The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-13
GUT IN BAR;R|N|h f|GH|
WILLIAM wARDNER, CIRCUS MAN,
sLAsHED BY NICK, ALIAS
"KID" WILLIAMS
oUARRELED OVER CRAP GAME
Because Wardner Would Not Pay
Losses, Williams Started in With
Knife and Inflicted Several
h Ugly Wounds.

AS the result of bar-room fight which
took place at the Merchants hotel, shortly
before o'clock last evening, William
Wardner. of Wardner, Col, is lodged at
central police station. suffering from
three knife wounds and charged with
assault and battery With him are c. FL.
Smith and Nick, alias kid Williams,
who are also charged with assault and
battery.
Early last evening Wardner. Smith
and Williams started a. crap" game at
the hotel bar. After playing for a time
the stakes fattened with, the excitement
of the occasion, and Etos the OnlookeTs 1T
seemed, that Wardner and Smith were
cheating Williams. At any rate the lat
ter was losing money rapidly and was in
a fair way toward getting broke. De
spite the fact that Williams suspected
crooked playing he kept on and to
heighten the pleasure of the occasion the
three were drinking considerable wine
Finally Williams agreed to throw for
bottle of wine and S. against Wardner
and in several throws won Wardner Ge-
came incensed and refused to pay. With
out saying a word Williams threw the
dice box into Wardner's face and aght
was instantly inaugurated.
Wardner is much taller and heavier
than the kid" and did not hesitate to
mix, but before he had pulled himself to-
gether his small antagonist flashed
knife and started in to carve. With con-
siderable force ne lunged the knife into
Wardner's left shoulder and side: but
owing to the smallness Of the blade did
not infict serious wounds A third -four
ish caught Wardner's appraised left hand
and inflicted a bad cash across the palm
from thumb TO little finger.
In the meantime the others in the bar
room and a number Of guests, who were
lounging in the corridors, were attracted
to the scene but all seemed afraid to iu-
terfere and were perfectly willing to pass
the Job of peace making along to the
bartender, but he preferred his side of
the bar to any other at that particular
moment and the fight went on. The com-
batants worked from tne bar-room out
into the pool room and here the ARRAY
was finally stopped. The crowd was ang-
cred with the Kid for his display of
cowardice ana was very excited. What
might nave happened to him was nipped
in the bud by the appearance Of Patrol
man Williams. After a little fight with
the kid" in which the latter threat
ened to remove the policeInan's heart
with his CORY knife, the excitement Sub
sided and Williams was Placed I'm Ter ar
rest.
In the meantime Wardner had been
hurried into a carriage and taken to a
physician. where his wounds were dress
ed. He, with Smith. then returned to the
hotel, and was placed under arrest by
Patrolman Barney Smith. C. H. Smith
gave himself up.
Wardner is a circus man, and Smith a
bookmaker. Both have an easy way OF
getting money, and are well known all
over the country. Smith has no home
in particular. Williams spends "a great
deal of time in ST. Paul. but is also on
the road part Of the time. He seems
to have no particular occupation.
The charge against Williams will prob
ably be changed to assauM with a danger
Gus weapon, but Wardner says that he
will not prosecute All three were suffer
ing from effects of too much liquor when
arrested
Williams was released later on 500
bail.