The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-05-01
THE mOmTCrDE.

saloon between John A. Sims and Ed.
ward E. Turk, both residents of this
city; in which melee Mr.. Sims was al.
most INSTANTLY killed by Mr. Turk
with Colts navy revolver. A short
time after the homicide, Mr. Turk,
who at first withdrew from the sa-
loon, delivered himself up to Mr. Ir-
vine, sheriff of Linn county, in whose
custody no remained during Sunday
and until the examination had bcfo: o
Judge Johns last Monday.
We were not acquainted with the
deceased, Mr.. Sims; but we learn that
few years ago he married the only
daughter-who was in fact the only
ehild-of ]. P. Schooling. Esq, very
respectable and substantial citizen of
Linn county living near Harrisburg
One child was the result of this un-
ion, when the mother died, and sub
sequently the infant also. Mr.. Sims,
up to this time, bore good reputa-
tion for sobricty, industry, &c, and
was regarded as quiet, inoffensivc
citizen but after his domestic rela-
tions had been broken up, he contract
cd the habits of drinking and gaming
and spent considerable of his time in
idleness and dissipation. AS VIC have
already said, We did not personally
know Dir. Sims, and hence we make
these statements not on our own
knowledge, but on information de-
rived from sources we deem reliable.
1t SO happens that we are very
well acquainted with Mr.. Turk. He
is Engrossing Clerk of the House of
Representatives of this State, and he
occupied the same business room with
Us during the last Legislature
Hence if we do not know him quite
well, it is our own fault. His parents
were Presbyterians, and in his infancy
and youth he was subjected to all the
restraints and teachings peculiar to
the presbyterian denomination. At
an early age, however, he found him.
self on this then wild Pacific coast
and for some time prior to last Sep.
tember he had acted rs Deputy Sher.
If of Grant county. He is q young
man of prepossessing appearance, oi
great energy and force of character
and full of generous impulses; and
the only really bad habits we ever
discovered in him are that he some.
times drinks little and, when excit.
ed, swears like trooper lie is 4
fair scribe, and has a liberal educa.
tion.
It was in evidence that, fer some
weeks past, bad state of feeling ex
listed between Sims and Turk; but
little attention, however, was paid to
this fact by their friends. 1t was In
evidence that on last Saturday Sims
drank .several times ;-that he told
others in substance that Turk must
get down on his knees and take back
some things he had said, or he should
die before midnight; that Sims told
one of the witnesses he intended ''te
go for'' Turk that night; that on Sat
urday afternoon Sims went to tho
woods, fired off the old loads in hi.
revolver, and loaded it with fresI
lo2ds, remarking to one of the wit
nesses that he made excellent shots
and that if Turk had been the mari
he would have been mortally wound
ed "eyery pop" It was in evidence
also, that a few minutes before tn,
afray commenced, Sims came int,
Gird's saloon, accompanied by Isaa
Conn and Mr.. Andrews, and that a
he entered he remarked: "You stan.
by me and I will do the work." all.
he passed through the saloon into th
sitting room where the stove is, an,
there had a conversation with MI
Gird; that they rose up from til
lounge; that Sims said to Gird a
they passed under the archway-s'
have nothing against you, but ther
isa d-d son of b--h in this hous
that has got to get down on his knee
and take back what he has said, or
will kill him or he shall kill me bc
fore midnight" That as he said thi
he gathered his revolver belt an
pulled it round from his left side I'll
his revolver was on or over his righ
pantaloons pocket; that, adyancin
to the counter, ne ordered drinks fa
himself, Conn, Andrews and Gird
that Turk, who was busy casting II
the countof rattle for watch that ha
just came of, asked Mr.. Gird to Fl
the drinks; that as Grid stepped b,
hind the counter to do SO, Sims r,
marked that fhe chad a id son of
b-h of a bar-keeper he would max
him wait on customers" Mr.. Tur
replied: "Perhaps you don'tli like it.
'sNo, DON'T" said Sims, placing h
hand on the handle of his pistol an
r~{r !.