The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-08
MAY PROVE 70 Be MURDER.
HARRY SNORT SLABS ANDREW LEE
IN THE SIDE WITH A KNIFE.
Assault Was Unprovoked-victfm
Vow Lies at Providence Hospital
in Precarious Condition--smort IL
Captured After Chase by Police.

What appears TO have been a cold
blooded attempt to murder without the
slightest provocation occurred In the Mug
saloon, ON Second avenue south, at
o'clock last night. Andrew Lee. labor
ing man, now lies in Providence hospi-
tai suffering from a knife wound which
penetrated his liver. and Harry Snort.
sometimes known as Smoky" Is held
in the city jail to answer for the attack.
Snort, according to the statements OF
three witnesses 20 the affair, deliberately
ran a knife into Lees side after having
first knocked him to the floor with his
fists He then ran out of the saloon and at
tempted to escape. The bartender, who
saw every move made by the participants,
states positively that Lee did not strike
blow. and did nothing calculated to
provoke the assault.
Lee and Snort are acquaintances. and
encountered each other by chance in the
Mug saloon last night According TO Lees
statement. which is verified by others who
heard the conversation. Snort approach
ed Lee and stated that he (SmorU owed
him 10 cents. Lee says that when the
remark was made his mind reverted to
a Christmas dinner to which he had
treated his assailant last year. and he
rejoined that he Snort owed him Is cents
II anything.
You are liar; I only owe you 10
aver Snort used
Well have II your own way" was
Lees answer. and Snort. advancing to
the bar. changed 50-cent piece and paid
Lee the 10 cents. Hardly had Snort hand
ed over the money than he dealt Lee two
stunning blows on the face. which felied
him to the floor. Lee attempted to strug-
gle TO his feet, but before he had done
so SNORT drew Barlow knife. with
keen blade fully three inches long, and
a mr.
side.
The bartender cried to Snort to drop
the weapon. This ne failed to do. but
the saloon followed the fleeing man, who
ran down Second avenue south. through
an alley and into Occidental avenue, where
officer Hubbard gave chase. A boy who
was pursuing Snort had almost succeed
ed In overtaking him when Snort turned
on him and. ncurishing the knife. threat
ed TO cut him II he attempted his cap
ture. BY this time OfIAcer Hubbard had
nearly reached his man, and drawing his
revolver, ordered him to surrender. This
Snort did, and was Immediately conveyed
to the station.
Lee was placed In the patrol wagon
DR.. Carroll sent Tor. After a careful ex-
animation. OF the mans injuries he pro-
nounced them to be Of a very dangerous
character. He stated that the knife had
penetrated Lees liver and that he feared
internal hemorrhage.. Dr. Carroll also
made II very probable that II he escaped
a hemorrhage septic poisoning would set
in. with possibly fatal results. Lee was
removed to Providence hospital,
Three witnesses TO the stabbirg. one
OF whom Is Bartender whitney, OF the
Mug saloon, stated to q Post-Intclligencer
reporter that the assault was entirely
unprovoked. All agreed that Snort
struck his victim the first blow and fol-
lowed it up with the knife wound before
Lee had succeeded In struggling to his
feet.
snort stated In his cell last night that
he had stabbed lee because ne was get
ting too much punishment and feared
that he could not hold HIS own II no de-
pended upon his fists. The man did not
appear to be under the influence OF liquor
and admitted that his victim was un-
armed. He denies that he struck the
first blow.
Lee Is a inboring man and has recently
been in tho employ OF T. Ryan, the sewer
contractor. He at one time was bar
tender In the Denver and later in William
McArdles saloon. He bears rcputa-
ton as n peaceabe man among both the
police and his acquaintance.
Snort stated last night that he had
resided In this city fifteen months and
claimed 10 be laborer, though he could
not tell, in answer to question. where
he had lately been engaged at work. Lee
has a wife and four children, who reside
on Fourth avenue south.