The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-12
FIGHT IN A HOTEL
Locked In, Four Battle With
Knives and Guns.
Result of Dentists Quarrel
Over $500 Debt.
IIInrn IN nnnM TurM 0unT
LURED TO ROOM, THEN SHOT
Principals Once College Chums
O. Are Masonic Members.
All Four Mixed Until Slashed
49, Up and Exhausted.

WIN. ~
81 Louis. No. Feb. 12.-Why Dr.
Charles w Kennerly of san Antonio
Texas. and DR.. A F. johnson OF -.
Louis college classmates, former Dusl-
ness partners and even now louge
brothers in the Masonic order Iought
with knives. reVolvers and dental IN
struments in the locked room on one
Of the top floors of leading hotel
here last night was disclosed inns
morning by a rumpled piece OF paper
found in Dr. Kennerly's pocket Inc
paper was an affidavit. copies of which
had been sent to high Masonic othc
here in which Dr. kennerly tod Iue
story of a life ruined both financially
and physically and accused his former
ossocfafe i'm the dental business of
failure to pay a $4,000 debt and OF
Withholding other funds which Dr-
Kennerly claimed were due him.
The affidavit asked that Or. John-
son be expelled from the Masonic or
der because of the alleged wrongs to
Dr KennerIy. This morning Dr.
johnson was at the city hospital nov
ering between life and death. his face
and body terribly slashed and a wound
through both hips and the groin made
by a Single steel jacketed bullet Dr.
Eennerly also cut about the face and
on both arms was prisoner at the
hospital. a police charge against him
awaiting the outcome of Johnson
injuries
Tell Conflicting Stories.
Two other participants in the fight
also were prisoners today Walter A.
Diefenbaugh of Granite City. Ill, who
had registered under the name of W.
r. Arnold, is at the hospital with
throat cut almost from ear to ear. and
Charles Lody, at police headquarters
Highly conflicting stories were told
by Kennerly, Lody and Diefenbaugh
DR.. Kennerly said ne just happened
totbe in disadvantages room when
I.ody and DR.. johnson entered. the
latter with a pistol in one hand and
Nnife in the other. Kennerly said he
game to st. Louis to collect the money
he claims from johnson, but denied he
nsed a revolver or that he fought eX-
cept in self defense.
Fought Locked In.
st. Louis, Mo, Feb. 12.-Locked in
A room on the sixth floor of a down
Town hotel here last night, four men
Fought with knives. dentists instru-
irnents and revolvers until all were too
Badly wounded to continue. The battle
was the sequel to business differences
Between two dentists. When the police
and hotel guests broke into the room,
4hey found DR.. "A. +. johnson, a local
dentist, unconscious, with two bullet
Mounds in the groin; Or. Charles j.
-kennerly, Of San Antonio, Texas, with
Blood pouring from knife wound in
Bis arm painting for breath; another
tnan who had registered as w. h
-
on the bed with his throat cut from
ear to ear, and Charles Lody, an as
Distant 20 DR.. johnson, cut, bruised
and dazed. In DR. Johnsons pocket
p revolver with no cartridges as
charged was found and on the floor
was another pistol with several shells
discharged.
Late last night DR.. Johnson vas in
She operating room Of the city nos
bnd had been attacked by DR.. Ken
Aerly and his friend Arnold were pri-
Lured to Place
Lody and Kennerly. the only two of
the four able to talk. told conflicting
Stories. Lody said he and Or. J4 on !.
son had been lured to the room by
bake request for professional services
and had ben attacked by Dr. Ken
snerly and Arnold.
"a DR.. Kennerly admitted having bust
ness differences with DR.. Johnson, ms
former partner, but said that Johnson
And Lody were the first to attack. The
man whose throat is cut registered al
fhe hotel this morning as Mr.. ana
AIRS w e Arnold" This same man,
according to Lody, called at Or. john
sons office this morning and after
having his teeth cleaned requested
Ior. Johnson to cOme to the motel To-
night d treat Mrs. Arnold Hotel
attaches said they saw no woman with
aA4noId.',.- In the bed of the room AS
Eigne6 to Arnold" however, two pll-
lows We're wrapped IN a Snetl W SiNS
the appearance of a human form.
Dr. Johnson's Story.
Lodys story of what occurred FOL
lows:
AS DR.. Johnson and 1 stepped into
the room, a man turned the key 1T
fhe door and started to assist me re-
move my Overcoat. When he nae
pulled the coat half way off he sud
denly twisted the coat so it made my
arms useless
meanwhile DR.. johnson stepped tC
the bed and as he did so, DIR. Kennerly
stepped out of a closet and began FIR
3ng. DR.. Johnson fell. seized +
knife from his opened medical cast
and sashed first the man who helC
me and then DR.. Kennerly. Both at
lacked me and that is all l remem
Der
At midnight Arnold said he wal
walter A. Deifenback of San Antonio
Texas. DIR. Kennerly said DIR. John
son owed him $500 and that quar-
rel over the debt preceded the fight
He denied using a revolver.
Both Lodge Brothers.
= DIR. Johnson was president of tn
Plow Candy company of st. Louis,
large manufacturing corporation
which failed about two years ago. Dr.
Johnson and DIR. Kennerly are lodg
brothers in high Masonic order ant
At the hospital DR.. Kennerly said h
had tried to induce the lodge TO "pu
DR.. Johnson on trial" for failure t
pay the alleged debt.