The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-26
THE WRONG NAN
How a Politicians Mistake Resulted
Disastrously to Him.
A Battle In the sanctum with Prob.
ably Fatal Results----An "Ag-
gressiye' Journalist
CraEy Vita Rage. as

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Nov. ga special ia
The Times from Brighton, N. j., says that
John Cheeseman, editor and proprietor of
The Patriot, a Democratic weekiyof Cumber-
land county, was shot by ]. L. Van Syckle, q
prominent Democratic politician. After
being shot Cheeseman grabbed Van Syckle
by the throat, bore him to the floor, and beat
his face to pulp CAeeseman is not seriously
injured, but Van Syckle viii die in a few
hours.
Cheesman has been a newspaper publisher
in Briiseton for twelve years, and his edi-
torials have invariably been aggressive He
is 45 years old, and lives with his wife and
two grown sons in comfortable house in the
centre of the town He is six feet tall. Van
| Synkle is a lawyer, has wife and two chill
dren, and is small in stature. The men
have been leading rival political factions.
| In recent issue The Patriot charged Van
Syclile with getting his checks cashed with
out having funds in the bank to meet them,
and said he hal been moderately successful
in getting his worthless checks cashed.a Van
| Sycllle arning himself with revolver and a
eowhide, went Co The Patriot office, halted in
the editorial room, second story front, and
roared at Cheeseman in the adjoining apart
menb. When Cheeseman came out Of the back
room Van Syckle arose from the cover of the
desk on which he was nursing his wrath, and
drawing his cowhide, shook it at his swarthy
enemy. Cheeseman only laughed. Then the
little mans rage knew no bounds. Throwing
down the cowhide he drew a revolver and
aimeI and fired at Cheeseman who was
but few feet distant. The editor threw
l. l,fk Al. I'LL
through his coat sleeve and struck his
breast two inches above the heart Cheese
man staggered, but recovered his pres
ence of mind in an instant and closed with
Van SyeRle. In hand-to-hand struggle the
lawyer was at a great disadvantage. Ap-
preeating this and fearing thab CheesenAn
would wrest the revolver from him and turn
its point upon its owner, he threw the weapon
across the room. Cheeseman hurled his OPP
1onent to the floor, kneit upon the fallen
mans arms and then throttling him with
his left hand, pounded him in the face with
his right fist. The pistol Shot and Var
Syckle's cries for help brought Cheese
mans sons and the printers down stairs and
drew a great crowd CT people from the street
Cheeseman was crazed with rage, and it wa
with difficulty that he was dragged from hi.
almost inssnsible antagonist. Cheesemia
said: Il thought l was fatally wounded AM
was resolved to kill him if my strength
lasted Several policemen entered AMI Van
Syclle was helped to the washroom. His
nose and cheeks wera pounded to jelly and
the skin ana flesh of his forehead
hung in shreds over his eyes Cheese
man explained this by saying: Most all
of the licks l hit him were glancers
Cheeseman went at once to the mayors off1c
and had a warrant issued for the arrest o
: Van Syekle for shooting with intent to kill
Fifteen minutes later Van Syckle was led int
the mayors Office by Officer Campbell. Turn
ing to Cheeseman he said: THANK God
didn't kill you" Cheeseman replied: 'Well
l am sorry didn't kin you, and would hav
dona so if had not been pulled off by tn
boys" During the examination Van Syckl
became weak from loss of blood, and he ha
to be taken to the jail. where he lies at til
point of death