The Placer herald., 1874-12-12

ASSASSINATION OF AN ED1roR.-A telegram
from Merced, dated Dee 7th, gives the follow
ing account of the killing of the editor of the
Merced Tribune, by Harry Gririce. Mr.. Steele
sep-father of Harry was, at one time, editor of
a newspaper published in this ',own
Mrs. Steele is we'll known here, by nearly ali old
residents, are her two boys. who, at the time
the family lived in Auburn, were quite small
We have heard Mrs. Steele spoken of as a lady
of more than ordinary literary attanments, but
never disrespectfuly. 1t is now over twelve
years since the family left this town. The tele-
gram says about half past seven o'clock this
morning MS Edward Madden. editor of the Mer-
ced Tribune, going to his office he was shot
md killed by Harry Grcnice, step-son of Robt
J. Steele, editor of the San joaquin argus. It
appears that the Argus and the Tribune had, for
some time, been in constant war with each 9TH
er, but nothing serious was expected to come
from it, until about two weeks hgo when an ar
ticle appeared in the Argus, rejecting upon
young lady to whom Madden was deeply at
tached. Madden made no reply, until the is
sue OF the 9Th, When the following article ap-
notices tie advent in that town of Mrs L. G.
Steele, who is canvsssing for a book entitled
Dell Dart If any family desires to be posted on
the life of female in house of ill.faife they
can ascertain all the knowledge in that line they
desire, by the perusal cf the publication referred
to. The authoress evidently k;iows whereof
she speaks At the time of his death Mr. Mad
den was in company with friend, who re-
| marked that 'Granice was looking for him. In
reply Madden said 'he supposed Granice knew
where to find him. He had hardly ceased
| speaking when Granice, who lay in wait,
stepped ont of Linton, Jacob & Co.'S store, be-
hind Madden shooting him in the back Mad
| den fell forward and was about to rise, when
Granice fired four more shots, one lodging in
his right breast, another i'll the left, another in
the face little left of the nose, and another in
the thigh, killing him instantly. Granice gave
himself up. The whole trAnspired SO quickly
that those who witnessed the shooting had no
power to warn Madden or stop the firing until
| it was too late. The cowardice of the act as
well as the high standing of Madden, served to
create an excitement, which will probably ter
inmate in the lynching of the murderer, unless
he be Immediately conveyed to safer quarters
than Merced is capable of rendering. Madden
has always been known and respected as an up
right gentleman, and in appearance, is about 23
years of age.
| LATER.-Toward evening an attempt was made
to lynch Gran ce. rope was purchased and
everything prepared; but going to jail after
dark, it appeared that the prisoner had been
spirited away by the Sheriff-no one knows
where. The party, on the discovery of the pris-
oner's absence, went to the office of the San
Joaquin Argus, and mobbed it, smashing the
forms, mixing the type, etc. Steele the editor,
has disappeared.
ANOTHER vERsIoN.-Mrs. Steele states that
after saying everything possible against her hus-
band, Madden has been for some time black
anything has appeared in the Argus rejecting
on the character of any yonng lady to whom he
was attached. The only alusion to this young
lady ever made, was playful and entirely in
offensive pun upon her name in connection
| with proposition to raise the wages of lady
school-teachers. The Tribune is owned by the
county officers, who hate the argus and its
editor for attacks made upon them, and Madden
was brought down from Stockton to ed it,
after Beckwith, the former editor had refused
to enter into the personalities the owners de.
sired
about mile from town. The mob, on learning
it. followed, and in the squabbe that ensued
Granice escaped, and his re-capture is consider
/ od matter of dOubt