Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-12
An AWFUL AFFAIR.
Ben Williams Quarrels with Frank Brown
and Shoots Him with PrOba-
bly, Fatal Effect.
WilIiams's story of the ShootinE-A Wo-
man in the Case-CIaim that the shots
were Fired In Self Defense De
tails of the Ho=ribI. Tragedy.

persons who Vert in the immediate vicinity
AT the time, is about aS follows:
Williams was sitting on a beer keg i'll
front of Clark'S saloon, one door west of
Center street, on the south side OF MaiI.,
when three men turned the corner of
Center and passed Williams. Omr of the three
made some remark to him. but the stories
differ a. tn what the remark was. They
walked about halfway To Factory street,
and then returned, again passing Williams.
The latter rose and started toward Factory
street. lie was followed by the three men,
who assaulted him in front Of the Globe
restaurant. They showed him about the
pavement. and one of them made
pass at him with his ilSt,
at the same time saying in taunting tone,
''Oh. he won't use his pistol" Another re-
marked Who's afraid of his gun, any
how Q" and showed him backward across the
pavement.
Thomas T. Parker. who keeps the Globe
restaurant was standing i'll the front door
of the restaurant watching the fuss. lie
stated Ia GLoBERErI BLIC rep
reSentatiye this morning that he
had no idea that the quarrel
would result seriously and was paying but
little attention 10 it. lie says that Will
lanIS
WARNED THE MEN
TO keep away from him, but they did not
heed the warning. He repeated the warn
ing. upon which Frank Brown seized him
by the lapel of his coat with one hand and
was about Ia choke him with the other,
when Williams drew his pistol
aud hred without raising his
arm. Two more shots rang out
sharply and Browns partners ran. vii
liamS walked to Center street and diSap-
ptared. Brown staggered into the re>tau-
rant and WAS kept from falling 10y Mr.. Par
krr and gentleman who was lunchiRg at
the restaurant. They assisted him To a
chair, and had scarcely got him seated
when officers Norton and Foster arrived.
Brown was placed under arrest, aS the
officers did not know that he had been shot.
He btseeched them in ptitul tone not Ia
take him to the station house as
HE WAS BADLY Hurt.
The officers then conveyed him to the
Office OF prs. Patterson and Welch, and
there his wound WAS examined. The ball
entered the abdomen about three inches
below and To the right of
the navel and took downward course Ia
the right and lodged in the right hip. The
surgeons probed for the bullet, but Were
unable to find it.
After resting at the office for a time,
Brown was conveyed Ia his room at Mrs.
Smiths. on yellow Springs street, where
he was made as comfortable as possible
Brown refused To say nything about the
ShoOting and would not tell even the name
of the man who fired the shot The police
had very slight knowledge upon which Ia
work. but between } and o'clock this
morning Officers Mckay and Foster ar
rested Williams at the residence
of Charles 4. Bauer, 1879 south Me-
rhanic street. where he was employed
As hnstIer He admitted that h- did
the shooting and told the officers where
they could tind the revolver, which he had
thrown away. They found ii i'll yard on
Mechanic street, just where he had thrown
il. 1t is a 32-caliber Red Jacket, five shoot
er. Williams was lodged in jail. where a
representative inter
viewed him this morning. He is II
years old, 5 feet inches high, of
slender build, dark complexion, black
hair and just percrivable
black mustache He talked freely about
the shooting, and seemed sorry 10 learn
that Brown was seriously ill., jnred.
wMIIAMS'S STORY
Was told in a straightforward manner,
and his words carried with them a conyic-
ton of their truth.
Il lived in Maystick, Mason county, KY,
before | came TO Springfield, and my
parents reside there now. have
been here nearly three years and
for two years and twelve days
have worked for MIR. Bauer. | never saw
Brown until last night at the circus ground.
when was talking Ia Rosa Rankin. had
taken Miss Rankin home the night before.
and asked her if | could see her home
again. She replied that she had company,
but did not want to go with the fellow. Final
ly she said she would not 90 with either of us
and started away. | walked out 10 Yellow
nd 4 anI-1
the other fellow again. They followed me
down the street and between Mulberry and
Jefferson streets they approached me and of
fered to wipe up the street with me, but |
and sat out in front on a
beer key. Pretty soon Brown and
two other fellows passed and one of them
said IF it wouldn't be a pity we'd
smash that dude into pieces with his gold
.uff buttons and fime clothes" They went
up street and in minute came back. | got
up and was walking away when they at
lacked me. They showed me arOnnd the
sidewalk and | told them to keep away
Brown grabbed me by the collar and
was going 10 choke me. |
was scared and pulled my pistol
md fired don't know how many times |
hot. but didn't mean to hurt anybody. | |
wanted 10 get away from Blown. After
he shooting | went right home"
Frank Brown. the wounded man. is an
.mploye in Gunkle'> grocery. on the south .
asst corner of North and Yellow Springs .
treet He is about u years old. and is .
Known TO be quarrelSOme when under the .
influence of liquor. DR.. Patterson said this !
morning that
BROWNS CONDITION
vas very critical. although there Were some
hanceS for his recovery. Said he:
1T peritontis does not set in he may re-
over, but nothing definite can be- told about
lis condition before tomorrow"
The two men in company with Brown
we're John Hartman and John HaweS
Hartman could not be found by the