The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-06-14
PROBABLE MURDER.
F.. E. Kemp Stabbed by A. M. John
son in Shoemaker's Saloon.

Friday evening, about eight O'Clock
Alexander M. Johnson and Spencer
Hogan of North township, with two
or three other men, were drinking
and talking in Shoemaker's saloon
during the heavy rain, when Erastus
or Eugene Kemp, he is known by
both names, came in and was evident
ly somewhat under the influence OF
liquor and seeing Hogan told him
he wanted him to pay him two dol
lars for horse and buggy, hired at
the livery stable where Kemp was
working six months ago. Hoglan
told him he was mistaken, that anoth-
er man hired the horse and he had
nothing to do with the matter.
Kemp told Hogan he was a liar
and pushed him down against the
wall.
I Hogan and Johnson had come to
town together and Johnson inter-
fered. Some say that Johnson tried
at first to restore peace and Hoglan
walked away, that a drink was taken
by Johnson and Kemp and then
Kemp again commenced the row and
struck at Johnson, and Johnson went
for Kemp with his knife; they clinch-
ed and before the bartender and
those standing by could hardly realize
what was being done Johnson had
stabbed Kemp four or five times.
Johnson was put out at the front
door and went home. Kemp went
out at the back door, but shortly
afterward came back and lay down
on the floor of the saloon. He was
there several minutes before it was
known that he way seriously hurt,
and it was probably hall hour be-
fore physician was summoned
When Dr. Loring arrived he found
that Kemp had been stabbed in the
abdomen, and an examination showed
the intestines cut in two places. The
intestines were sewed up and the
wounded man was taken on stretch
er, to the home of his sister, Mrs.
William Overholtz near the Washing
ton school building. Dr. Loring
thought there was little hope of his
recovery, but this, Saturday, afternoon,
he was resting better than was ex-
pected, but the chances for recovery
are against him.
Johnson was arrested at his home
in North township, wesi of the Hig-
bee corners and committed to Jail to
await the result of his deed
If Kemp dies he will be indicted
for murder or manslaughter, or what
ever the evidence shows the crime to
be.
Sheets, bar tender at Shoemaker's
says he does not know anything about
the affair except that he was between
the screen and the outside door
sweeping out water that had blown in
when he heard scuffling and on push
ing open the screen found Shoemaker
and others separating the men, and
helped to put Johnson out at the
front door No two persons seem to
have seen the fight alike and but lit
tie can be told about it until evidence
is given under oath.
Kemp is about IS years old and has
been employed at teamiag and at liv-
cry stables in this city three or four
years He drinks considerably and is
when under the influence
of liquor
Johnson is farmer aad has a fam
lily. He owns good farm, but like
Kemp, often imbibes too much of the
stuff that steals away the brain. He
is brother of A. D. Johnson, known
as Buck" Johnson, once well
known Tyner saloon man. Johnson,
like Kemp, is dangerous when under
the influence of liquor
Coming, as it does, so soon after
the murder of William Bates, the <af-
fair is calculated to give our county
a bad reputation.
Whether Kemp or Johnson was the
it is a bad affair, and
while it is the first of its kind in Ply
mouth for more than score of years
we hope it will be the last for all time
to come; but when naturally vicious
men are under the influence of liquor,
the life of somebody is always in
danger.