The Brookhaven leader., 1884-09-11

As USUAL, 4 WOMAN AT rHE BOTTOM
OF IT. INCIDENTS OF TIE SHOCK
ING TRAGEDY.

There are but few acquaiutances
or friends of Joshua w. Bourne and
Captain J. T. Metzler in this city
who were In the least surprised
when the news Of the terrible
tragedy, which vas enacted yester-
day . little before noon in the
Famous dry goods emporium reach
ed their ears, ss the trouble which
has been brewing between these
parties for month"; past, has been
Z common topic Of street converse
ton.
Yesterday morning Captain Metz
Ter had some business TO transac,
with Mr.. H. c. McCabe, and walked
over to the steps leading up to Nc
Cabe's Office which 10 located direct
~ over Mr.. R. Blooms dry goods
store. He was met by Mr.. w. w.
Jack In the door leading to the
stairway and stood q moment or
so facing the door and conversing
with Mr.. Jac He had been in
this position oaly q minute or two
when Capt. Bourne approached him
from the direction Of Bruser's store.
Metzler did not see Bourne as he
approached, he at the time looking
in an opposite direction. As Bourne
approached he was seen by Mr..
Jack, Mr.. Herman DEMO and others
to draw his pistol, and when in
about five or eight feet of Metzler
he fred, the ball entering the right
side, little to the back, penetrat-
ing the bowels and lodging under
the skin on the left front side. This
shot was the first intimation that
Metzler had of Bourne's presence,
and when he received the shot he
jumped on the sidewalk and bali
faced to Bourne, attempting at the
time to draw his pistol, but finding
some difficulty in doing this, he
retreated into the Famous for shelter
from Bourpe's fire, as the latter was
following him pistol in hand. When
Metzler entered the Famous 1t was
crowded with lady customers and
clerks, who beat as hasty a retreat
as possible. He FASTENED along the
side of the store until he came to
the end of the first counter on the
left hand side and then turned and
returned Bourne's fire, Bourne
being at that time about ten or
twelve feet approximately from
him. Bourne continued TO advance,
and when within few feet of Metz
Ter struck him on the head with his
pistol, telling him to his knees.
Bourne, up to this time was IN.
scathed, and Metzler had received
the wound which will lead 10 his
death. The two men grapplcd aftel
having kept up for few seconds Q
lively fusilade, but Bourne pushed
Metzler down, and was standing Of
kneeling over him. with pistol il
his hand, when Metzler fired tive
more shots, both Of which took effect
one entering Bourne's body, abou
two inches up and to the right O
The naval and the other entering
his left shoulder just below the colla1
bone.
The clerks in the store were al
most paralyzed with fear while th'
shooting was going on, and it is
matter of impossibility to learn JUS
what position the two men were il
at the time of the firing. Bourne
was armed with q six-shootin:
Webley improved double actor
revolver, and Metzler carried a neU
lightning Colts, and as both OF th'
pistols were empty when gouel
away from the combatants, it is pre-
sumed that twelve shots were free
in all. After the shooting Metzle
and Bourne were separated b.
Policeman Charley Grimes, an'
Constable Charley Corners, ba
both of them were found to b.
mortally wounded. Bourne was LET
lying on the floor on the Famous
and Metzler was removed in car
raige to the house of his parents OF
jackson street.
| THE CAUSES
which led TO the shooting are sai'
to be laid at the door OF Mrs
Bourne, wife of the unfortun ate maj
who was killed. 1t is alleged tina
| Metzler was the cause of Bourne ant
his wife separating some months
ago, and since then suit has beef
brought by Bourne to recover tn
guardianship of his two children
from Mrs. Bourne as she has hat
them under her care since tn,
separation took place. Metzler ha
repeatedly denied these charges Il
the writer and claimed that thu
separation was caused by Bourne
brutality to his wife and that sine
they separated he has merely at
tended to her affairs for her as bust
ness agent. This is Metzler's state
ment and it is generally believed b,
his friends.
Bourne, on the contrary, claimet
that Metzler had broken up hi.
family, but he had been advised BY
friends not to make an attempt on
Metzler's life. Bourne evidently
believed that Meizler was at the
bottom of his domestic troubles, az
his actions yesterday will readily
testify. The opinions given ex-