Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-13
AS a result Of a fight, which occur


Was Also Injured.
AS result of fight, which occur
red In the vicinity of the
Drover's Home Club house in
upper Benwood last night about
eleven o'clock. Preston Matthews, a
well known employee of the Riverside
tube works, was stabbed in the abdo-
men. and may not recover, while a
man named Hammond, who Is a
stranger in the Industrial town, was
also injured, sustaining several bruis-
es and cuts on his head. 1t Is learned
that Matthews and Hammond were at
the Drover's Home club quarters to-
gether with a number of other men
during the evening, indulging in in
toxicating liquors, and that during the
course of conversation they began
quarreling with each other over some
matter. One word brought on another
and the two men finally came to blows.
A rough and tumble fight ensued, and
Matthews was cut in the stomach with
knife and Hammond was painfully
bruised and cut on the head. The
friends of the two men who happened
to come along Marshall street at the
time interfered in the difficulty and
the two men were separated. Matt
hews was cared for and placed on a
street car and taken to the office OF
DIR. Meighen in South Wheeling. Lat
er the ambulance was called and he
was conveyed to the City hospital for
treatment.
The Benwood police arrived on the
scene in due time and placing Ham
mond under arrest, took him to the
lookup. Later DR. J. N. Alley was sum-
moned and the prisoners injuries
were properly attended. Hammond,
who is a stranger to the Benwood po-
lice, says that he has been spending
his time in working on steamboats, on
the Ohio river and has relatives in
upper Benwood, whom he occasionally
visits. He will be held by the author
tiles and the seriousness of the charge
to be entered against him will, of
course depend upon how Matthews
wounds may result. After his arrest
he seemed to be not affected on learn
ing OF the serious condition of Matt
hews.
Preston Mathews, who received the
knife wound, is well known work
man at the tube department OF the
Riverside mill Some time ago, after
enlisting in the regular army, he start
ed for the Philippines, but later re-
turned to his home on passport
1t is said that both men drank free
Nv at the club house, and that HAM
mond became very much intoxicated
before the fight occurred. 1t is also
reported that Hammond cut Mathews
with large penknife, which he car
ried. Just what caused the two men
to come together on unfriendy terms
is not known.
Another story of the fight is to the
effect that Hammond stole hat from
some one in the crowd at the club
house and ran toward Boggs' run.
Matthews and several others quickly
followed, and Matthews came upon
Hammond at the south end of the
bridge crossing the run at Marshall
street, and at this place received the
knife wound in his stomach.
On inquiring at the hospital at a
late hour it was learned from the at
tending physicians, Drs. Meighen,
Schwinn and Armbrecht, that Matt
news was resting as easily as could
be expected, but that the wound is
liable to result fatally. The knife
penetrated his abdominal cavity, MAX
ing an ugly and serious wound which
Mled profusely. In case no inflamma-
zion sets in, the chances are that he
may recover.