The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-31
THROAT CUT WITH
SHARP CASE KNIFE.
FRIENDS FOUGHT ON STREET.
ROBERT L. EASOM CUT THROAT OF
BENJAMIN r. BLANCHARD.

ERsom Was Eating Sugar Cane,
when Row started, and Used
Knife on Observation-Disclosures
Not Able to Give His Side of At
fair and EasOm Claims Trouble
was Forced Upon Him-BIanch-
ard in Serious Condition,
B. F. Blanchard. of No. So4 Anderson
street, east, had his throat cut by R.
L. Easom. druggist at Anderson and
Randolph streets, early yesterday
afternoon.
Blanchard is now at his home in a
critical condition, though it is thought
he will recover, and Easom is at the
police station. charged with assault
with intent to murder.
The cutting took place on Anderson
street almost in front of the drug store,
which Mr.. Easom runs. and within two
or three blocks of Mr.. Blanchard's
residence. Since the cutting Mr.. Blan-
chard has not been able to give his
side of the story Mr.. Easom claims
Blanchard attacked him, and that he
was forced to use the knife to defend
himself.
Was Eating Sugar Cane.
Easom says he was standing on the
sidewalk near his store, when Blanch-
ard approached and said: Hello, Doc.
how are you feeling?" He says he re-
piled he felt very well and Blanchard
went up to him and said: THAT was
a dirty trick you did me-" Easom
says he does not know to what Blanch-
ard was referring. and told him SO, but
that Blanchard went on and attacked
him, striking at him several times,
some of the blows landing.
Easom was eating sugar cane at the
time and had about three or four joints
of stalk of the cane and a case knife
in his hand, he says. When Blanchard
first attacked him, he says he struck
ut him with the cane and it broke off,
where he had been cutting, leaving
only one joint and the knife in his
hand. He saws he retreated before
Blanchard, hitting two or three back
handed blows as he went. and that 1t
was IN this way the wounds were in
f1icted.
struck by a stick.
Easom says he reiterated around the
a
box and struck Blanchard with this
as he again advanced upon him. He
next went to his own stoop, Easom
says, and told Blanchard not to follow
him. ..
Easom says Blanchard had been
drinking and he knows of no reason,
why they should have quarrelled. They
have been friends for a number of
years, he says. and have never had
any trouble before. He expressed
great regret over the affair, but said it
was forced upon him.
Mounted Patrolman F. ]. Kearney,
who arrived shortly after the cutting,
arrested Easom and assisted in get
ting Blanchard to his home. Patrol
man Kearney says he does not think
Blanchard had been drinking. He was
close to him and did not smell whisky.
or notice anything to Indicate he had
been drinking.
Ordinary Case Knife.
The knife with which Blanchard was
cut is an ordinary case knife. though
it is much sharper than the average ta-
BILE knife. having been used about the
drug store for some time. There are
two cuts in the throat. one on either
side. though both of them may have
been made by one swing of the knife.
Just beneath and partly on the nose
there is another smaller cut. which
may have been done either by the
knife, or the piece of wood with which
he was struck.
Blanchard bled profusely both from
the cuts in the throat and from the
nose. lie WAS able to walk. however.
and was taken home Dr. Herman w.
lTesse was summoned. 1t was with
great difficulty that the flow of blood
was stopped.
Patrolman Kearney had passed where
the cutting occurred a few minutes be-
fore. He noticed a negro boy running
10 Blanchard's house and followed to
see what the trouble was He was
then told of the cutting and returned
Immediately to the corner.
Easom has kept the drug store on
Anderson street for several years. Mr..
blanchard is a stair builder for Chris
tian & Hall. Easom is 81 years of age
and Blanchard 40.