The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-09
Liquor-Crazed
Man KnifeS
Two Nurses
Enters Libby Hospital and
Stables and Slashes Clara
Minde, Minnie Larson
KNOCKED SENSELESS
BY BLOW ON HEAD

Shortly after midnight Sunday morn.
ing, George Meininger, while intoxi
Gated, entered the Libby hospital ant
severely cut and stabbed two nurses
Miss Clara Minde and Miss Mimi,
Larson. Miss Minde was stabbed jus
below the right lung, the wound being
about three inches deep. She received
other minor cuts on the right side Mis-:
Larson received several eslight cuts
over the abdomen, deep cut over the
left shoulder and two deep cuts on the
upper right arm. The wounds of neither
have proved serious and both are ex-
pected to be up and about within few
days.
Enters Hospital From Rear
The front entrance OF the hospital
was locked and Meininger entered
through the rear door and must have
locked it after entering. Miss Minde
was on duty on the second floor and
on coming into the lobby, saw a strange
man coming up the stairway with an
open knife in his hand. She called to
Miss Larson, asleep in nearby room,
and grappled with the man at the top
of the stairs. Miss Larson, rushing to
her assistance, first phoned DR.. J M.
Cairns, one of the hospital physicians,
and then turned to help Miss Minde
Soon the commotion brought two Of the
men patients to their aid, Clinton Davis
and DELPHI Ingraham, the latter young
man who had come into the hospital
the day before with lacerated foot
from the Smith logging camp. In the
scuffling the two nurses seized Mein-
myers arm but nevertheless he was
able to cash them repeatedly. Finally
Ingraham succeeded in getting the
knife away from him and about that
time DIR. Cairns rushed onto the scene,
having had to break the door in to gain
entrance. He at once knocked Meininger
out with blow on the head from a
six-shooter which he had seized as he
rushed from his home in instant re-
Spouse to the phone call, and hurled the
man down the stairs Meininger re-
manned unconscious for some 20 min
utes and by that time word had been
phoned to Sheriff Baney and he took
the man into custody. AS soon as Mein-
niger had been disposed Of, DR.. Chas. J.
Martin was also called and the two
physicians turned to- caring for the
wounded nurses.
Man Had Been Drinking.
Investigation discloses that Meininger
had been drinking Saturday night and
had been acting queerly. Earlier in the
evening he had attempted to enter the
building occupied by Rex Farrell on
Second street and upon being refused
entrance, had slashed through Farrelrs
trousers but the blade did not roach the
flesh. He now insists he has no recoi-
lection of having been in the hospital
affair. He states he was struck on the
head by someone about 10 o'clock while
at the corner Of Mineral avenue and
Third street and knew nothing there
after until after he reFained conscious
ness in the hospital. Officers, however.
do not place much credence in that
statement
Bound Over to District Court.
Meininger was taken before Police
Magistrate Haiglcr Wednesday after
noon, charged with first degree assault.
He waived examination and was bound
over to district court under bond of
$4,000 The sentence for first degree as
sault is from to 20 years in the peni-
tertiary.
Meininger is said to be either Rus
sian or Finn, about 40 years old, and
had been employed as foreman at the
Golden West mine.
Nurses Highly Praised
Many are commencing the two nurses
highly for their bravery in tackling the
apparently crazed man and their con-
tinued struggling with him even when
being previously wounded. Gratifica-
ton is widespread because of their
speedy recovery from their injuries.