Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-12
Former Classmates and Bus
mess Partners Stage
Barbaric Fight.
FOUGHT OVER DEBT?
Sum of $4,000 Mentioned on
Crumpled Paper May
Solve Puzzle.
st. Louis, Feb. 12.-Why DR.. Charles

st. Louis, Feb. 12.-Why DR.. Charles
Kennerly of San Antonio, Texas, and
DR.. A. F. Johnson Of st. Louis, col
lege classmates, former business part
ners and lodge brothers. fought with
knives, revolvers and dental instru-
ments in the locked room of leading
downtown hotel here last night, was
disclosed today by crumpled piece of
paper found in DR.. Kennerly's pocket.
The paper was an affidavit, copies of
which had been sent to high Masonic
lodge officers here in which DR.. Ken
nerly accused his former associate Of
failure to pay a $4,000 debt and of
Withholding other funds which DR..
Kennerly claimed were due him. The
affidavit asked that DR.. Johnson be
expelled from the Masonic order be-
cause of the alleged wrongs to DR..
kennerly.
johnson Horribly Slashed.
DR.. Johnson today is at the city
hospital lowering between life and
death, his face and body terribly
slashed, and a wound through both
hips and the groin made by revolver
bullet. DR.. Kennerly, also cut about
the face and on both arms, is a
prisoner at the hospital, police
charge against him awaiting the out
come of Johnson's injuries.
Two other participants in the fight
also are prisoners. Walter A. Diffen-
bach of Granite City, ILL.,, is at hos
pital with his throat cut almost from
ear to ear, and Charles Lody at police
headquarters.
Stories Conflicting.
Highly conflicting stories were told
by Kennerly, Lody and Diffenbach.
Kennerly said he lust happened to be
in Diffenbach's room" when Lody
and DR.. Johnson entered, the latter
with pistol in one hand and knife
in the other. Kennerly said he came
to st. Louis to collect the money he
claims from Johnson, but denied he
used a revolver or that he fought ex-
cept in self-defense
Lody said that as an assistant to DR..
Johnson, he accompanied the latter to
Diffenbach's room on professional
call. Diffenbach, according to Lody,
had posed as Mr. 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, Diffenbach attacked Lody and
DR.. Kennerly attacked DR.. Johnson On
the bed two pillows and sheet were
crudely nodded into the form of the
woman" DR.. Johnson was to treat
Lody admitted cutting DR.. Kennerly
and Diffenbach but said he did il
only to save his own life and that OF
his employer, DR.. Johnson.
! Diffenbach admitted registering as
'Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Arnold of Mobile
Ala" He said DR.. Kennerly had ar
ranged the dummy on the bed. Diffen-
bach formerly lived in Granite
City, Ill. Six months ago he was
married and moved to San Antonio.
! We're In Business Together.
San Antonio, Texas, Feb. r. - DR.
| Charles W. Kennerly and Dr. A. F
! Johnson came to San Antonio about
six months ago and established a den.
| tai business as partners. When DR.
Kennerly's health failed severa
months later he went away for a rest
In his absence, according to Mrs. c
H. Baker, DR.. Kennerly's sister, DR.
Johnson sold out the business ant
went to ST. Louis.
DR.. Kennerly left San Antonio Mon
day for ST. Louis.