The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-25
KICKED TO DEATH
UNDER RED LIGHT
Frank A. Grain Brutality Muir
dered in an ARRAY in the
Restricted District.

Frank A. Grain, a man about town,
was kicked and pounded to death by Al
McEwan in a resort. at 217 Eleventh
avenue s early today, following q guar
rel over the affections Of Amelia May
ers, proprietress of the place.
McEwan. who has admitted doing the
beating, is locked up at the South sta
ton, and Julius Hoffner, who processes
to be the husband of the woman in the
case, is locked up at Central station in
company with all the inmates Of the
house.
According to the story Of the wit
nesses, the murder was the result Of
row started at 3 o'clock this morning,
when Hoffner and McEwan went to the
resort to start trouble with the Mayors
woman. The two men broke in the
front door and went thru the house
into dance hall, where they ordered
liquor. The Mayors woman came down
stairs to see who had entered, and Hoff-
ner at once began to abuse her by call
ing her names because she had de-
serted him. She in turn became angry
and is said to have tried to strike both
men. At this affront, McEwan arose
and felled the woman to the floor, while
Hoffner ran from the house and took
r
'Murderl' Cries Woman.
The woman at once began the cry,
"Murder! Murder.' Grain, who had
been asleep while the quarrel was 90
ing on, was the first to get downstairs,
but was closely followed by dozen
women who were in time to see the af-
fair.
Grain ran into the dance hall where
\ 1uir 81;
screaming. McEwan stood in the door
way, threatening anyone who attempted
to pass. Grain paid no attention to
him but ran thru into the room and
as he did so, McEwan struck him a
stunning blow on the temple, knocking
him to the floor.
With the blood streaming from a
wound in the head Grain attempted to
rise, but was again knocked down and
pounded and kicked to insensibility.
Patrolman John Bowe was passing,
and hearing the screams of the women
he entered the place. AT the sight of
his uniform the place became quiet.
McEwan's Victim Dies.
McEwan stood his ground and al
lowed Bowe to arrest him and send
for the patrol wagon to take the in
jured man to the city hospital. Grain
was unconscious when placed in the
wagon, and he died before reaching the
hospital. The body was then taken to
the county morgue and McEwan was
locked up at the south station, charged
with murder.
Early this morning Detectives Crum-
mey and Brundage arrested Hoffner in
a lodging house on Washington avenue,
and he will probably be charged with
completely in the affair, as McEwan
says he was induced by Hoffner to go
to the place. McEwan told the police
that Hofner wanted to start trouble
there, but that neither Of them had any
Hint Of Hired Assault.
Some of the inmates of the place in
timated to the police that Hofner had
hired McEwan, who is powerful man
physically, to give Grain thoro thrash
ing. This could not be substantiated,
however, and the detectives believe tec
men went to the place simply to see the
woman. Hoffner had not lived with
known, did not know Grain personally.
The whole trouble started after the men
went into the place and began to call
the Mayors woman to account for not
living with Hofner. ~
,~ Saw the ARRAY.
James Jarvis, who was staying at the
place, was arrested and is being held
as the chief witness. He is said to
have witnessed the entire ARRAY.
Coroner j. M. Kistler is working with
the police on the case and has held
an autopsy on the remains Of Grain.
The examination so far shows that the
mans skull was crushed and his face
and head beaten almost beyond recog-
milton. Grain was evidently kicked to
death, as his head is a mass of bruises
and cuts.
The detectives now have the case
fully in hand, as everyone in the house
at the time of the trouble has been
arrested and will not be released on bail
until the case is cleared up.
Hoffner did not see the murder, and
McEwan refused to say much about it.
He says he struck the man and after
that did not know what he did. All
| the work to be done on the case can
be done at police headquarters, as the
| witnesses are all there.
| Little is known Of the men in the af-
| fair. McEwan is said to have police
record in Chicago and Montreal. Grain
had been a painter and paperhanger
and had lived at the resort for some
time. Hoffner never before has been
in any serious trouble, and has spent
| most of his time in other cities.
| An inquest was held at the morgue
at. 8 this afternoon.
JOHN D. TO LEAVE THURSDAY.
Il u yz~y~f lk~-~ Y-A.- - -