Ottumwa weekly courier., 1877-02-14
ANOTHER BRUTAL ASSAULT
And Probable Murder.
The Hcnrys at the Bottom
of 1t.
The Innocent Victim is II. w.
Hill, of Batavia.
who is Shot Three Times.
Because He Would Not Furnish q
Set OF HUMANS With whisky.

increasing tan alarming extent, and
unless some relief is afforded soon
by the courts, or Legislature, the pco.
pie will be compelled to adopt some
measures which, if harsh, will prove
effective.
A day or two ago man by the
name Of Flynn, was murdered in
Eldon, in broad day light, and last
night 7. w. Hill, druggist, of Bata'
via, was shot three times, by ruffians
on his own door step, and all because
he refused to give them whisky.
The story as related to us this morn.
| ing, seems to be about as follows:
Last night about 8 o'clock, few
moments after Mr.. Hill returned from
church and while he was reading
from the bible, to his family, they
were disturbed by some persons kick
ing on the door of his drug store,
which is in the same building in which
he lives. He started out to see what
was the cause of the disturbance and
found three men who demanded that
he should give them whisky on q
physicians prescription, but he firm
ly declined. This decision seemed to
enrage them greatly, and they ap-
piled many offensive epithcts to him,
and he stepped out and ordered them
away. When he stepped on the side
walk some one of the party shot Hill,
the ball striking him in tho lett arm
near the wrist followed up the bone
to the point Of the elbow. He whirl-
ed around to strike the fellow when
he was shot again through the feshy
part of the arm, between the elbow
and shoulder, the ball entering his
left breast. The battle was getting
little too warm for him, unarmed as
he was, and as their blows were COM
ing too fast for comfort, he turned to
go into the house to get his revolver (;
as he turned to the door he was shot
the third time, the ball striking him
little to the left Of the point of the
breast bone, ranging downward to
the right, lodging against the point
Of the hip, when he fell. He is badly
wounded, our informant says, and
the chances for his recovery are con-
sidered somewhat doubtful
Mr.. Hill is said to be a very quiet
and excellent citizen in every respect,
enjoying the confidence of tho peo-
pie with whom he is acquainted.
The assailants were Joe. McIntire,
John Wright and Frank Henry
Warrants are out for the arrest of
Wright and Henry, McTntire having
been arrested last night, on the charge
Of an assault with an attcmptto COM
init murder.
The. excitement at Batavia, last
night, was intense and for sometime
twas feared that the populace would
execute the criminal and try him at
terward.
McIntire made a statement, giving
the names Of his companions, and also
told where they would probably be
found. The officers are on the search
for them and if found they will be
lucky If they survive preliminary
examination, owing to the intlamed
condition of the minds of the people
down there. We shall give further
particulars as we receive them
LATER.
. Since the above was put in print,
we have received the following letter
from the Rev. j. M. McElroy, of Bat
ayia. concerning the matter:
NfURDERous: ASSAULT IN BATAVIA.
T. w. Hill, druggist, was called to
his door, last night, about O'Clock,
and found certain roughs, who want
ed whisky Upon being refused,
some words followed, when one Of
them fired upon Hill, three shots TAX
ing effect in arm and chest. One Of
the three, Joe. McIntire, has been ar
rested, and the other two, John
Wright and Frank Henry, have not
been found as yet. Hills wounds are
serious, but not likely to prove fatal.
The foregoing is vouchcd for by
yours truly, j. NJ. McELRoY