The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-16

Conway Prevents the Discharges
OF the Weapon-The Man Escapes
Through Window, but Is
Caught Later.
1t Is the testimony Of Court Messenger
James. e. Conway that Judge Lochren,
Of the federal court, was very near death
yesterday noon at the hands of would.
be assassin. !
The story of Conway is that at few
minutes past the noon hour James weIch
accosted him In the corridor on the
second floor Of the building and inquired
for r. d. Godfrey, an attorney. His
question was answered, and Welch then
went into the toilet room at the end Of
the corridor. Directly afterward Judge
Lochren came down stairs from the court
room and entered his own room and
called for his overshoes Mr.. Conway
procured them, and while Judge Lochren
was seated. and putting them on, Welch
again entered the room and advancing to
within few feet Of the judge asked him
what could be done with his, Welch's
case. Judge Lochren replied that he did
not know what could be done under the
circumstances. At this reply Welch ad-
vanced toward the judge and, drawing a
revolver, placed it within four or five
inches of Judge Lochren's heart At this
critical point Conway leaped upon Weleh
and grappled with him. He caught the
gun and the lock fell upon his finger,
cutting a cash in it. Judge Lochren
stepped into the hall and called for help.
Meanwhile Conway was struggling for
possession of the weapon. While doing
so both fell against the door and locked
1t. They We're now alone in the room.
Conway was then struck severely on the
right side of his head with the revolver,
still In the hands-eof Welch. Then the
plucky officer succeeded in landing
stiff
BLOW ON WEIGHS HEAD,
knocking him into corner, near a case
Of books. Conway then ran to the door
which Judge LochIen and Capt. Lawrence
were trying to unlock from the outside,
and, springing back the catch, threw II
open.- and stepped out into the hall In
less than minute afterwards the group
saw dark form stealing past the wln-
dow Of the hall toilet room, on the ledge
outside and drop on to the roof of a
shed from which it dropped into the alley
off Fifth street. This was Welch. He
had entered the toilet room, off Judge
Lochren's chamber, opened the window
and stepped out on to the ledge.
Alarm was at once given, and the
sherif's office and central station no.
titled of the occurrence. A number Of
deputy marshals were soon hunting for
the alleged culprit. Conway says further,
that while he was at the central police
station the question was raised whether
or not Welch could be arrested without
a warrant. Finally he was asked to
leave a description OF the man.
But the man himself suddenly loomed
into view. Down Third street came
Welch, wearing a slouch hat, and evil
IDENTIFY in a most happy frame Of mind.
He came up to Conway and the latter
said:
Here is the man now. You don't need
a description"
In the melee In Judge Lochren's
hember WEIGH had worn a cap. The
cap was left behind. No gun, n,-however,
was found Welch was arrested and
taken to the county jail.
Such will be the testimony of Mr.. Con-
way today when the arraignment Of
Welch Is resumed before Commissioner
Spencer ar 8 o'clock this morning. 1t is
learned, also that when Welch had
levanted from Judge Lochrens chamber
he made his way to. upper Third street.
via. Rice park, bareheaded. He had left
his cap on the scene of the scuff1e with
Conway. At second hand store near the
corner of Washington and Third streets
Welch stopped and purchased an old billy
cock hat for 10 cents. This he wore when
arrested Deputy Sheriff Bonn, who
searched the prisoner at the county Jail,
found no weapons on his person, except a
common pocket knife. The disposition OF
the pistol, however. is not altogether
mystery, as a certain federal official says
he has already found trace of it.
UNITED STATES CASE.
Shortly after o'clock p. m. yesterday
complaint was sworn to before Commits
siorler Spencer and officers were sent TO
the Jail after Welch. There was some
difference of opinion among lawyers as to
the jurisdiction In the case of the federal
authorities. 1t was claimed by some that
1t remained for the state to prosecute the
case. But Section 0391 Of the Federal
Statutes provides that when crime is
committed on land ceded to the United
States the case falls under the jurisdic-
ton Of the government. The st. Paul
federal building is located on such land.
zaWhen Welch had been brought out from
the Jail he was arraigned before the COM
missioner and the complaint read to him.
He said that he desired to plead not
guilty. adding that he had never threaten
ed Judge Lochren with a gun, that he
had had no gun, but had merely pulled
out whisk broom and pointed the handle
at the judge. Aside from this, and the
expressed desire to have Attorney James
Sheehan sent for Welch maintained q
stolid taciturnity. Deputy Marshal Picha
tried to get him to say something about
where he got his hat, but he refused alb
solutely to talk about the case.
Meanwhile Judge Lochren and Court
Messenger Conway were waiting In the
commissioner office for the appearance
Of Attorney Sheehan. AT $3.50 Judge
Lochren said that he must return TO Min
neapolis, and as Welchs lawyer had not
put In an appearance the arraignment
was continued until this morning. If
Welch is held to the grand jury he Will
lie in Jail until June 4, as the next fed
eral grand jury does not sit until that
date
Welch has been boarding at No 283
Selby avenue, with Miss Anna Keefe. To
the officers who arrested him he would
not tell where he lived, but suddenly de-
clared that his home was wherever he
hung up his hat. He left the Bralnerd
railroad hospital In June. 1898, ard came
to st. Paul on July 8, 1898. Since his ar
rival here he has spent most Of his time
in irving to interest different lawyers In
his claim for damages against the
Northern Pacific Railway company. Sew.
eral attorneys at one time or anothey
have taken UP the case and examined