The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-28
TRAGIC OCCURRENCE IN PRINTING OFFICE.
JOurncyman Printer is Shot Dead by q
seD-d Subj

from the Council Bluffs Qowal Times June 2l.l
Yesterday, just as the Times was in press and the
boys had begun to distribute their cases, Office
was the scene OF terrible and sanguinary encoun-
ter James M. Bell is a young man about twenty-five
years OF age. lie is small man, about five feet six
inches high rather socky built has gray eyes, light
curly hair, and is in his manner tacitur and so FAR
as our acquaintance with him goes TO show he
is quiet. orderly young man anu always minded
his own business While employed In the Times Oice
He has been in Council Bluffs only about ten or
twelve days, and has worked part Of the time in this
office and part OF the time on the NOnparen hav.
Ing no regular situation, but 'subbing," as IL is
called for other printers regularly employed at such
posed. He had been ''subbng" for Charles Austin,
the murdered man, during the day. At about
SIX O'Clock in the afternoon Belsleft the Times
office and went over to the NOnpareu, remaining
there short time, when he returned. He came uD
In front OF the Times office and leaned up against
tile door casing, looking into the oflce. Austin
made some remark about his odd subj blaming
him for something that had occurred. The latter
tBelll responded by calling Austin odd liar"
Austin made rush for the door, swearing he would
whip Bell, but was so intoxicated that he lost his
balance and went of the sidewalk into the gutter.
time, when the latter drew small revolver, and
leveltng it shot his assaant through the head the
ball striking ing, MIN directly over the right eye and
through the brain and lodging against the skull bone
on the back side of the head. Austin threw up his
hands, gave dull gr0an and fell forward on his
face on the sidewalk, ana for some minutes made no
sign Pretty so0n however, he began to exhibit
signs Of remaining life, and taken up and carried
to the yard IN the rear Of the Times ONCE where he
remained in a unconscious condition TIL removed
to the building adjoining the Washington House.
where he recovered sufficiently to converse at inter-
vals
Bell, Immediately after he had fired the shot, came
back into the office, terribly frightened. We
said to him, "Bel what have you done 20 He
replied, 81 have shot Austin. What shall dOpu
We at once told him to 90 over to Mont
g0mery's Office and keep out OF the way OF the
rapidly gathering and fearfuly excited crowd till he
could be taken in charge by the proper authorities
He followed our advice ana went across the street.
The crowd was increasing by scores and in less
than ten minutes the whole street in front or our
Office was crowded with people Some of the law
less and turbulent spirits who are always on hand
In such cases began to raise the cry "Where n
he ?" "Brng him OUT" &C., and two OF these latter
followed Bell across the street. avOwlng their deter
minati0n to take him out and hang him. They
were, however, speedily dssuaded from their pur-
pose by a little ''moral suasOn" in the hands OF
Montgomery, and there were no further demonstra.
tons OF the kind.
Bell was born in Cincinnati; he has a brother
living in Indiana and two sisters living In Benton
county In this state.
Charles Austin Is thirty.three years Of age. He is
an old jour printer having 'tramped" the United
states rom the Atlantic to the Missouri and from
the lakes to the Gulf He was an eccentric genius
very intelligent and pleasant, and like most Old Jour
printers was possessed OF an tneXhaustible fund OF
anecdole and humOr He had all the proverbial
generosity OF the true printer, and his last penny
was at the service OF any one who used him we'll
His wound is undoubtedly a5al and he is only alive
now by reason OF his cast lion constitution and HIS
strong sluggish nervous organization. His nome In
Al lSh whitehall street, New York City.