The Worthington advance., 1879-05-15
EDITORIAL COURrEsyEs

An indianapolis lpss1ll-Dsiver Goes Gx,,,
s'tag for dnottser and I'sts a Couple o,
1s"llets I''se a Like N,s..de,. Of Printers
indianapolis Special, May ST.
Calvin A. Light is the publisher of week.
ly pnper, the organ Of the communists
which has been called half dozen different
names, and is now known as the Dem0crot
It is disreputable in the extreme, and haa
been a channel for all manner of malignant
gossip and personal slander: Now and then
the Saturday Herald, edited by George G.
Harding, man who drinks hard, has paid
it's respects to Light in very severe terms
Within the past few weeks the Democrn,
has, in return, been specially abusive OF
Harding personally, descending to the lowest
and vileet abuse. Last night, while unde,
the influence of liquor, Harding visited
Lights house, and, after an Unsuccessful
assault with piatol, was arrested and put
into the station house. Between and 8
O'Clock this morning the mayor released him
upon $500 bail. At o'clock Harding left
bis house, still somewhat the worse for
liquor, and, after taking another drink, went
to pawnbrpker's shop and bought a large
Colts cavalry revolver, which be
loaded with powder and ball.. He then
went over to the building where LIGHTS
printing Office is located, and opening the
door of room which is situated in the
second story, and from behind the door
opened fire upon Light, who was standing at
the imposing Light lodged the first
shot, and the ball struck printer standing
at his case named Gerhard Lizens, in the
groin. Harding fred second shot. which
missed Light, but hit another printer named
Richard Walters in the log. The latter,
fearing further damage, at once jumped
through window, and in falling on the
pavement, suffered fracture of both his
ankles, which will lay him up for weeks and
make him cripple for life. Harding tried
to shoot three times more, but only the CAPS
exploded. He made no attempt to shoot the
sixth load. An occupant of an adjacent
room, attracted by the firing, led him away,
Harding saying he had been trying to kill "a
damned rat" Light ran out of the room
and building, and to the court house, where
he asked protection, and lodged complaint
against the man who had 80 per-
sistently sought his life. Lizins,
who was !. badly wounded, was
taken into doctors office, his wound
probed, aud the ball removed. The ball en-
tered the left side above tho hip bone, turned
upward, crossed the spine, and was taken out
an inch and half from the s:ine OH the
right side. 1t was feared that the wound
was fatal, but later examination leads to a
belief that the man will recover, although
he is badly burt. Harding was arrested at
his own office, where he had gone after the
shooting, and taken at once before the grand
jury upon four charges of assault and bat
terry with intent to kill. Upon three of them
bail was fixed, but in the case of Lizins
Mayor Caven declined to admit to bail,
awaiting the certain results of the wound.
Harding declines to make any detailed state
ment, but expresses ''deep sorrow that anv
innocent man has been made to suffer. He
sent word this afternoon to Lizins that he
would pay his doctors bill and all expenses
lie trouble between Light and Harding is
of two years duration, and has been bitter
to the last d.-gree. Sentiment now is uni
versal against Harding. Opinion is freely ex-
pressed that Harding is and has been insane,
and irresponsible for his action. He has
been great sufferer for years from troubles
IN the head, and has been compelled to visit
the Hot Springs frequently to obtain relief
This last visit, from which he returned only
two or three days ago, failed to benefit him,
and he has complained of insomnia, loss of
and loss of common sense. A family
bereavement suffered some years ago greatly
affected Harding physically and mentally,
and he has never fully recovered. When
Harding asked for a gun from the pawn
broker lie said he wanted it to kill cats. He
stoutly denies any intention of killing Light
last night, saying that if he wanted to shoot
him he would never have gone to his house,
but that he simply desired to have a talk
with him.
Later investigation shows that an issue of
the Democrat week ago contained vile
that Harding was himself the
origin of his daughters disgrace and death,
four or five years ago, ont of which grew
Harding's attempt to kill Light. This was
kept from his knowledge till last Friday,
when All indiscreet friend showed it to him.