The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-04

ANOTHER SHOOTING AFFRAY-DOMKsTIC
UNHAPPNEss THE CAUsE.-Domesticu nhappi-
ness and family difficulties is a prolific cause OF
crime. A very large proportion of shooting
affrays and crimes against person, can be traced
to this source. On Tuesday evening last, an
other of these trays occurred, which originated
in the same manner. A Mr.. Joseph Smith at
tempted to shoot his brother-in-law, Philip
Feldhauser, who keeps a store on Jackson
street, near Sixth. Smith is member of Co.
K, Eighth Regiment, and on his return home,
went to see his wife, who is living in Feldhaus.
er's family (Mrs. F. being her sister,; but she
avoided him, and refused to live with him.
Smith went into Feldhauser's store on Monday
evening, and accused him of seducing his wife
away from him, and that he was now living
with her adulterously, also charging him with
infanticide, and with defrauding him (Smith)
out of his property. Some angry words en-
sued, when Smith drew an old pepper box
revolver, and blazed away at Feldhauser, who
was just retiring pretty hastily through rear
door. Two balls were fired. neither of which
took effect. Smith was arrested q few min
utes afterwaId, and had hearing before JUS
tice McElrath yesterday morning, on the
charge of assault with intent to kill.
He did not attempt to deny the shooting
but endeavored to show that it was done under
strong provocation and while suffering from
domestic trouble produced by the complaint.
According to his statement it seems that he is a
poor unlucky dog, more sinned against than
SHINING. He owned farm of some value
over in Dakotah County about four years ago,
on which he was living happily with his wi fe
A drunken brawl into which he was forced by
some rowdies, resulted in his prosecution on
some charge or other, and he was sent Tin 1861
to the Penitentiary for one year. There were
very many who felt or believed that Smith was
innocent and signed petition to Gov. Ramsey
for his pardon. He was consequently pardon
ed in the spring of 1862
On his return home, he found his live stock,
and all the movable property on his farm gone.
1t was out of this that grew part of his quarrel
with Feldhauser, as he accuses him. and one or
two more relatives by marriage, of taking the
stock. In an alteration that sprang up while
trying to recover some of it. Smith was beaten
into jelly and bis wife, through the evil
advice of these parties, as he insists,
was induced to abandon him. Suf-
fering from these troubles, he enlisted
in the Eighth Regiment, hoping, as he
declares, that he would get shot, and thus be
rid of his domestic sorrows and other troubles.
It was his fortune to get through the war safe,
however, and on his return he finds his prop
erty entirely valueless, his home destroyed,
and his wife estranged from him,-even worse
than that. he believes. Crazed by these
troubles, he attempted to seek satisfaction by
Furnishing the one whom he charges with pro-
ducing them all.
Snch was the statement he made yesterday,
and which he promises to prove on trial. We
give it merely as the history of poor unfortu.
nate devil, but of course know nothing about
the case farther than this, nor whether it is
true or false. Smith was bound over to ap-
pear at the next term of the District Court, in
the sum of $50.