The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-11-28
BRAVE CALLACHAN
Grizzly Old Veteran Murderously As
saulted by Criminal in Min
neapolis Workhouse.
Callaghan Wrenches Weapon From
Hands of Assailant and Foils
Attempt to Escape.

Patrick J. Callaghan, an officer of
the Minneapolis workhouse, had a
narrow escape from death at the
hands of a long-term prisoner named
Lee r. Gray who attempted to escape
from that institution early last Sun
day morning. It appears that Gray
was an opium fiend and had been en-
ployed in the workhouse kitchen.
Mr.. Callaghan was making his
rounds in the early morning when
Gray sneaked up behind him and
dealt him blow after blow on the head
with piece of iron pipe about twenty
inches in length and an inch in
diameter. Callaghan was forced to
his knees but with true Irish grit
managed to wrest the dangerous
weapon from the hands of his would
be assassin. Gray's purpose in at
lacking Mr.. Callaghan was to secure
the keys in his possession and effect
his escape. But brave old Pat CAL
laghan held on to the keys until assis-
lance came and Gray was forced into
his cell at the point of a revolver.
Mr.. Callaghan received some pain
full wounds on the head and face but
he was not seriously injured, and on
Monday evening he personally in
formed the writer over the long dis.
lance telephone that, 81 am slightly
disfgured but still in the ring"
Superintendent Frank Mcdonald
issued the following written statement
with reference to the affair:
lice R. Gray, aged %, convicted of
larceny November 16, is a noted con-
fdence man and burglar. He at
tackled night Waterman, P. j. Callagh-
an at a. m. Sunday. He struck
Callaghan on the head, telling him to
the cell block floor.
"Callaghan put up noble fight
and hung to his keys. Gray is a des-
perate fellow, and said when asked
what he was trying to do: Il intended
to kill him, and am sorry I, did not:
Iwould have killed him if I could,
and did my best to do it..
1.-The iron he used was 20 inches
long and one inch in diameter. CAL
laghan proved himself the right man
in the right place. He is a powerful
man, and it is doubtful if any other
man in his place could have done as
we'll.
"To Guards Dreyer and Jim Smith,
who acted so promptly, credit is due.
1.-The workhouse has now more real
criminals than it has ever harbored
before, and on account of the larger
number committed especial vigilance
is the watchword.
"There are 20 men here now who
would commit murder to effect their
escape.
"Callaghan was appointed to this
position as night Waterman on &C.
count Of his we'll known courage and
nerve, and his work of this morning
demonstrates the wisdom of the
choice"
Mr.. Callaghan is we'll known in
Princeton and vicinity, where he has
many friends who will rejoice to know
that the wounds inflicted by the des-
perate jail bird will have no serious
effect on his iron constitution.
Pat Callaghan, as he is Familiarity
known to his friends, is we'll along in
years, he having honorably served his
country in the war of the rebellion,
but the old grizzly veteran is as brave
as lion and would die before he
would betray a trust reposed in him.
His predominant characteristics are
his indomitable courage and his in
tense loyalty to his friends; he has
been in many tight places and has had
many close calls, but he was never
known to finch in the face of danger
nor to desert a friend in the hour of
need.