Prescott Journal

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

A New York Pugilist Attacked and Almost Cut to Pieces in a Bagnio.

[From the Louisville Courier, Aug. 31.]

Yesterday morning, about one o'clock, a man named John Gault, a New York pugilist, was attacked and almost cut to pieces by a gang headed by Charles Collins, better known as "Collins, the Care," at a house of prostitution kept by one Madame Len Riley, on Lafayette street. The circumstances, as near as we can gather them, are these: Collins was employed at the Academy of Music, as a general man in the variety business, until within a couple of weeks past, when he went off eastward. Returning on Wednesday, he was informed by a meddlesome friend that Gault, who had been a pal of his before he went away, had been talking about him. This led to some words between the parties Thursday evening, and led to Gault's insulting the party who told Collins that he had slandered him.

Collins and his friend and a party of young loafers were all on a big drunk on Thursday night, and attempted to assault Gault at the Ballard House about 11 o'clock p. m., but some persons near by came to his rescue, and he got away from them.

About 10 o'clock yesterday morning, after drinking around the city and getting quite drunk, the party, headed by Collins, went up to Madame Riley's with the express determination of getting Gault out and beating him, and, if he resisted, of killing him. They knocked at the door of the bagnio, and on their call being answered, sent word to Gault to come down and join them, as they were going serenading. Gault is a very good singer, and anticipating no difficulty, but expecting to settle up the former troubles with Collins, he came down stairs, and as he stepped out they set upon him, stabbed him five times in the abdomen and side, and beat him over the head with a club, fracturing his skull. His cries, and those of the women of the house who tried to interfere, attracted the attention of the police, and the party of assassins fled.

Collins was arrested yesterday morning by the police, and presented to the city court, but his case was set for examination next Monday. Several other members of the party were arrested yesterday, and committed to the station house.

Gault was removed to the city hospital, but his wounds are so serious that he is not expected to recover.