Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-24
ATTEMPTED SHOOTING.
An Excited Man Draws the
Too Ready Pistol.
NO BLOOD SPILLED.
Thomas Cox's Difficulty With His
Former Friend. William
McEwen.

Yesterday forenoon there was big
excitement on Spring street near the
postofiiee. where one gentleman drew
pistol on another who was in company
with two ladies. one the wife Of the man
attacked, and both nieces Of the assail-
ant. 1t was all less than fash In
pan and the matter might be passed
over with few lines were it not that
the prominence OF the parties has
caused good deal of comment. For
this reason the story is given in detail.
The parties TO the trouble are Thomas
Cox, one of the oldest residents of this
city, and VIM. McEwen. The ladies'
whD were present are both nieees OF MIR.
Cox, and one is the wife of Mr.. Nc.
Even. The men are both miners and
have been together at Banner, San Ju-
liam district, San Diego county, all sum
mer. MIR. McEwen has opened up four
mines in that district The Rowena,
the Scott, the Kentucky and the Sacra.
mento. Mr.. Cox went down there in
July last, and MIR. MeEwen treated him
with a great deal of kindness. During
the fall Cox said he could sell some ef
the mines in Los Angeles, and the two
made verbal agreement as to such sale.
Cox claimed that he had negotiated q
sale Of the Rowena and Scott mines to
Mr., W. +. Ball OF this city, but that DIR.
Fulton, who is also in the district work.
ing the old Stonewell mine, "broke up"
the sale, He then claimed TO have
made an arrangement with MIR. &. L.
Hopkins OF Pasadena TO go down and
inspect the mines with view to buying
them. While waiting for Mr. Hopkins
to come, Col. /. h. Dunkelberger, con
nection of Mr. Cox and Of Mrs. McEwen,
appeared on the scene, and after due
inquiry made up his mind to purchase
the property. Cox told this fact to
McEwen, and when the contract was
about to be signed McEwen asked Cox
not once but several times over II he was
perfectly satisfied that the sale should be
made and If he then and there relin-
auished all claim to the prop
erty, as he had had verbal
understanding as to the sale. Cox
answered eyes, | yield up all my
claims. This was in the presence of
Mrs. McEwen and OF Col. Dunkelberger.
40 the sale was made. Afterwards Cox
asked MeEwen to lend him Sl00, which
McEwen said he could not do. Then
Cox made demand on him for $500 aud
notified Col Dunk elberger not to pay
for the mine until this sum was paid.
McEwen repudiated the claim and Dun
kelberger having heard Cox relinquish
any claim he might have had, paid no
attention to the notice but paid for the
mine. In the meantime Cox had oh
tanned in writing a contract from Nc.
Even as to the sale of the Kentucky
and Sacramento mines. Failing to sell
these, he followed McEwen back to
Banner, where he has been for some
DAYS past making violent threats
against McEwen for his fancied
wrongs. The McEwens therefore
come up to the city as Mrs. McEwen was
made very nervous by the violent talk
of her uncle against her husband.
To-day Mrs. McEwen and her sister
drove out to find home for the former.
They went to the firm OF Wilcox X
Robbins, in the Wilcox building, ON
Spring street, and after making inquiries
there Mrs. MoEwen's sister set out TO
search for Mr.. McEwen, as they had
seen Mr.. Cox near the court house when
they passed. A few moments later the
lady was returning with Mr.. McEwen to
where the pbeton stood with McEwen's
infant son in it. As they came up Mrs.
MeEwen saw her uncle approaching be-
hind her husband and draw pistol.
She screamed to him TO take care and he
turned and faced his assailant. just
then some one stepped between the two
men and Cox put his pistol back in his
pocket BY this time they were nearly
face to face, when Cox again drew the
revolver and Mr.. McEwen fearing the
noise might frighten the horse caught
him by the arms, at the same time his
sster-in-law sprang in between him
and his assailant, and then officer
smith, who had been attracted from his
station at the First street crossing, came
up and disarmed Cox. Later in the day
Mr.. McEwen and his brother.in-iaw,
Mr.. b. E. fancy, swore out complaint
against Thomas Cox for assault to mur.
der. Cox was arrested and PUT under
$1,000 bonds to appear to-day for pre-
liminary examination. Ii is we'll
known fact by all who know him that
McEwen does not carry any weapons.
Considering the very high standing OF
all the parties to this affair and the
previous excellent reputation borne by
them all, it is much to be regretted.