The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1881-07-14

There occurred, Tuesday Of this
week, On amir that almost cost . hu-
man life. It was not the ihult Of the
perpetrators that II did not. for Il seems
their intentions were murderOus- The
Particular, - near - We could learn
them, are - follows:
On last Friday = couple IL covered
wagons were vending their way west-
ward. occupied by two men and fol-
lowed by . few head Of cattle. They
were passing by the residence Of Mr..
James Madden, . peaceable and highly
respected farmer living about I've miles
northwest Of Bavaria, when . calf be-
longing to Mr. Madden broke loose and
followed the cattle belonging to the
wagOns. Nothing more WIS heard
from the wayfArers until lest Monday,
when they returned to Mr. Madden's
and claimed that they could not drive
the calf hack, - Il bad been severely
bitten by dogs. They said they would
buy the cali. but owing to its condition
did not consider 1t worth much. There
was no one at home but An- Madden.
and abe told them that her husband
did not want to ssilit. They insisted
on buying the calf, and finally left
seven dollars ON the table in payment
for the same, Notwithstanding the lady
kept telling them that her husband
would not sell 1t. They then left the
house. saying their camp wss . few
miles west of Brookville go
The next morning James Madden.
In company with brother. John, took
the money they had lsft and started 10
recover his property. They found the
camp much nearer than the man had
stated, and also discovered the calf In
good eoaiition. Mr.. Madden explain
ed his business, and chained his prop
srty. Some words passed between the
parties, and the movers showed fight.
One Of them picked up . good-sised
stone and hurled Il Ut Mr. Madden
striking him on the bead. infiicting m
ugly wound. He then ran to his wag-
on for his pistol, aud by mistake picked
up IN old one that was not loaded.
Discovering the mistake, he ran up Ia
Madden and struck him . terrible blow
on the head. MASKING the skull and
INJECTING, a IL thought, . fatal wound
He then grabbed an old Ak that lay
close BY. doubtless intending TO COM
plete the dastardly Outrage. He only
succeeded. however, In dealing him q
slight blow in the back, when Mr.. John
Madden came IN the rescue Of his
brother. Both Of the men with the
teams then turned on John, and prob
ably would have served him equally
bad but for the fact that he showed he
Was armed, drawing . revolver and
shooting one Of the men I'm the shoul.
der. bringing him to the ground. But
il the man could not nght he could
talk, and ~ he lay there bleeding be
urged his partner not to let them get
away, a. he was shot. But John drew
his revolver on the remaining assailant.
causing him to keep at safe distance,
while he helped his brother onto his
horse, and they returned from the
scene Of the late catastrophe without
further trouble.
At this date Mr.. James Madden lies
Ut his fathers residence. five and n
half miles northwest of Bavaria, in u
very critical condition. Medical
aid was summoned ut once The ex-
tent Of the injuries was not ascertained
ct the hour Of our advices last even
ing, but fears were entertained that
the brain was injured. The skull, about
two inches above the left ear, Is terri
bly, fractured, and he was cut In the
back, a also on the arm. with the Ak.
Both Of the men making the assault
have since been arrested.