The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-09-06
RIOT At MYRTLE CREEK.
a BolsTERoUs TINE OF IT.

a correspondent at Myrtle Creek writes
As follows:
Our little village, which is ordinarily
soierably quiet. has been, since last Sunday
afternoon until Tuesday forenoon, the scene
| of tumult. assault and battery, threatening
10 kill, and in fact all which goes to make
hideous community in which reside
many quiet, law-abiding citizens, but which
for the time being appears to have been
taken possession Of BY hoodloom set Of
rowdies Last Sunday young man came
into town and vent TO the saloon Of Smith
o Adams The young man was on his
horse and rode across the porch OF the saiocn
and then went out into the street ON his
horse.
This riding on the porch appeared to rile
the dormant wrath of Smith, although ra-
NOR says Smith has heretofore got the boy
to ride across the porch to create senaa-
tion, and would treat hin, to drinks for do
ing so; and that men on horseback have
been in his saloon building At any rate
Smith went into the street Il, the boy and
wanted him to pay bis bill, which Smith
claimed was $32 while the boy claimed it
was only $l4. hereuron Smith seized the
boy while he was on his horse and gave him
very severe pounding going so far
as TO beat him in the face with a revolver.
The boy got off of his horse, when Smith
again assaulted him, beating him with his
fst. and finally threw him against stone
porch, and then in the most shameful and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES stamped and
kicked the boy in the face to horrible ex.
tent. The boy never raised his hand to re.
sist from the very first. At this time our
respected and w-abiding citizen, Mr.. d. s.
K. Buick. for the SO ke of common humanity,
ran up and asked Smith to desist his fearful
battery on the boy. that he was numbering
him. when he (Smith) told Mr. B. it was
terfere. Whereupon Mr.. Il. told Smith tina.
il he kicked the boy again he would have |
him prosecuted. At this Smith turned on
Mr.. B. and gathering up large club says !:
''You old SIN Of b-h will kill you,"
and started for him with uplifted weapon. |
Mr.. B.. remembering the old coupled that
.'He who fights and runs away,
Will live to fight another day.
tracks," Smith keps after his intended vic
tim, and was gaining rapidly on him,
when Mr.. B's. youngest son, doc. " seeing |
the iminent danger in which the life of his |
gray.haired father wac placed ran before |
Smith and implored him not to strike his |
father, when Smith, carrying out his MUIR
derous intent, says to Doc: ed d-n yos
J. win kill you," and suiting actions to his
words he struck Doc h.avy blow ON the |
head. which feIled BIN to the earth as
quickly as beef struck with the |
blow of butchers hammer. At the in
slant several parties rushed mp and took |
hold of the club and it was taken from
Smith. The club was a sawed piecs, 2 by 9,
about feet long
Squire Purkeypile arrested Smith for his
assault on the elder Mr.. B. and he was re-
leased on bail.
High revelry continued all day Sunday
night. On Monday at 12 NJ. Mr. Buick
started for Rosebnrg on business and for the |
purpose of getting out warrant for Smith,
and the young Oatman, who was 20 terribly |
beaten up accompanied him also for the pur-
pose of getting out warrant against
tka~, sa4I, kha,,
till near the south side of Roberts hill
when 10 mp came deputy sheriff, whose
painting steed was dripping with foam, and
demanded Buick to stop, that he had war. |
rant for Oatman. The warrant was de-
manded and when read proved to. be only
an affidavit " Harry Smith to the effect
that Oatman had ridden across his porch.
The deputy called that warrant and |
when oatman declined going, was told by |
the deputy that he had to go; that he would
take him by force. Oatman was advised not
to resist the officer ~ and perhaps he had
better go back. He went back A new
charge was gotten up against him to the
effect that he had ridden across Smith s
porch, and had several days prior picked |
up couple of billiard balls in Smiths sa-
loon while some parties were playing. and
kept them awhile. and he was actually
bound over to the Grand Jury in the sum of
$500 OF, this farce. Hs gave bail.
Buick got out his warrants and returned |
mere; Sheriff Hogan soon followed. Hogan
took in the situation in Q manner showing
him to be man of courage Bn I q compe-
tent officer, and after much hunting around
in old vacant buildings and back allies came
upon his man.
+ ere was hurrying TO and fro with
strong evidence of riot, aud finally Smiths
friends, by boisterous threatening of .he
crowd, managed to get Smith away from
the sheriff in order that he Smith might be
retained at this place I'd have farce of
trial for his Sundays offences. This part
of the story would not have appeared but
for the advice of lawyer who was once
Judge. Tuesday morning no prosecutor APP
pearing against Smith the case was dismiss
sed " hen the sheriff at oncc collared him
and hurried him off to Rosebnrg. While |
the above proceedings are countenanced and
offenders fostered there are many good law
abiding citizens here and in this vicinity
who deprecate any violations of Law.
If people expect their community to pros
per and their property to hold its present
value or increase in value they must see to
it that the law is fully vindicated.