The Cairo bulletin., 1911-09-18
Charles @. Mcknight Of DuQuoin,
Mortally Wounded When He En-
cages in Pistol Battle With Marsh
al Walbridge and Son AT
Mounds
WITNESSES TELL JURY
OFFICER FIRED FIRST.
Young Walbridge and Father Elk,
onerated at Inquest--Youth IA One
Of Two Discharged BY Railroad for
Declining to Take Place Of Strak-
ers.

uStilHlIS W lake Elhet VI 0tIdh-
ers
Charles 0. Mcknight Of naQuoin,
ILL.,, a special dstective employed by
the Illinois Central Railroad Com.
pany, was shot and killed yesterday
morning in duel with Charles Wal
bridge Of Mounds, and his son, John
Walbridse.
According to the testimony Of wit
nesses at an inquest held by Coroner
John Steele, Mcknight was the ag-
gressor in the fight, and Marshal Wal
bridge and his son did not discharge,
their revolvers until after the de-
tectiye had shot at and wounded
young Waltridge. Walhridge and
his son were exonerated by the jury.
John Walbridge was one of the
two meu discharged by the railroad
company for refusing to take the
lace OF strikers in East st. Louis and
X was on this account that all OF the
men employed in the yard Office
walked out Friday and Saturday Nc
knight was one Of score Of detec-
Itisea. who have been on guard In the
railroad yards since the strike began
Ignored Mayors Order
Despite an order issued by Mayor
z. G. Fletcher of Mounds, instrueting
the detectives to remain on the rail-
road companys property, Mcknight
accompanied one of the strlke-hreak
ers to the Mounds Hotel for break.
fast Yesterday morning
After breakfast they left the hotel
by the rear exit and on the street
they met Walbridge and NJ Barnard,
Barnard also Is a striker.
According TO the testimony of wit
nesses, Walbridge tried TO induce the
man Mcknight was guarding, not to
return to work. Mcknight. it Is
said, became abusive and drew his
revolver
At this juncture Marshal Wal
bridge appeared on the scene and
placed the detective under arrest
Mcknight, the witnesses declared.
dropped his lead pencil and as he
stopped over to regain IL, he suddenly
pointed his revolver at young Wal
bridge and began to shoot
Seven Shots Fired.
Marshal Walhridge drew his re-
volver, but before he-could pull the
trigger. the detective is said to have
snapped his revolver at young Wal
bridge The father then began to
shoot and second later he and his
son had fired seven shots at Nc
knight
The detective reeled down the
street and fell in yard. less than 80
feet from the point where he was
shot. All OF the seven bullets fired
by the marshal and his son took
effect aud he died few minutes af-
ter falling
Witnesses testified that the detec,
tive's body remained on the ground
for more than an hour before 1t was
removed to an undertaking establish.
ment at Mound City The father Of
Mcknight arrived in Mound City
Sunday afternoon and took charge Of
the body He later returned 10 Dn
Quoin with the remains.
Excitement is Intense.
The duel took place on Front
street and 1t created intense excite
ment Coroner Steele was notified
Immediately but the inquest was not
held until afternoon.
The verdict of the jury follows.
We, the jury, sworn to in
auire into the death Of Charles
0. Mcknight. find that he came
to his death by pistol shots, said
shots being fired by Charles
Walbridge and John Walbridge.
1--WE further find. that the said
Charles Walbridgc and John