Iowa Old Press
Emmetsburg Democrat
Palo Alto Co, IA
Wednesday, October 20, 1909

SERIOUS STABBING AFFAIR
Deputy Sheriff McNally Badly Wounded by James Cahill, Jr.

     There was a serious stabbing affair in the Hull lunch room just east of the auto garage in this city Saturday night about 12:50. John Moncrief, Jr., was en??? the face and arm and Deputy Sheriff W.P. McNally, who was called in to make an arrest received an ugly gash across the neck. It came within a quarter of an inch of severing the jugular vein. James Cahill, Jr., who returned to Emmetsburg a short time ago, did the cutting. Mr. McNally bled very freely and became so weak that it was feared for some time that he could not live, but he gained in strength the following day and yesterday he was able to come up town. Mr. Moncrief was not seriously injured and was able to be about Sunday. However, he bears a few ugly scars. Cahill was arrested and placed in jail. Yesterday he was arraigned before Mayor Duffy for a preliminary hearing and was held to await the action of the grand jury which meets in November.
     There are numerous and conflicting stories about the affair, which is usually the case under circumstances of this kind. John Meyers, who was in charge of the lunch room at the time, says that he was busy in the back room when the row began. Bert Ryan, Joe Flood, Will Wells, Frank Brennan, James Cahill and two others were in the other room. Some of the boys were waiting for oyster stews and one or two of them were singing and dancing. James Cahill seems to have been a stranger to most of the others. Moncrief and Cahill got into some kind of altercation and Meyers ran out for the deputy sheriff. In the row Cahill cut Moncrief about the head, in the face and on the arm. When Mr. McNally reached the room, the crowd was outside and in the alley. He ran out and caught Cahill, who resisted. In the struggle Cahill cut an ugly gash in McNally's neck. McNally took the knife from him, but when he found he was injured he told others to take charge of his assailant and not to let him get away. He hurried to the St. James Hotel, as the blood was gushing from his neck and he feared that he had been fatally injured. Dr. Cretzmeyer and Van Gordon were called in and after some time succeeded in stopping the flow of blood. He became very weak and it was feared that he might not recover. However, he grew stronger the following day and has since been improving. Cahill escaped during the excitement and went to his father's house where he was soon after arrested by Marshal Drummy and Sheriff Cullen. He was brought down town and placed in jail. His clothes were covered with blood. Mr. Moncrief was not dangerously injured but had his wounds dressed and was about town the next day. Had it not been for his companions, he would most likely have been killed. Cahill used an ordinary pocket knife.
     Monday, Bert Ryan, Will Wells, John Moncrief, Frank Brennan and Joe Flood were arrested for complicity in the disturbance. All plead guilty to different charges and were fined.



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