1'arta courageously sprang at Onion
| graphing him with one arm, while. strik.
ing up the barrel of the gun with the
| olher. mere was second loud report
! but Barta had acted In time The CHARGE
OF shot went upward ;nto the ceiling.
| tearing a hole in the plastering ond
Justice Smiths life was saved a. liz, IL
! tlce Smith saw Attorney Barta sprinp ar
| the murderer he jumped I'D and went ~
| his preserVers assistance Guion nt first
| made some show of resistance but o,,icir0
~ quieted down in the grasps of Attor-
ney Barta and Justice Smith, when the
| latter ran out of the door calling out tina +
! murder mad been committed within.
| Patroman Zimmerman, of the Ducas
| station, who was standing at the corner
| OF Fillmore avenue and South Robert
|