The Washington herald., 1909-07-22

ST. Louis. July 2i.-WI,h two men slain
in a political feud and two more shot,
Mrs. Marie Mohrle, widow Of the first
victim. kissed her five-year-old son as he
slept and sent a revolver bullet into her
breast.
Now, as she lies between life and death
in a hospital, this city is beginning TO
take account Of one Of the most re-
markable clashes in the history Of ward
politics.
During the last campaign Constable
Sam Young was the Democratic leader
in the Fifteenth ward, and Fred Mohrle
was his neighbor and his political foe.
The sunday before election Young and
Mohrle met by chance. Both drew re-
volvers. A dozen shots rang out, and
Young fell dead
Mohrie and William Wright. a friend
were arrested for the killing.
When they were arraigned the next
day police had to force a way for the
prisoners through a crowd
AS Mohrle stood covering at the dock
small dark-haired man pushed his way
beside him.
Warns Prisoner of Fate.
Never fear the law" he whispered,
and Mohrie smiled. AT last he had found
a friend
Why he whispered back
Because" the stranger hissed. well
get you before the law has chance at
you" This. was on April 5.
June the trial came The same
crowds that had watched the two men
arraigned a month before were there.
The election had been decided and the
gangs fat or revenge was sealed.
MChrle and Wright could hear the
crowd murmur above the clang Of their
prison doors as they were led out
Mohrle came first As the turnkey
turned to lock the door Michael Kane.
YOung's friend. faced Mohrle without a
word. Kane raised revolver and shot
Mohrle dead. The report echoed
through the dingy old Four Courts
building where Folk had sent bOodlers
20 the penitentiary.
Mohrle fell into the arms OF a po-
Iceman who was there 10 protect him.
Wright, trembling and pale. was rushed
back 10 his cell.
When the shot echoed on the judges
ears upstairs he knew what Il meant
Before the crowds wonder had been
satisfied the baiIiT raped loudly.
"Court is adjOurned!' the judge
cried.
Then Mrs. MOhrle went out with her
son and saw an ambulance taking her
husbands body away Well might
Wright, the only one alive who was
-, orfr Ia
Only a few days before the death of
Mohrle, Wright out on bonds. heard
some one call him. Thinking the gang
had got him, he opened fire on two
men and shot Alfred Nelson, a by
stander.
Wright Accidentally Shot.
Last week, when he finally was ac-
Quilted. Wright accidentally shot Charles
Tozer in the home OF the widow OF
Mohrle. He had gone insane.
The life Of one OF the gang had been
taken and life had paid the forfeit
The gangs score was wiped out.
But day after day a little woman in
black was trying 10 comfort her son, who
bors pointed to her veil of Grape and
said:
"She wouldn't be wearing that, only
her man got Sam Young, and he just had
70 die too"
diary found under a pillow after
she shot herself showed her thoughts
She kept this diary beside the revolver
that she used,
Everything is gone" she had written
In trembling hand.
tsT~r.,,.,yt oi,er fc
Is dead. The gang is after me- I think
I had better kill myself before they kill
me. They would not shoot me like they
ola sweetheart They'd drag me into
an alley and choke me TO death before I
could scream
Seven violent deaths in the Fifteenth
ward IN the last few years the police
ascribe to the feud feeling that caused
the latest political outbreak Of murder.
A secret organization. grimly called the
Jolly Five" was headquarters a few
years ago OF what the police called a
school OF crime. Two cardinal princi-
pies OF conduct were taught there.
one was get your man."
Don't peach" was..the other.
Old Church the Clubhouse.
An old church was the clubhouse. Night
ly orgies saw the rafters which once had
echoed TO words Of prayer and the music
Of hymns, resounded with coarse Jokes
and drunken songs.
One night a policeman who went in and
ordered the noise TO stop was shot as he
spoke.
Chief OF Police Creecy the next day in