The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1863-06-25


Gen. Grant, and Gen. Ord put in his place.
Mr., Pumroy's Difficulty at Dcs
Moines.
Des Moines June Goth, 1868.
Joseph Hayne Esqr
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Dear Sir:-Mr. John Pomrov of your
place was forced into an unfortunate diff
Guilty with three or four stage drivers, at
Humphreys, stage station about fifteen
miles east of this place, in which he shot
one Of them, tits feared mortally. under
stand the facts to be as follows: When he
took his seat in the coach last evening, no
other passenger was in and he sat upon, the
back seat Afterwards lady came. aboard
and ne was ordered peremptorily to give up
his seat He answered that she could have
two-thirdS of the seat; that that was enough
for one lady and that he could not ride
backwards for the reason that it invariably
produced sick headache. After some addi-
tional insults from the driver the stage pro.
ceeded on its way. At Rising Sun, seven
miles out, the driver, who is a very large
man, again insulted him, without provoca
ton or reply. When they reached Hum.
phreys Mr.. Pomroy got out of the coach in
tending to walk ahead. The driver backed
by two or three others again assailed him,
one of them drawing heavy Kingbolt and
threatening to- strike. Mr. Pumroy there
upon drew pistol from his carpet sack and
told them to keep away or he would put
daylight through them. The station agent
then interfered and asked Mr.. P. to get back
into the coach to avoid difficulty. As he
was doing this one of the drivers sprang and
caught him by the throat and collar, while
the other advanced to.w,thin striking dis.
tance with the Kingbolt drawn. The pis-
tol then exploded, Mr.. Pumroy says acci.
dentally, or without design on his part and
the driver with the Kingbolt in his hand
was shot through the abdomen. Mr.. Pom.
roy then walked away. The wounded, man
was placed in the coach and carried to Pra.
rie City eight miles beyond for surgical
treatment. Mr.. Pomroy walked and ran
Keeping up with the coach the entire dis
tance. He then returned without any war
rant to this place. An information was
filed this morning charging him with an as
sault with intent to commit murder. We
demanded an immediate examination, but
it was refused and adjourned until Monday
next at 2 o'clock, p NJ. In the mean time
he stands committed. This statemen. is
given to me by Mr.. Pomroy. am inform
ed by gentleman who conve, sed with the
station agent at Humphreys that his state.
ments agree in every particular with that of
Mr. Pomroy. The prosecuting witness ad
mits that when the shot was fired he was
holding Pomroy by the collar and the
throat, but he claims that the man who was
shot did not intend to strike with the King
bolt but was advancing for the purpose of sep
arating them. 1t is scarcely necessary for me
to say that statement of the facts secures
the sympathies Of every man who has trav-
eied over the line of the Western Stage
Company and has been compelled to endure
the insolence of the drivers. He will prob.
ably be bound over, but of his acouittal by
jury of the District Court have no doubt.
He is defended by s. V. White and With
row & Smith. The managers of the West.
ern Stage Company are exhibiting much
feeling and making some effort to create a
public sentiment against Mr.. Pomroy- but
we have taken steps to couuteraet that. |
have written to Mrs. Pomroy briefly but
have given no detailed statement of the
facts. Will you be kind enough to COM
municate to her the contents of this letter.
Two or three of Mr.. P's friends should come
up as soon as possible prepared to execute
the necessary bonds. He will be subjected
to some present trouble and expense, but
his counsel are very confident of final
acqulttal.
Mr.. pomroy requested me to write you as
his friend and to make full and complete
statement of the facts now in my possession
which has been done.
Vonrc kr,,l,x