Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-01-08

EIGHT PAGES
A MuRDER0uS ASSAULT.
Blacksmith Lacey Is Seriously, Perhaps
Fatally, Injured In one Of WiIlmsr's
Licensed Saloons.
AS result of drunken brawl at
a saloon last Friday evening Thomas
J. Lacey is lying at the Frost Hospi-
tai in a critical condition, grave fears
being entertained that he will not re-
cover from the brutal injuries receiy-
ed. The assault occurred at Ole Ii
gardens saloon in the old Madison
building. This saloon is presided
over by son-in-law ofMr. Ligaarden,
Mr.. Noble schagel, who was convict
ed two years ago of unlawfully selling
Intoxicating liquor at this place.
The injured man, Mr.. Lacey, arriv-
ed at Willmar from Minneapolis Oc-
tober 9th. He is an expert horseshoer
and found ready employment at A. J.
Ekander's blacksmith shop. In three
weeks he was joined by his wife and
two children, a little girl three years
old and q boy fifteen months old, and
they went to housekeeping in the
Gustafson residence in 4th ward. AS
was stated, Mr.. Lacey was an excel
lent workman and useful citizen as
long as he could leave strong drink
alone buthe soon made acquaintances
that led him on in his bad habits.
Thanksgiving day he and number of
his companions bowled up and had
hilarious time. After that time, how
eyer. he carried himself straight until
New Years Day when he again cele-
brated his holiday in company with
his aforesaid companions. He did
not come home until late Wednesday
night and in the morning he resumed
his drinking. He soon ran out of
funds however, andIasked his employer
for money but owing to his condition
be was refused. The craving 1or
drink demanded satisfaction and he
secured dray and called at the shop
and loaded up about $500 worth of
tools which were his property and
sold them for $500, one of the saloon
men advancing the money. In the af-
ternoon he became boisterous and got
into trouble and received a couple of
blows which left blue marks on his
back. Marshall Sorenson took him
home and warned him that if he came
down town again he would be put in
the lookup.
In the morning he went down
town expecting to 60 to work. He
could not master his appetite, how
ever, and continued, se~1riak. Ia the
evening he was at the Ligaarden sa-
loon. Exactly hast happened is hard
to determine with any degree of ac-
curacy and it will probably take the
evidence produced at the district court
to clear the matter up. There were in
the neighborhood of fifteen persons in
the place at the time, among them
some of the king bees of the liquor
element of Willmar. Mr.. Lacey's
idea is that he was going out, or was
being pushed out, of the building when
some one viciously kicked him twice
from behind. It seems that he had
had some misunderstanding with
Frank Rose previous to this time and
was at first inclined to lay it to him,
but afterwards stated that he did not
know who had kicked him. After he
came out of the saloon he staggered
up to Mr.. A. J. Ekander's residence
and John Ekander went with him from
there to the Gustafson residence, and
with slight assistance he was able to
walk that distance of eight or nine
blocks. In the meantime DR.. Nc.
Laughlin- had been telephoned for
from the Ekander residence. After
arriving at his hodse, MIR. Lacey sum-
moned Mr.. Gustafson and told him
the story and asked him to 60 down
and get doctor. Mr.. GustafsOn ran
down town and found that DR.. Nc
Laughlin was unable to come, and
finally DR.. Harold Frost was sum-
moned and arrived at the residence
about ten o'clock. he decided that an
immediate operation was necessary
and that the patient must be removed
to the hospital. He was removed
there at half past eleven. he was put
under the influence of ether and With
the assistance of DR.. johnson, DR..
Harold Frost performed the opera
tiou which lasted two and q hall
hours. Although q frightful' injury,
the operation was apparently sue.
cess and unless q complication will
set in or something unforeseen happens
he may recover. It Is understood that
the critical time will have expired mex,
d Sunday.
The county attorney, after investi.
eating the matter, had the bar tender,
John Nflson, arrested last night on
4 the charge of assault in the second
degree. He will be arraigned before
Justice Roise next Monday forenoon
and will very likely be bound over to
I the grand jury which will investigate
4 his case. Il the injuries should prove
Il fatal in the meantime, he will ofcourse
j be brought up on q more serious
charge. The county attorney stated
to TRIBUNE reporter that from the
tl evidence as far as he has been able to