A Knife on Union Avenue: Newport Lunch Wagon Owner Chases Down Cook Who Robbed Him

H. McGraw, a cook employed by James 'Red' Warren at his lunch wagon, was seriously stabbed by Warren on Friday night last between 9 and 10 o'clock.

McGraw had been working on the night shift at the lunch wagon, and it is admitted that he had been drinking considerably during the night. About 3 o'clock in the morning he closed the place, business being very slack. He took the receipts, said to have been in the neighborhood of $25, and went over the line to the Commercial Hotel and went to bed. Warren went to his wagon shortly before 4 in the morning and found the cash and most of his wares had disappeared. He immediately left for New Town and telephoned a description of the missing cook to the sheriff.

As Warren was entering the Dunlap bar he discovered the cook leaning against the bar, and immediately asked a friend to get an officer while he stood on guard. McGraw discovered the presence of his enemy and immediately made a run for the back door of the saloon and disappeared in the alley. Warren ran up Washington Avenue to Adams' drug store corner, and caught sight of his man crossing the Great Northern tracks on Union Avenue. He called on him to halt or he would shoot. At the third command McGraw halted, and Warren approached him and demanded to know the reason of his actions and also made a demand for his money.

McGraw returned Warren all of the money and then Warren is reported to have cut him. The knife entered between the ribs and cut through nearly three inches. After being cut McGraw started towards the Idaho line on Fourth Street, and continued a couple of blocks across the Idaho line before he was apprehended. Officer Mills and E. B. Warriner started to fetch the man back to the Washington side for medical treatment. Before they could reach the line the man had fainted from loss of blood and Warriner was sent for medical assistance.

Drs. Boudwin and Carlisle were called and the man was taken to Dr. Boudwin's office for treatment. He had swallowed a large amount of blood and has since been in a serious condition, although he was able to accompany an officer to Colville, where he will be detained as a witness against Warren.

Warren was arraigned before Justice Long on the day of the cutting and was placed under $500 bonds. Louis Kirchan and James Dunlap went his security. On Monday, the day the preliminary hearing was to have been held, Warren skipped town and headed towards Sandpoint. He was apprehended at Priest River by Constable Beardsmore of that place and returned to Newport, Constable Newsom and James Dunlap having gone after him.

Warren was arraigned before Justice Long after his capture and the case was set for Tuesday at 10 o'clock. Several conferences were held between the friends of the accused man and Prosecuting Attorney Kirkpatrick, and it looked for a time that the complaint might be changed so as to minimize the offense and allow the defendant to plead guilty and the court to assess a fine. Warren's friends raised the amount of money that it was understood would be sufficient to pay the fine and costs, but for some reason the court and prosecutor refused to accept the tender of money. Red waived examination and was bound over to the superior court, which is in session at the present time in Colville. His bonds were fixed at $1000; he could not furnish it on account of his action the day previous. His friends not going to his assistance, as they were afraid of a repetition of the affair.

Warren has had several experiences of a similar character in Newport during the time that he has resided here. Last winter he had a fight with a hasher and struck him over the head with a meat knife, but the matter was not brought into court, as the hasher got back at Warren in pretty good shape with his fists. Warren has been provoked to do as he is reported having done last Saturday by the actions of several of his employees. He has been repeatedly robbed by men whom he has left in charge of his business while he was resting. Only a short time ago he was robbed of nearly $50 by one of his night men, and through the efforts of the newspapers the man was apprehended and 'Red' recovered his money. He is a hard worker but has an ungovernable temper, and has had a great deal of trouble in the past. He is strictly honest and always managed to secure all of the credit when flat broke. He has been in business in the Inland Empire for the past 10 years, and has conducted eating houses throughout the country. He is one of the best known characters in the country.

Warren was taken to Colville Tuesday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff George Hynee.