Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-12
Dentists, College Classmates
and Former Partners, Prin-
cipals, One Near Death.
FIGHT OCCURS IN LOCKED
ROOM IN ST. LOUIS HOTEL
Dummy Figure Of Woman in Bed
Used as Lure-Alleged Debt
Cause Of Trouble.

ST. LOUIS. February 12.-Dr Charles
w. kennerly Of San Antonio. Tex. and
DR.. A. F. johnson of st. Louis, college
classmates, former business partners,
| fought with knives. revolvers and dem
tai instruments in the locked room of
one of the top floors Of leading down.
| town hotel here last night. Why they
did it was disclosed today by a rumpled
piece of paper found in DIR. Kennerly' s
pocket.
The paper. was an affidavit. copies Of
which had been sent to officers of a
fraternal organization herein which
DR.. kennerly accused his former as
sociate in the dental business of fail
ure to pay a twenty five hundred dol
lar debt and of Withholding other
funds which DR.. Kennerly claimed
were due him. The affidavit asked that
DR.. johnson be expelled from the order
because of the alleged wrongs to Dr.
Kennerly.
DR.. johnson Near Death.
DR.. johnson is at the City Hospital
today. lowering between life and death.
his face and body terribly slashed and
groin made by a bullet from a revolver
DR.. Kennerly, also cut about the face
and on both arms, is a prisoner at the
awaiting the outcome of Johnson's in
1uries. Two other participants in the
ngnt also are prisoners today-Walter
A.. 4 Diefenbaeh dsni3a Of Granite City, III, at
slashed, and Charles Lody. at police
headquarters.
Conflicting stories were told by Ken
nerly, Lody and Diefenbach.
Kennerly said he lust happened to
be in Diefenbach's room" when Lody
and DR.. Johnson entered. the latter
with revolver in one hand and
knife in the other. Kennerly said he
he claims from johnson. but denied he
used a revolver or that he fought ex-
cept in self-defense.
Attacked Upon Entering Room.
Lody said that as assistant to DR..
Johnson he accompanied the latter to
Diefenbach's, <oom on q professional
call. Dtefenbach. according to Lody,
had posed a. .Afr. Arnold" and had re-
quested DR.. Johnson to perform some
dental work on Mrs. Arnold' in their
room at the hotel. AS he and DR..
johnson stepped into the room, Lody
said. Diefenbachs attacked Lody and
Dr. Kennerly attacked DR.. Johnson
On the bed two pillows and a sheet
were nodded into the form of the
woman" DR.. johnson was to treat
Lody admitted cutting DR.. Kennerly
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. and Mrs. D. E. Arnold of Mobile,
Ala" He said Dr. KennerIy had ar
ranged the dummy on the bed. Diefen-
bach formerly nved in Granite City.
Ill. Six months ago he was married
and moved to San Antonio. Two weeks
ago. he said. he left San Antonio and
a few days ago met Dr. Kennerly in
ST. Louis. Kennerly and johnson were
graduated from the Washington State
University Dental College about the
same time. ten years ago.
Diefenbach at the hospital today told
of the plan used by Kennerly and him
self to get DR.. Johnson to the hotel
room. His story agrees in the main
with the story told by Lody
Kennerly denied he had instructed
Diefenbach to lure johnson to his Office
and Diefenbach said he did not know
Johnson was to be attacked Diefen-
bach admitted. however, that Kennerly
paid his expenses to st. Louis from San
Antonio. where Diefenbach was two
weeks ago.