The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-17

Served by Davis--slayer in Jail.
Michael Davis, police officer Of
Moosic borough, shot and killed Peter
King, a miner, of Minoolka, at Patrick
Sullivan's unlicensed saloon, on Main
street, Minoolka, about 1890 o'clock
yesterday morning. Drink and brief
quarrel led to the shooting. King died
almost instantly, with three bullets in
his body. Davis was overpowered and
disarmed by the onlookers, and is now
in the county Jail.
There were about dozen men in the
place at the time of the shooting King,
who lived just across the street, stroll
ed in shortly after midnight and five
minutes later Davis appeared, in COM
pany with his chum, Deputy Constable
Decker.
Davis and Decker had ben spending
the night in Scranton, and Davis was
pretty much under the influence Of
liquor, although not drunk. King
showed no signs of drink.
King was a powerful, big man,
standing six feet two and weighing 210
pounds, but noted for being of very
quiet disposition Davis Is five feet ten
and weighs about 165 pounds.
Some time ago George Fasshold had
Charles Delmuth arrested for selling
liquor Illegally. Davis was entrusted
with the serving of the subpoenaes for
the prosecution. King was to be one
of the witnesses, but he refused to
obey the subpoena. This, 1t appears,
nettled Davis.
THE MEN QUARRELED.
When the two met again yesterday
morning, Davis brought up the matter
Of King refusing to obey the subpoena
and they exchanged some unfriendly
remarks. Some time later, man
named John Ruane, of rather diminu-
tive stature, got into an argument with
King and King pushed him away
rather forcefully.
Davis stepped up and. addressing
King, said, That's a rotten trick,
King"
What took place between this and the
firing of the shots, the witnesses are
not agreed upon. but inside of very
few seconds, King and Davis We're
grappled, and Davis was firing rapidly
from his revolver
Some contend that Davis backed off
and drew his revolver before King laid
a hand on him. Davis maintains that
he did not reach for his revolver until
King made for him. One witness told
County Detective Phillips that he heard
Davis say to King: "l'l1 send you to
glory"
Five shots, in all, We're fired. The
one which caused death entered at the
for. s,f f1n ola a.ir
large arteries, and. passing through
the body, lodged just underneath the
skin, below the right shoulder blade.
Another entered the abdomen on the
left side. A third struck the left groin.
One of the other two bullets was found
in the ceiling, and the second it was
discovered, struck an iron window bar
and then, glancing, passed through the
window,
BROUGHT IN SATURDAY.
The revolver with which the shooting
was done is a new hammeress. Smith
&- Wesson of 3S calibre, having five
chambers. Davis bought it in Scranton
Saturday night.
The crowd in the barroom overpow-
cred Davis and handled him rather
roughly. He was taken before Squire
O'Neill and committed to the county
jail.
When seen in his cell yesterday by
Tribune reporter, Davis expressed sor-
row at having killed man, but de-
clared he had to do it in self-defense.
1--WE had some words about the sub
poena," said Davis in answer to
question by the reporter, "but that had
oil
Cured. He struck Il young fellow
named Ruane who is twice as small
as him and / said to him that it was
rotten trick With that he buckled in
to me and when I saw that it was a
case of me being killed If didn't pro-
tect myself shot in self-defense. l am
awfully sorry he's dead, but it was one
of the two of u.s."
District Attorney w. r. Lewis, Coun-
ty Detective w. A. Phillips and Coro-
ner j. Il. Saltry, went to Minooka yes
terday morning and began an investi-
cation. Kings body was still in Sulli-
vans place and was being prepared for
burial prior to being moved to the
house of Thomas Walsh. where he
boarded.
JURY EMPANNELLED.
Squire O'Neill had empanelled jury
and they formally viewed the remains
before the coroner arrived The coroner
accepted the jury. 1t consists of Frank
Toole Constable John st. John, Patrick
Lowrey, Thomas Coyne, Michael Glib
bons and Edward Jordan,
Coroner Saltry will make an autopsy
this morning, and conduct Il hearing
in the grand jury room at the court
house at o'clock tonight