The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-07
THOMAS O'BREN WAS
GIVEN A RAP ON HEAD
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
Thomas O'Brien was badly slug
ged when near the corner of Front
and Main streets last night about
eleven o'clock by an unknown per-
son, who hit him on the back of
the head with some blunt instru-
ment. O'Brien was passing up the
street at that time, when he met
the man, who seemed to be large,
well built person. The man at
tempted to strike O'Brien with his
fist, but O'Brien, being himself h
powerful man, countered the blow,
and moment later received blow
on the head, stunning him for a
while.
Act Was Witnessed.
Thomas B. Moon of Madelia was
coming up the street in company
with his brother at that time, and
saw the act. At first, Thomas
Moon did not realize what was
going on before him, but mo-
ment later, he saw O'Brien fall, and
saw the stranger hesitate for
minute and then walk hurriedly ny
North Front street. Moon did not
gain very clear impression of the
mans features and could not give
good description of him.
O'Brien Wac Unconscious.
However, he hurried to O'Brien's
assistance. O'Brien was unconscious,
and Moon lay him on his back, he
having been told by doctor that
this was the quickest way to re-
store a man in this condition.
Meanwhile, his brother, Ferdinand
Moon, was sent to the police sta
ton to notify the authorities. He
came to the station, little under
the influence of liquor and notified
the police.
Officers Simons and Romack
went to the scene and carried
O'Brien into the Rex cigar store,
and summoned DR.. J. P. Rosenwald
to care for him. When O'Brien
had been delivered into the hands
of the police, Moon and his brother
went to the Stahl house where they
tried to secure rooms. but as
there were none unoccupied, they
went to the Clifton house.
O'Brien was taken to St Joseph's
hospital and placed under phys
icians care. 1t was found that he
had suffered scalp wound, Oh
the top of his head. to one side.
! His injuries are not serious.
q! Story Told BY O'Brien.
The story told this morning by
! Thomas OBrien is to the effect
that he recently sold a house and
lot to Fred Skrevanek, an engineer
on the Omaha railroad, whom he
claims was the person who struck
| him last night. The deal was closed,
and Mr. OBrien promised to make
some improvements on the place.
| The improvements were made, but
| they were not satisfactory to Skre-
vanek, and John O'Brien, brother of
| Thomas, promised to give Skrevanek
| 81 to settle things, and this Skre-
vanek agreed to, but insisted yes
terday that the money be paid a.
| once.
Men Met; Trouble.
John O'Brien held him off, saying
| that he needed it for some other
purpose, but that he would pay the
81 in a few days. Skravanek. is
said to have gone away very indig-
nant, and last night about eleven
o'clock, it is said that he met
| Thomas O'Brien at the corner OF
Front and Main streets and that a
short conversation followed. O'Brien
said today that theer was no rue
ton between them then, but that
later on Skrevanek struck at him,
and hit him on the head with a
hard instrument O'Brien staggered
and fell, and tried to get up and
catch Skravanek, but he was too
weak. He became unconscious, and
knew nothing more until he was car
ried into the Rex cigar store. He
said he recognized the man as
Skrevanek, and knew perfectly that
| it was he, as he spoke to him about
| the deal before he was hit. This
afternoon a warrant was sworn out
| for the arrest of Skrevanek.
| Claims SeIf-Defense.
When Mr.. Skrevanek was seen by
The Free Press this afternoon he
said that he struck O'Brien in self
defense. He said that he had had
some trouble with O'Brien about a
month ago, and that a tussle had
followed Last night, according to
Skrevanek. O'Brien saw him at the
corner of Front and Main streets and
hailed him. Skrevanek stopped and
said that O'Brien struck at him
twice, and that he in turn, countered
with blow to the head, which fell
/ ed him. He said that when he saw
O'Brien fall, he and stranger who
passed at that time, helped pick
him up. Skrevanek is now firing on
local switch engine, as business is
slack, and he was not needed as an
engineer. ga s"'
The warrant sworn out this after
noon, charged Skrevanek with as
sault in the third degree.