The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1911-04-14
From Central Afro,American.

st. Louis, Mo, April 9.--One of
the most disgraceful affairs that has
occurred among the better class Of
Negroes in the City Of st. Louis was
the murderous assault upon w. A.
Gunnell, Grand Secretary of the
Grand Lodge X. of P. of Missouri, by
G. K. Robinson, Secretary Of the SUI
preme Lodge K. of p, Monday last,
about S:15 p. m.
The trouble occurred in the Office
of Mr.. Gunnell at Pythian Hall, 1897
Pine Street, and was the result Of a
dispute over bill for supplies FUR
nished the Grand Lodge. 1t is the
first disgraceful act committed by any
zone on the premises, which is the
headquarters for the K. OF P. Of Mis-
souri, and contains the Offices Of the
Grand Chancellor, Grand Secretary,
Treasurer of the Endowment, and
manager of the building. Grand
Chancellor Llyod was not IN the
building at the time, he having been
assigned to speak at st. James
Church in Elleardsville, not return
ing until 1920 p. m.
When seen by an Afro-American
representative at his home. Mr.. Gum
nell made the following statement:
81 made business engagement to
meet Mr.. Robinson at my Office Mon
day, April 3rd, at 8 p. M, to assist
me in adjusting the records turned
over to me by him which he had kept
as Secretary of the Pythian Hall
Commission. l have repeatedly re-
quested this meeting, for the reason
that the Beneficiary Board now con-
trolls the property, and the members
at the last quarterly meeting instruct
ed me to get with Mr.. Robinson and
go over the records and adjust some
discrepancies, as they could not UNI
derstand the records left by Mr. Rob-
inson.s Having recently received a
bill for supplies from Mr., Robinson
covering items which my records
show have been paid, l thought it a
good idea to go over this account with
him, and thus save him a second trip
to my Office, or myself trip to his Of
fee.
when l asked him to explain why
the Grand Lodge should be charged
for items which had been paid, he
became very angry, which led to the
argument, | insisting that l wanted
him to explain the bill. l was seated
at my desk behind small table, and
Robinson was seated at the opposite
side of the table facing me. Dun ing
the argument Robinson called me a
fool, and 1 replied in kind when sud
denly he sprang to his feet, rushed
to me and struck me In the left eye
before | could rise from my CHAIR
AS quickly as l could get to my feet
l grappled with him, striking as best
| could to defend myself, while he
as | thought, was punching me in the
stomach and side. At this Juncture
we were separated, when / learned
for the first time that the big coward
had been stabbing me, while / thought
he was fighting like a man, as l was
l had no idea that he was going tt
strike me, much less attempt tt
take my life, over a trivial business
argument.
II do not regret my injuries as
much as I do the degradation ant
shame the brutal act of Robinson
will bring to our organization ant
race
81 am the man who, as SUPREME
Representative at the Supreme Lodge
session at Kansas City, Mo-, in 1909
when his former supporters were de
sorting him, made the speech nomi
mating him for the Office to which