The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-11-17
John Woods Has His Throat Cut Dur
ing Fight and Expires Soon AZ
ter From The
Gashes.
ANOTHER IS WOUNDED
Farm Hand Engages in Battle With
Two Men In Front Of Hotel,
With Fatal
Result.

HANNIBAL Mo-. Nov. 17.-John
Woods was killed and his partner,
William Stewart, was dangerously
wounded in bloody cutting ARRAY
which occurred in front of the Central
Hotel on North Main street at $50
O'Clock last night, while Jacob Belts,
the man who used the knife with such
deadly effect, is in the city Jail charg.
ed with murder.
The fatal fight was witnessed by
about twenty people. Immediately at
ter the ARRAY both of the injured men
walked into the hotel, where they were
boarding. Woods, with the blood
squirting from two great wounds in
his neck, walked back to the wash
room and then, weak from loss of
blood, slipped and fell to the floor.
He expired in a very few minutes af-
ter entering the room.
Stewart was badly cut1in the back
of the neck. The ambulance was hast
lily called and he was taken to the
lowering hospital. At midnight he
was resting easily
After cutting the two men, Belts
started north on Main street and was
making good time for the bridge when
Officer Tom Mulhern, who had been
called, pursued him in the police pa
troll wagon and overlook and arrested
him near Soap hollow. When searched
at the station Belts had a gold watch
1921 in money and two knives.
As soon as Woods expired q mes
sage was sent to Coroner O'Donnel,
but as he was absent from the city
Deputy Coroner Robert O'Donnel re-
sponded and, after viewing the body,
ordered it removed to the undertake
ing parlors. Coroner Thomas O'Don-
mel returned home last night and will
be in charge Of the inquest which will
be held this morning.
The fight was witnessed by about
twenty people, but most of them were
quite reticent in regard to the ARRAY.
! 1t seems, however. that Belts had en-
! gagged lodging at the hotel and was
! sitting in the Office when Charley
/ Giles. the little 5-year-old son of Mrs.
Clara Giles, the lady who conducts
the hotel, approached and the two got
into scuffle. and some say the man
/ choked the little fellow, who at once
began to cry. Woods, who is better
known as "Blackie =" took up for the
/ boy and asked Belts If he had choked
the lad. Belts is said to have replied,
yes, did. and if you will come out |
will choke you, too "Blackiea accept
ed the challenge and the two men
went out on the pavement in front OF
/ the hotel. Belts, it is said, Knocked
/ Woods down and when he arose began
to slash at him with a knife. Stewart,
better known as Hello BILL seeing
! that his partner was in fight. at
| tempted to separate the two men and
was cut by Belts.
Belts, last night, made the follow
ing statement in regard to the ARRAY:
II am As years of age and live with
my brother, six miles north of Barry
III. went into the Central Hotel last
evening and engaged a bed and break.
fast. This was just about supper
time, and while l was sitting there a
little chap came in and ran through
the room. AS he passed me he struck
ME In the face and when he came
back he struck me again. knew he
was just playing, as little fellows
do, and | caught him and began romp
ing with him by laying him down or
the floor and rolling him around. He
began crying and his mother said
something to me and then two OF
three others put in and among them
was this man Woods. / told him thai
would settle with him if he would
step outside, and he did. l had M
intention of using anything on hin