The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-27
QUARREL OVER ASHES
COST YOUNG HIS LIFE
Slayer and Witnesses Tell
Their Stories to the
Police

The killing of Percy A. Young at
2491s East Seventh street Sunday
night by Harry Cannon was the result
of a sudden quarrel in Cannon's room,
according to statements made by Can
non and witnesses who were in the
room at the time of the shooting affair.
They all declare that neither love
affair nor quarrel over card game
caused the fatal struggle.
In a statement made to the police
yesterday Cannon gave an account of
the events that led to the shooting.
He said the trouble was caused by
Young and his companion, George E.
Shannon, throwing burnt matches and
cigar ashes about the room. Cannon,
according to the police, asked that
newspaper reporters might not be al
lowed to interview him. His state
ment to the police follows:
I'VE arranged for a Christmas din
ner and l cooked two ducks in the aft
ernoon. w. A. Countryman, George E.
Shannon and Percy Young came to my
room and we dined about 2 o'clock.
We went out later in the afternoon,
but returned in the evening. I, with
CountryInan and another man, Doc
Fineberg, was playing in poker
game when Young and Shannon came
into the room some time before 10
o'clock.
Young Joins in Game
Shannon laid down on a couch and
Young asked to, be allowed to join in
the game. We made room for him
and we continued to play. Young
threw a number of burnt matches on
the floor and 1 told him to be more
careful about how he dirtied the room.
He became angry and said if I didn't
care to have him visit me he would
leave. I said 1 did not want the place
looking like a pigpen and he got up
and quit the game.
He stood near the table for awhile,
looking at me, and then rushed at me.
reached for the revolver in the bu-
reau drawer and seized it just as he
reached me. I fired one shot down to
the floor, but he kept on towards me
and struck me a blow on the side of
the head. We then clinched and I
held the revolver uD to his breast. In
a sudden movement my finger touched
the trigger and he fell back. l walked
out of the room when 1 saw he was
dead, and asked Charles Brown to go
and get policeman"
Countryman's Story
W. A. Countryman was seen at his
room at 10S East Seventh street last
night, and his version of the incidents
agreed almost exactly with that of
Cannon.
Il returned to Harry's room about 8
o'clock" he said, "and met Fineberg
in the hall as I entered the building.
He went back up stairs with me and
we found Harry in the room. We
to play until Percy Young and Shan
non entered. Shannon went to the
couch, where he sat down. Young
asked to be allowed to join in the
game We had played some time when
Harry noticed Shannon drop some Gig
arctic ashes on the dresser. Harry
told Shannon to be careful as he
wanted to keep the room clean during
the absence of his wife, who was out
of the city. Young became angry and
said:
IF you don't like the way my
friend acts, I'll cash in
Harry replied that he did not want
the place looking like a pig pen, and
Young resented the remark, saying he
would get out. Harry told him to go
if he did not want to stay, and Young
then threw down his cards.
Il gathered up the cards and dealt
out three hands. During the time l
was dealing Young stood behind me
talking with Harry, but did not pay
much attention to the words they used.
Suddenly I saw Young move to-
wards Harry who stood up and took
the revolver from the drawer of the
bureau. beside which he was sitting.
Harry fired a shot downwards, which
narrowly grazed Fineberg's leg. Young
then made pass at Harry and the
two clinched.
Il got behind Young and fearing that
there would be a rough and tumble
fight 1 caught hold of his shoulders, TO
try to separate the two. The next in
slant l heard shot and Young fell
| back in my arms.
Younc's Last Words
Tn shot, he cried, and 1 lifted him
to the bed. He was dead within three
| seconds. 1 opened his vest and shirt
and found the bullet hole under the
| heart.
Harry and Young had been friends
for at least six years. and though they
| had occasional disputes, there never
| was any i'll feeling between them. Har-
| ry is very quick tempered, and in my
| Judgment he fired the shot in a sudden
rage, and did not intend to kill Young
There is absolutely no foundation
| to the report that a woman had any
| thing to do with the shooting Young
| did not care anything for Emma, Har-
rvs wife, or in fact for any girl. 1 am
! positive that there was no jealousy be-
| tween Young and Harry"
Doc" Fineberg, 212 Fourteenth
street, whose name was given as
Kohen by his friends Sunday night
told story almost identical with that
| given by Countryman.
Il was not paying any particular at
| tention to the dispute until I saw
Young make dash for Cannon. was
| between them, and when Cannon fired
| the first shot the bullet went through
my trousers and ran down my leg. II
| lodged in my shoe, where 1 found il
when / undressed. l became fright
ened and ran out of the room, so 1 did
j not see what followed
Shannon and Countryman, who were
arrested shortly after midnight yester-
day morning, We're released later, as
| they assured the police that they would
| appear to testify whenever wanted