The Portland daily press., 1885-08-25
RocKLANp EXCITED.
A Hotel Keeper Shot by an Assistant
to Liquor Constable,
And Now Lying in a Critical Condi-
ton.
What Came of a Liquor Seizure at the
Lindsey Hotel.
Especial to the PRESS.

RoCKLAND, Aug. 24-T. B. Severance
proprietor of the Lindsey Hotel, was shot by
Joseph E. Clinton this forenoon. Clinton is
employed by number of temperance men
to assist Constable Orne to enforce the pro
hibitory law, but is not an officer himself
Both Orne and Clinton are paid day wages
for making raids. Last week they made two
seizures at the Lindsey House. Today Sew
erance met Clinton on Main street, at the
brook, and hard words passed. They then
walked down the street, interchanging in
suits, and the alteration growing fercer,
something Clinton said provoked Severance
to blow with the open hand when Clinton
Immediately pulled 3S-calibre revolver, and
fired three shots. One of the bullets struck
Severance in the groin, passing inward and
downward; another struck his thigh, pass
ing through it. There is another wound in
the back of the thigh, but it is not known
whether it was caused by the third bullet, or
by the egress of that which entered the
groin.
Bystanders took the pistol from Clinton
and while they were doing it Severance beat
his face to a jelly. Clinton was then taken
to have acted in self-defence. Severance
was taken home, bleeding profusely. He al
so suffered much from the shock, and has
been sinking ever since. His condition is
considered critical, the chances being against
recovery. The wound in theIgroin is the
source of danger.
There is intense excitement here, and
much feeling against Clinton. Threats of
lynching him are being made, and if Sever
ance should die before Clinton is placed in
jail, trouble might ensue. Clinton has been
transferred to the court house, and at the re-
quest of Mayor Case, Sheriff Irish has ap-
pointed twenty special deputies to guard
him tonight.
ITO the Associated Press.]
RoCKLAND, Aug. 24.-At 10 O'Clock this
forenoon, three pistol shots fired in rapid
succession attracted the attention OF people
on Main street. The shots were fired by Jo-
seph E. Clinton at T. B. Severance, landlord
of the Lindsey House. Clinton had been
acting as assistant to A. d. Ome liquor
constable, but he is not an officer The first
known of the disturbance was by Severance
and Clinton passing along Main street, in
dulging iniloud talk. When in front of C. E.
Hanerner's store, Severance struck Clinton,
who then drew revolver and fired three
shots, Wounding Severance, who then at
tackled him, pummeling him severely about
the face. After the third shot, the revolver,
a 3S-calibre, self-cocking five-shooter, was
wrested from Clinton
The officers took Clinton into custody,
while Severance was carried to his home
An examination showed two wounds in the
right thigh, and one very dangerous in the
groin. The surgeon probed as far as the
pelvis but did not find the bullet Severance
has chance for recovery with the odds
against him. Threats Of lynching Clinton
had been heard ON all sides and this noon
the police removed him from the lookup to
the court house jail for safer keeping being
followed thither during removal by large
crowd muttering and threatening lynching
A strong guard was placed around the jail
tonight as trouble is anticipated.
Clinton says Severance followed him,
violence and at last struck him;
that he (Clinton) fired the first shot but that
the two other shots were caused by people
behind him who seized his arm in the strug
gle.
The excitement is at fever heat. People
are congregated on the corners and business
is almost suspended. A preliminary hearing
will be had tomorrow forenoon.