Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-17
FORMER PARTNERS
SHO0! AND SLASH
One Near Death and Another
Badly Wounded-TWo Others
Are implicated In a
Hotel Battle.

st. Louis, Mo. Feb. 14.-An affidavit
found in DR.. Charles w. Kennerley's
pocket this morning, explaining the
cause Of the fight with pistols, knives
and dental instruments in a room in a
local hotel last night in which DR.. Ken
nerly, Of Granite City, H.. DR.. A. +.
Johnson, of st. Louis, Walter A.. DIET
rnbach, Of San Antonio. and Charles
aody, Of st. Louis, were injured. John
son and Kennerly were former college
classmates, former business partners
and are lodge brothers.
In the affidavit copies of which have
been sent to high Masonic officers here.
Or. kennerly accused Johnson of fail
ure to pay a $4,000 debt and of with
holding other funds. which DR.. Ken
Eerly claimed We're due him. The affi-
davit asked that DR.. johnson be eX-
PEELED from the Masonic order be-
cause of the alleged wrongs to DR..
kennerly.
johnson Near Death.
This morning DR.. johnson was near
death at the city hospital. his face and
body terribly slashed and a wound
through both hips and the groin made
by a single steel jacketed bullet.
DIR. kennerlv also cut about the face
and arms was a prisoner at the hos
pital. a police charge against him
awaiting the outcome of Johnson's in
juries. The two other participants in
the fight also We're prisoners today.
Diefenbach is at the hospital with a
great cash in his throat and Lody is at
police headquarters.
Slightly conflicting stories were old
by Kennerly. Lody and Diefenbach.
K%ennerly said he Just happened to be
in Diefenbach's room" when Lody and
Nv Olnorn nrtnro1 fho lntfn, W.
a pistol in one hand and a knife in the
other. Kennerly said he came to ST.
Louis to collect money he claims from
johnson. but denied he used a revolver
or that he fought except in self de-
Tense.
Self Defense, He Says.
Lody said that. as assistant to DR..
johnson. he accompanied the latter to
Diefenbach's room on a professional
had posed as Nh. Arnold and had
requested DR.. Johnson to perform den
tai work for Mrs. Arnold" in their
room. AS he and DR.. johnson stepped
into the room. Lody said. D~iefenbach
attacked Iody n DIR. kennerlS at
tackled DR.. Johnson.
On the bed. two pillows and a sheet
We're crudely nodded into the form OF
the woman" DR.. Johnson was to treat
Lody admitted cutting DR.. kennerls
and Diefenbach. but said he did it only
to save his own life and that of his
employer, DR.. Johnson.
Diefenbach admitted registering as
Mr.. n Mrs. D. NJ. Arnold. of Mobile
Ala" He said DIR. kennerly had ar
ranged the dummy on the bed and
promised to tell everything later ir
the day.
Diefenbach told today of the plar
used by DR.. Kennerly and himself to
get DR.. johnson to the hotel room. His
story agrees in the main with the story
told by Lody.
kennerly denied that he had in.
structed Diefenbach TO lure Johnson tc
his office, II Diefenbach said he die
not know Johnson was to be attacked
Diefenbach admitted that kennefls
paid his expenses TO st. louis rom Sar
Antonio. where Diefen5ach was twt
weeks ago.
San Antonio, Tex. Feb. 12.-Dr
Charles w. kennerly and A.. +. John.
son came to San Antonio about 81,
months agn and established a denta
business AS partners. When Or. ker,
Eerly's health broke down scvera
months later he went AWAY for a rest
In his absence, according to Mrs. G. II
l'aker DR.. Kennerly's sister. DIR. John.
son sold out the business and went Il
st. Louis. DR.. Kennerly left San An,
tonic Monday for st. Louis. Mrs. Baker
said. to appear before the grand tur.
AGAINST DR.. Johnson.