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Frank Dodge Stabbed
Susquehanna Depot Democrat 5/6/1874 |
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On Monday evening last, at a few minutes past ten o'clock, Frederick Kelsinger, a man
of- all-work, stabbed to death, on Main Street, John Lawlor and seriously wounded Frank Dodge, two ex-Erie employees. The facts of the case are as follows: During the day, Laylor, Frank Dodge, William Boyle,Thomas Furey, and John Dundon, all young men and recently employed by the Erie Company, made a tour of the saloons of the place, indulging in the usual amount of “tangle foot”. After supper they again met, visiting three saloons, drinking, running through the street, shouting and making things generally hideous. They left the billiard room kept by Allen McClure, in two parties. Laylor, Dodge, and Boyle preceded Furey and Dundon by about eight minutes. The first party soon met Kelsinger. According to the sworn statements of the boys, he was trying to open the Post Office door. Kelsinger says they grabbed him and ___?___ ____?____ about without the least provocation, which is probably the correct version. One thing, however is certain: that the party followed up Kelsinger, jostling him about, until he reached a point about Gilbert's meat market. Here was the scene of the tragedy. While endeavoring to get away from the party, and becoming disparate, Kelsinger is said to have drawn a knife and stabbed both Dodge and Lawlor, thus freeing himself. He then fled. Lawlor staggered across the road to the sidewalk, crying out "O, I'm stabbed!" The femoral artery in the right thigh was almost completely severed, the boy's lifeblood spilling out on the sidewalk. Drs Birdsall and Leslie were soon at hand, and the wounded man was conveyed to the Benson house, where he died about twenty minutes from the time of the stabbing. Dodge was stabbed in the thigh, also, his wound being serious though not dangerous. He went for Dr. Birdsall, and was afterward assisted home While the affray was occurring with Kelsinger, Dundon, Boyle and Fury were actors in another scene near the Post Office. A reckless rascal, name Nehemiah Baker, Kelsinger's son-in-law, was standing by the office when the second party came out of the billiard room. They instantly collared him and shammed to take him to the lockup for an alleged attempt to rob the office. They rudely pulled him about, freeing himself when Lawlor shouted that he was stabbed. This episode prevented Baker from being with Kelsinger in his affray. They both fled together, however. At about 11 o'clock a.m. , Tuesday, constables Pope and Fox, and Edward Langford, started in pursuit of the fugitives, taking the Jackson Road. When near the house of Evan Jenkins, in the edge of Clifford, nineteen miles from here, at about 5 p.m., they espied Kelsinger and Baker riding on a load of hay. When near the hay, Fox raised his umbrella, to hide himself from Baker, who knew him. Arriving within a rod or two of the hay, the officers jumped out of their wagon and surrounded the load. Fox and Langdon were on one side and Fox on the other. Pope told them to throw up their hands and come down or he would shoot them. They immediately slid off the opposite side of the load and were quickly hand-cuffed, and placed in the wagon, and taken to South Gibson, where they remained overnight, coming to this place the next morning. They did not know that Lawlor was dead, and asked what they were arrested for. After the inquest, In view of the tone of the verdict of the jury, warrants were issued for the arrest of Furey, Boyle, and Dundon. They were arrested and taken to Montrose, together with Kelsinger and Baker, in charge of Pope, Robert Mc Clatchie and Edward Langford, on Thursday. They were admitted to bail in the sum of $500 each, to appear as witnesses at the August term of court. Baker could not procure bail and will have to remain with Kelsinger. - Susq'a Gazette. Note: This story was copied as exactly as possible. The blank words are because there must have been crease in the original page from which this was copied. |