The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-16 00:00:00

FATAL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN
TWO LAWYERS.

The St.,Joople Herald of. Dec 24,
.gives the fupowing

account of a fatal encounter in that city between two lawyers
of the St. Joseph bar, Messrs. Green and Early.

For some time past angry feelings have existed be-
tween these two men, which have well nigh culminated
at Wiles, in an encounter. The immediate cause of the
present meeting was the publication in tins paper of
two c immunications, •inc i Tueiolay and the other
on Weilnei.ilay last. The former was brought to this
office by Mr. Early, and the latter by Mr. Green,
both lawyers, and each recently connected with the
editorial department of a newspaper-- line published
in Nebraska and one in this city. The facts, as we
gather them from Mr. Everett, and other eye-
witne..ses, are briefly these :—About four o'cliwk
yesterday afteinis in the two met on FrallelS-
strect. Mr. Early immediately told Mr. Green
that he must retract the article published in the
Mornioy iicrobt, or prepare to defend himself.
Mr. Green refmied to retract when Early struck him

—some say with a revolver, and others insisting that
he first threw away the revolver, after being in-
formed by Green that he was unarmed ; at any rate,
his revolver was soon dropped or thrown upon the
ground, and they clinched. Mr. Everett, who heard
the scuffle from his law office, called to Mr. Carter,
a brother lawyer, and both horned to the street, where
they saw the two in close conflict, Mr. Early standing
on the curbstone, and Mr. Green in the gutter. Early
had Green by the hair with one hand, and was kicking
and striking turn. Mr. Everett and Mr. Steele, a
citizen who chanced to be passing by, at once inter-
fered and separated the combatants. As soon as re-
leased, Early snatched a heavy cane from Green's arm,
and struck him a severe blow on the head. Early
then faced Green, declaiming in a menacing manner,
and shaking the case at him. Green straightened up,
drew a small Smith and Wesson revolver, and fired
at Early, the ball striking him in the left breast,
Green held out the revolver, as if about to shoot again,
when Mr. Everett hastily snatched it from his hand.
Green walked to his office in an adjoining block.
Mr. Early then staggered back, clasping his hand over
the wound, hurried to the door of Mrs. Hall's millinery
store, a few paces distant, and exclaimed, "I an.
shot." He was led to the rear of the nslm, and
placed on a bed, when he said, "My Cod! I an, a
dead man -go for the doctor—my dear, dear wife, what
will she do !" Falling from the bed, on which he was
replaced, he soon breathed his last, without uttering a
groan or a word.
Mr. Green delivered himself into the custody of the
sheriff, and is now in the county gaoL
Mr. Early was 28 years of age; born in Ireland,
and came to this country about ten years ago. SOIM
after he arrived he married a lady in Baltimere, who
survives him.

Mr. Green is a lawyer, and came to St. Joseph,
Galena, Illinois, about eighteen months ago. Soon
after his arrival he formed a partnership with Mr.
Early, the deceased. For a time he was connected
with the editorial management of the St. Joseph
Union.

Both of the parties to this sad transaction have
hitherto borne good characters in this community.