MILLIONAIRE'S FIGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 13

MILLIONAIRE'S FIGHT.

AMERICAN BANKER ATTACKED. DISFIGURED FOR LIFE. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent* LONDON, March 11. Social- circles in Chicago were thrown into a ferment of excitement on Monday by sensational telegrams from Kansas city describing a midnight scene at the hou?e of Mr John P. Cudahy. son of Mr Michael Cudahy, the well known porkpacker of Chicago. It is stated that Mr Cudahy returning unexpectedly to his home early on Sunday morning, found there Mr J. S. Lillis, a wealthy banker of Kansas City, whom he had for some time suspected of paying attention to Mrs Cudahy. The pork packer had been motoring, and as he swept into his driveway the noise of his high-powered car gave w.uning to the intruder. THE BANKER DISCOVERED. Mr Cudahy and his chauffeur made a search of the premises and found the banker hiding in a room leading off the dining room. Mr Lillis was seized, bound, and gagged, and Mr Cudahy announced to the terrified man that he intended to have his revenge, proceeding to inflict serious injuries upon him with a knife. The cries of his victim, who nad succeeded in loosening his gag and the noise of the scuffle attracted the servants who called the police. The latter found Mr Cudahy in evening dress, his hands covered with blood, standing ovei Mr Lillis, who lay on the floor bound. The latter was struggling and shouting, " For God's sake, stop I" The police arrested the pork packer and released the banker, who was bleeding profusely from cuts in his neck, face, arms, and hands. He begged to be oaken to his own home, and this was done, while Cudahy, quietly submitted to his arrest, was charged with assault. Failing a direct accusation from Mr Lillis, he could not be detained, but was released on bail of £2O.

MOTHER-IN-LAW'S STATEMENT. Mr Liilis refuses to make any charge against Mr Cudahy and the families of both parties are seeking to keep the matter quiet, and afford no information to the authorities or to the newspapers, whoso representatives have thronged the houses of the respective families. The mother of Mrs Cudahy, however, has been unable to remain silent, and has made a statement Ln which she Gays, " My son-in-law has always been insanely jealous of Edna (Mrs Cudahy), but there is absolutely no cause for it, and, in spite of appearances being against my daughter, her conduct has been irreproachable." Mr Cudahy has made no statement beyond the one he made to the police at the time of his arrest, which was to the effect that Mr Liilis had " got what he deserved," as he had " ruined his home." Mr Liilis will recover from his injuries, but there is no doubt that he will be disfigured. Both men are millionaires, and until within a very few months had been the greaoest friends. ELECTRIC LIGHT AS WEAPON. A maid in Mrs Cudahy's service states that on entering the room she saw Mr Liilis on uhe floor with ropes about his neck and feet. His body was nearly stripped, being bare from the waist down. The chauffeur was putting a rope i*ound .the captive's neck, when he saw her in the doorway, and came towards her pointing a revolver -in hen face. She fled to her room. Mrs Cudahy alleges that her husband's attack on Mr Liilis was the culmination of a long course of brutality against her. The result now would be a separation. She had been out trying Mr Lillis's new motor car. When she came home she invited Mr Liilis in, and they went to the library. They had been talking only a few minutes when Mr Cudahy rushed in. Mr Cudahy used an electric handlight as a club, hitting Mr Liilis over the head. She fled upstairs. Her husband followed, and struck her in the eye with the handlight. After Mr Cudahy had gone back to the library one of the servants came up and told her he was slashing Mr Liilis with a knife. " f cried ' Murder!' " continued Mrs Cudahy, *'and raa to the telephone and called the police. My husband and the chauffeur kept on beating and slashing Mr Liilis. Mr Cudahy would beat him for a while, and the chauffeur would cry, "Turn him over," and then they would beat him some more."