, 1884-07-22
A W0MAN'S WEAPON.
She Smashes a 'Spfttoon on a
Mans Head.
A Lively Fracas Between the
Stock Journal Proprietors.
Some of the Causes Which In
trOduced the Difficulty.

49," ~ AiRH1h mum AS0h1r
a pair of gentlemen presumably light of
heart and emphatically light of purse.
One of these was Mr.. A. S. Mercer, a
gentlemen who is above the medium in
size, of comparatively little rotundity, but
with a wealth of golden hair confined
principally 10 his face, and like angels
visits on tho top Of his head. His COM
panion was Mr.. S. A. Msrney, more
youthful in appearance, pushing and en-
ergctic in manner, verv brown in the face,
with a heavy black mustaehe and a firmly
set jaw that might betokcn considerable
pertinacity Of purpose.
Mr.. Mercer is by profession an editor.
His rampant genius had hitherto found
vent in the columns of country newspapers
in Texas, four at least of which he owned.
Mr.. Marney had also had varied expert
ences in newspaper life. The last position
he had filed previous to this time
WAS THAT or OWING COMMISSIONER
for the Terds Lire Stock Journal, pub
lished at Fort Worth. His travels had
extended as far as Denver, Colo, in which
city he learned of an admirable field
for the establishment of a paper devoted
to the live stock industry. The idea was
exactly in the line of Mr.. Marney's own
thoughts, but ike many another ambi-
tious newspaper man he sadly lacked the
u~sufruct so absolutely essential in every
well regulated newspaper Office. Afflicted
in this way he sought several friends, but
all of chem had too many irons already in
the FIRE, and respectfully, but firmly,
declined to go into the enterprise.
About this time Mr.. Marney met Mr..
Mercer in Dodge City. Mr.. Mercer fell
in with the scheme after a little inquiry,
and cheeriully consented to put his veneer
able pile into it. The pile in question, or
at least such of it was available, amounted
to 5000 or $500.
The gentlemen came together to Chey-
emit last November and projected their
enterprise. In st. Louis they secured a
full newspaper outfit on credit, and when
the first eight page issue of the North
~teesterl Lire Stock Journal appeared on
on the 23rd Of last November
L THEIR ADVERTISING CONTRACTS
had been hypothecated to insure the pay
ment of their debts.
The paper was an assured and emphatic
success after the first issue.
People caught the idea that it was pay
ing and rushed to the fortunate Mercer 4
Marney with their advertisements. The
stockmen came down handsomely
to a newspaper that was to be devoted ex-
clusively to their interests. Every cattle
owner gave them his brand TO publish,
and some firms took up half a page in this
way, paying for the same 1T a rate that
would paralyze ordinary business men.
Things were booming, and the lucky
firm were f~easting on the fat of the land.
In the heyday of their prosperity many
brilliant schemes were talked of by the
lucky pair. The paper was increased in
size to sixteen pages. A newspaper
building, to be the model establishment Of
the kind in the West, was also talked of.
Meanwhile their present office iu the
Wyoming block was finely fitted up.
The phenomenal success of the LiUe
Stock Journal was town talk for several
months.
According to the original arrangement
Mr.. Marney held the position of business
manager, but devoted
GREAT PORTION OF HIS TIME
TO travelling throughout the West in the
interest of the paper. Mr.. Mercer acted
in the capacity of editor, much of his
work consisting of selections from ex-
changes on topics relating to the cattle
industry. Things went on swimmingly,
about 5000 papers being printed weekly.
although the number actually paid for
was always considerably less. The heavy
advertising was what brought the money.
Over a month ago a cloud as big as
q mans hand appeared on the firms hori-
zon. 1t grew larger very rapidly and dis
putes between the p%roprietors were not
very rare. The book-keeper soon became
the nominal bone of contention. The
young gentleman employed in that
capacity is Mr. Frank j.. Burton, who is
a brother-in-law Of Mr.. Marney. Mr..
Mercer desired him removed. Just one
month ago affairs in the office reached a
crisis. Mr.. Mercer discharged the whole
working force Of the establishment, in
Guiding the bookkeeper. When Mr.,
Marncy appeared on the scene he promptly
reemployed every ono who had been dis.
charged.
Here was a very decided clash OF
authority.
An understanding was temporarily
patched up between the %proprietors, but,
FIGURATIvELY SPEAKING,
each man rested on his arms in expecta.
ton ola further misunderstanding.
1t came yesterday,
The whole of last week was spent by
Mr.. Marney in travelling through portions
of Nebraska in the interest of his paper.
He arrived home Sunday morning.
Bright and early yesterday morning he
went down to the Journal office. He
found there Mr.. Mercer, Mrs. Mercer,
several youthful members of their family
and a smooth shaver, heavily built mar
who looked like a cattle man. It very
soon developed, however, that the man,
name was Trimble and the object of hi,