The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-02-25
FATAL AFFRAY.

Of the exciting events which TOOK
place in this city on last Saturday
afternoon. The Prosecuting Attorney
has kindly permitted US to read the
testimony taken before the Coroner,
in both cases. Occupying some forty
pages it is quite too long for publica-
ton this week. We shall endeavor to
compile our statement from this testi-
mohy though somewhat conflicting,
rather than from the random state
ments which have been made in re-
gard to these melancholy events.
On Saturday afternoon John Little, |
John Homan and Thomas Clark,somc-
what intoxicated, went into the Boom
erang Saloon of Steck & Monaghan,
and called for something to drink
after which they CAME into the front
room, and Johnny Little began to talk
to George See, whom he styled a But
ternut Colonel of the Militia, and pro-
posed that he should come out on the
street. After this alteration, the
three started out, when George See
raised his hand in menacing manner
and told Little that he would mark
him; whercupon Little returned i'm
mediately and advanced toward George
See saying, " You had better mark me
now.n A soldier namel Courtney
seems at this point to have mixed in
the quarrel, and to be engaged in
scufie with George See. 1t is at this
point that Mr.. John See introduced
himself into the quarrel by drawing
revolver from his side coat pocket and
shooting at Courtney, missing him.
The second fire, the witnesses, Barnes
and Courtney, think was aimed at
Courtney, but at this jurcture Court
ney was knocked down with chair
by George See, and the ball took effect
upon Little who was taken to the Of
flee of DIR. Wagenhals, where he died
Immediately. The ball entered the
left breast, passed through the great
artery, through the lungs, through the
shoulder blade, and was found imbeded
beneath the skin over it. A third
shot was fired hitting W. II. Michaels
!, in the abdomen, inficting wound
from which he died the following day
The testimony of several witnesses,
!, and the dying statement of Michaols'
agree that the shot which killed him
was fired by John See. At this point
the front doors of the saloon were
, closed by Marshal hantz, and John and
\ George See escaped out of the back
:. door-one of them firing back fourth
q shot as they passed through the door
between the front room and the ban
room. Whatever may have been the
!, intention in closing the saloon, it wa
c most unfortunate. Many Of the sold
t, iers understood it as an effort to shield
: the murderer, and it also led to a con
II founding Of the part taken in thu
Q affray by the two Sees. Soon it wa
noised about that both of the See'
shot from this it grew that each hac
J. killed man, and this diverted th'
&c pursuit from John See to George, ant
Y aided the escape of the former; ant
ir these mistakes consigned the latter
g, when taken, to the hands ofan infuri
of ated crowd of soldiers from whom h
D. received such merciless beating a
no mortal ever lived through before
This every one must regret, both TO
the wrong done to the innocent, ant
Is for the diversion it caused from tn
]" pursuit of the real offender. '
)" Much inquiry has been made as
u the motives which induced the soldie
~ Dan. Edwards. who, with others, wen
=, =, in search of John See, to return
~ town with the story that he had she
10 him. We have no definite informs
,~o ~ ton on this point but it is probabl
y that under the supposition that Other
!" would be able to overtake See, &c
:" wards was instructed to return wit
~ such a story, to allay the excited lee
y Jugs on the street. If this be so, the
y selected a man whose skill and intr'
IN pidity might accomplish such dec
- = and whose reputation for truth, anon
i'' his fellow soldiers, would induce the
i' to believe him. Tho effect OF his stor
was as oil upon the waves so far as IL
re crowd was concerned; but III probabI
ne induced some who else would hay
ed Joined in the pursuit of See, to desis
elk The two Secs started for home, al
he when closely pursued, George s.
IN gave the horse he was riding to h
,re father, and went into a corn-tic
lat where he was taken. John See MAJ
to his escape, and up to this time, Y
u.s. have not learned that any reliab