The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-06-22
Hisqellmeons.
From the California MOI Journal
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
IwO Powerful Men CIIneh in Deadly
Conflict.

A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
IwO Powerful Men CIIneh In Deadly
Conflict.
A terrible affrav occurred between seven
and eight miles from this city, on the road
leading TO Marion, on Wednesday last, be-
tween John Bryant and Alvin Longan,
both powerful men physically, resulting
in the death of Bryant. Intelligence was
brought to this city on Thursday morning,
when District Attorney J. w. Moore, and
L. F. Wood, as counsel for Longan, went
to the scene of the tragedy. An examina-
ton was held at the residence of Esquire
English. 1t appears that a difficulty ex-
listed between Bryant and his son Frank
respecting the ownership Of a farm which
was being worked by Lengan, both Of them
claiming the rental-the title being in con-
tr0versy in Court. We give the following
detailed statement of Mr. Longan, as no
one witnessed the deadly strife, though the
firing was heard by several distinct per-
sons ft - -
He TLongan was plowing. The elder
Bryant came into the field, and asking him
who he was going to pay the rent to, Lon
gan replied that he should pay it to Frank
Bryant, as he had rented it to him. Bry-
ant then said ALL am going to kill
you F' Longan replied that he ';reckoned
a brave man would not kill another with
out giving him chance to defend him
self" Bryant stepped back, took up his
gun, and said 81 am ready now, Alf p
Longan sprang around the horses, and kept
them between himself and Bryant. Bry-
ant then said: al will not hurt haIr Of
your head if you will go with me over tc
John English's and sign writing to pay
me the rent"
| Longan then asked him where English
was, and Bryant replied that he was in
his field. Longan said he would 60 up tc
the house, leave his team, and then &C
over and sign the papers. Bryant said he
| should not do that. for if he got to the
house he would not come. Longan ther
said if he must he would 60 loosed IN;
team and started When they reached
the middle of the field Longan said he die
not see any thing of John English. Bry
ant replied, John is up by the gate. Ar
rived at the gate, English was not there
Bryant then said, He and Dick Hickman
are up this hollow, and you'll have to g
up there - This hollow is-a dismal, un
frequented place. ........
Longan objected, but Bryant ordered
him to go, holding his gun in readiness Il
| fire. Longan says although he though
it strange that English should have sucl
papers in his field, he was not much fright
ened before; now he became alarmed
Bryant said "You bother me too much
l believe you're going to try to make
bulge on me. Go on Pat the same tim
aiming the gun at him, which Longal
thought was cooked. They started thu
up the hill Longan thought that if h
tried to pick up a stick or rod Bryan
would shoot him He had two or thre
ideas in going up the hin; one was that
he had 70. defend himself he would hav
the advantage Of the hill another was
that when on the top of the hill he weul
be in sight of Frank BryanPs house; an
another, that from the top of the hill tn
/ other side was very steep, which with tn
i timber might enable him to escape; bu
as he advanced, Bryant followed, 50 tina
ne could gain no advantage. When b
found that he could not get over the hil
he made up his mind that he would do th
best he could; and that what he had Nigh
be done quickly. He had no arms, nc
even a pocket knife, and concluded ths
hecouId wheel suddenly and give Bryan
such blow that he could notuse his CUR
He executed this purpose and hit hiI
Q fairly, staggering him, then seized the gul
bryant still holding on Ito il. They e1
changed blows, but without much efec
both still having hold of the gun, and
severe tussle ensued. g Lohgahgot the eul
: land then struck Bryant with his ifs
; Bryant drew his revolver, which was tE
+ first Longan knew that he had one. Lor
gan said : al knew it was a struggle fC
life and death, and prepared for it.
grabbed the barrel of the revolver with a
thestrength had, pushed it around. as
thought, against his side, when ltwent oi
l but don't know whether it was fired b
me or by himself We then had han
. tussle both holding on to the revolver VI
til we were perfectly exhausted. Both
us then got hold of bush with one han
and swung around it. the other still gTasl
t ing the revolver. We talked some Br,
ant said 'eAl, you hit me too hard let
quit and be friends" replied, %Ill do
lif you'll give up the pistol He saTd
wouldn't do it. Iknew it would not {
, | to let him keep it, for he would. shoot n
down as soon as he got loose ; so we beg'
to scuffie again. / seemed to have rest
more than Bryant, for succeededin throN
ing him the first time. had been dov
before. In the fall got possession of 4
revolver. 1t was the hardest work / ev
|
I fred twice and let him go, and fired
If third shot, hardly realizing what / W
/ doing or thinking of killing HIM, untn
S. saw The blood come into his mouth. Th
a / became dreadfully frightened, seized t
gun and pistol, and ran and hallooed; a
4 then threw the gun down and went towa
Frank Bryant's house, and told him VII
n / had done" ~
n The account thus given by Longan
u corroborated by all the circumstances pl
i cedlng, attending and following the drea
IL full struggle for life The men, as alrea
intimated, both possessed great museu
power, and had learned to use it to !
best advantage. 1.-The gun, revolver q
slung-shot were identified as the proper
of John Bryant It was proven by .
son that he left the house with the gun
his shoulder shortly before the afray, p
tending that he was goiHgt to shoot so
s trrIsevS 1879 rs EI Ft41 1-i -i-- ,=-l
From the facts and circumstances,
81 INQUEST found that the killing was ciea
~ in self defense, and Longan was aeeo
lie | ingly acquitted and released from arr
AS far as we know there is not an indiv
ual in the neighborhood that dissents fr
81 the decision. 1ongan appears TO be de
.ss " affected at having killed a man 1t
been estimated in our hearing that Bry
1lr may have.1been under the influence