The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-01-29
UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR AT LAKE
CRYSTAL.

| Ch oIAo'
Last Monday morning about seven
O'Clock Judge Severance received dis
patch from Lake Crystal To the effect
that Lorin Cray and p. j. Sylvester had
engaged i'm a combat that morning and
Cray had shot the latter gentleman. All
parties here were panied to learn of the
occurrence, as Mr. Cray is widely known
and universally liked by ali his acquaint-
ances, being one of the leading attorneys
of the county, honorable and upright
The message requested an adjournment
in case which the parties were coming
to attend before the Judge that day.
Little else could be learned of the facts
until the afternoon train came down
bringing Sheriff Monks and others who
had gone up on the noon train.
The trouble is the contamination of a
family feud of long standing. As nearly
rs we can CLEAN the facts, Messrs. Cray,
Sylvester and Merritt Mutt ofthat village
are brothers-in-law. having married
sisters, daughters of Geo. Trimble, Esq.
Something over two years ago, Mr.. Mutt,
who is badly crippled from army service,
received back pension amounting to
considerable, and Sylvester having had
experience i'm mercantile business, the
two formed u co-partnership and started
in the general merchandise trade at Lake
Crystal. The business did not prove a
financial success, and about year ago
the firm failed, at which time the trou-
BILE which has led to the present serious
situation commenced Mr. Cray was
brought into the matter as Nuts at
torney, which, for reasons unknown to
us, seems to have aroused Sylvester's
ill-will, and bitter enmity sprang up
between the parties. The respective
families and other friends naturally took
sides with them and various circun-
ran high Two or three cases at law
arose ont of the business failure which
has kept the opposing factions constan T.
ly aroused. 1t is alleged that MIR. Syl-
times, giving the latter gentleman real
son to fear an assault. Last Monday
morning Cray entered the depot to
await the early train to this city. The
agent had stepped out for a few moments
and in the meantime Sylvester and the
father-in-law went i'm and what occurred
thereafter is differently related by the
two men, the old gentleman claiming
not to have seen the commencement of
the trouble, being i'm different room ut
the time.
Cray states that he stood beside the
stove and Sylvester entered, passing on
the opposite side into small ante-room
in the telegraph office, followed by Mr..
Trimble. He soon came ont again and
passed along, apparently behind Cray,
and when near enough struck HIM a
blow which fell that gentleman to the
floor, after which he proceeded to
beat him. Cray is crippled in one
shoulder from a gun shot wound receiv-
ed in the army, which left him greatly
mt disadvantage i'm such scrimmage,
and he drew his revolver, firing upon his
assailant, balls t. king effect in both
hands, but not disa bling him.
Sylvester gives his version of the case
about as follows: lie CLAIMS that Cray
drew the revolver without provocation
and attempted to shoot, when he jump
ed for him getting hold of his hands to
prevent being shot, but that Cray man.
aged to fire several times. wounding his
hands as stated. He claims also that
another ball struck him i'm the left side
but was stopped by silk handkerchief
in his pocket.
When the agent returned Sylvester
had Cray pushed back against the picket
gate entering the office, where they
were separated and Mr.. Cray gave up
his revolver.
The Sheriff and County Attorney were
telgraphed for and they went upon the
eleven O'Clock train. Mr.. Cray was
placed under arrest and gave bonds to
appear for examination next Wednes-
day, the Bird proximo, when the circum-
stances will be more definitely known.
Both parties were considerably used
up, but are improving nicely. Cray
suffered severe wrench of the hack
and number of bruises.
Below are the facts as given by the
Lake Crystal Union:
At the time of the occurrence no one
was i'm the waiting room or the telegraph
office, except Mr.. Trimble. The oper-
ator had stepped out to deliver a mess
age, and on his return the struggle was
going on, and the alarm was given at
once, parties ran to the depot and they
were separated. Mr.. Trimblc who is
father-in-law of the parties, informed lis
he did not see the beginning, and of
course can give no informatlona as to who
began this particular trouble. Mr.. L.
says he was brushing the snow off his
| feet with his back toward them ut the
time, and all he knows about it is that
! he heard scuffie, and on turning
around he saw the two men with their
hands together and the bullets were
hying, and that he tried to get out of the
way. This, he says, is all he knows
about it. There are many stories af1Oat.
One believes one thing, and another
something else Mr.. Cray received a
blow in the mouth and several severe
bruises across the small of the back,
caused by being bent over small picket
gate leading into the operators depart
ment. These injuries will contine him
! to the house for short time.
Mr.. sylvester was shot twice, receiv-
ing two wounds, one ball entering the
palm of the right hand coming out on
the inside of the wrist. In the other
hand the ball passed through it above
the thumb. Some say there was anoth-
or shot fired, and that the ball struck
Sylvester in the side, near the pocket in
which was silk handkerchief where il
lodged. Complaint was entered against
Mr.. Cray before Justice ThOrne, and
warrant for his arrest issued. The mat
ter has created feeling not likely to
pass away soon. The investigation will
set matters in their proper light. Mr..
Sylvester's wounds are not considered
serious, but painful.
THE COMING SPLENDOR.