Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-07
Almost Killed by an Imaginary Bullet
Wound.

The most ludicrous shooting ARRAY
that we have ever been called upon to
chronicle occurred Sunday morning in
Archie Ghapman's saloon, on Third
street Chapman. Samuel McCombs,
Robert Smith, James O'Neil and John
Magnor had been drinking pretty freely,
and these frequent rotations had been
enlivened by numerous songs. Finally
McCombs was asked to sing Yorkshire
ballad, which he refused to do. Chap
man had some words with him, and or
dered him out of the saloon. He refused
to 90, whereupon Chapman went to the
door and blew a policeman's whistle,
which whistle he had no business to
have. Three policemen responded, but
refused to arrest McCombs, who had
gone out, on the ground that they had
not seen him act in disorderly manner.
Chapman went into the house, and a few
minutes afterward McCombs returned
and asked Chapman what he was going
to do McCmbs stood about seven feet
from Chapman, and the young man
Smith was about an equal distance from
NcCombs. AS soon as the latter entered
the door Chapman raised his revolver,
pointed 1T directly at him, and fired. The
ball struck Smith, and he immedi-
ately fell forward on his face, ex-
claiming, 'rm shot" DR.. Camp was
summoned, and upon examination de-
cided that the ball had entered
Smiths abdomen, as wound was plain
" visible. He dared not probe IL, and it
appeared to be evident that the bullet
had lodged somewhere in his stomach;
in fact, Smith insisted that it was there,
as he felt something warm in his bowels.
Dr. Camp put plaster on the wound
and advised Smith to keep quiet. The
victim was put in bed in Chapman's
house, where he remained until yester-
day morning, when he felt SO much
better that he was placed in carriage
and taken to the corner of Eighth and
Jacob street, where he has friends re-
siding. He complained of feeling bad,
and refused to walk. A singular cir
cumstance was that no holes could be
found in Smiths coat, vest, pantaloons,
or shirts, but the wound was visible, and
how it came there remained for tine
mystery. Now comes the ludicrous por-
ton of the story Yesterday at one
o'clock Capt. Quigley went with DR..
Camp to the house where Smith had
been taken, to see him. The Captain
did not know but that it might prove to
be murder and thought coroner
should be notified. DR.. G. was shown
the wound, large flaxseed poultice hav-
ing previously been put upon it; and he
was also informed that no bullethole
had been discovered in the mans under
clothes.
The Captain took the pants, made of
heavy cloth, and after careful inspec-
ton found where the bullet had pene-
trated in direct line with the wound.
The hole was small one and was only
visible when the cloth was pulled apart,
but the mystery was increased by the
fact that no hole could be found in the
lining of the garment. Another and
closer examination resulted in finding
the bullet between the cloth and the
lining. II had not penetrated the flesh,
but had simply struck against the lining
merely breaking the skin on Smiths
body in such way that the mark re-
sembled bullet wound
Smith, supposing he was seriously
injured, was nearly frightened to death
He lay in bed, pale as the sheets, and
apparently about to depart this life, but
the above discovery acted like magic up
on him. He instantly jumped out of bed
and proved by his actions that he was
perfectly we'll 1t is remarkable that
Chapman's shot should have missed Nc
Combs, who is very portly. Chapman
was arrested and taken to Jail. He al.
leges in defense of the shooting that Nc
Combs attempted to run the place"
Smith says the shooting was accidental
and that Chapman was not to blame
The charge against the latter-assault
with deadly Weapon-was preferred by
McCombs. -Tr0p On ~ Times.