St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-27
KILLED FOR A CARCASS
One Man Murdered and Another Seriously
Injured in a Quarrel Over Half of
aDead Mule.
A Battle of Bullets Among Some Wild
Western SharpshOOters-HOw Wolves
Are Caught.
Judge Moody Takes Occasion to Score
johnson Before the House Ter
rftorial Committee.
Two Men Drowned Near Running
WATERMAN 5000 Conhagration
at Jamestown.
A Western Tragedy.

Special TO the Globe.
ELK PoIST. Oak, Jan. 26.-Six miles
south of this place. upon the bank of the
Missouri river in Nebraska, live the fam
lilies of w. w. WestbroOk and Arson Glib
son. The bluffs run parallel with the river
and about sixty rods back from the bank
These parties live i'm rude houses. Gibson
makes living by farming small piece of
land. The WestbroOk farm on a small
scale and run the ferry boat between Da-
kOta and Nebraska during the summer.
They are from Missouri and will shoot at
the drop of the hat. WestbroOk's wife Is a
half sister OF Gibson, and WeStbroOk has
three sons named James. Robert and
Thomas. Gibson has but one son. Wiley.
The trouble which seems to have been brew
ing for some time was caused by the fact
that neither family wished TO see the other
prosper Recently neighbOr lost a mule.
Gibson thought he saw bonanza in secur-
ing the carcass for
WOLF BAIT,
as there are many such animals prowling
about in this country to the material dam
age of small pigs and benrOOsts. The mule
was secured, placed in a run and the catch
was five wolves the first night. During the
day succeeding Gibson went TO POnca with
load Of wood. In the meantime
the WestbroOks had learned OF the
rich catch of their now opulent
relative, and determined TO share in the
booty. The proceeded to the coveted bait
and cutting il in twain dragged One-b half
TO place near their own residence. Glib
son. returning from town at evening time,
walked out 10 see IL the bait was all right.
He soon discovered that the enemy had
been there. That night he followed the
trail by the refulgent rays Of the moon and
soon located the missing half of the mule
Gibson and his boy dragged the carcass TO
the river and cutting a hole i'm the ice.
threw it In. Everything seemed prosperous
now for the GibSOns. In the morning the
Westbrooks were out in force expecting a
rich harvest. But not so; the bait had dis
appeared, and Gibson was the man they
suspected. About 4 o'clock in the after
noon the SWestbrOOks heard the rattle of
the wagon approaching their house. and as
Gibson and his team came in sight Jim
Westbrook
FIRED HIS REVOLVER,
bringing down the near horse. Gibson
jumped from the wagon and began firing
upon old man WestbrOok. The other BOYS
opened up In fine style, and for a time the
bullets went singing through the timber in
the most reckless manner. Wiley
Gibson, hearing the fusillade. armed him
self and fastened To the scene. he
found his father down on the ground with
Jim WestbrOok on top of him snappil z
big navy revolver in his ear. With su.he
difficulty the young man separated them
and on making an invest CATION found Tom
Westbrook in fence corner with wound
In his neck from which the blood was flow
ing freely, and which caused his death six
teen hours later. Old Westbrook was the
recipient of bullet over his right eye which
is altogether likely to result fatally, and
Jim got
A SCALP WOUND
just deep enough to stop the hair from grow
ing. Everything considered it must be adj
mitted that Gibson is thoroughbred in this
line. The wolf deal is practically in his
hands at the present writing. Mr.. Gibson
went to POnca give himself UP, having
escaped with few bruises.
The Westbrooks have an unsavory repu-
tatiOn. and many petty crimes are laid at
their door. A year ago last fall old man
WeStbroOk stabbed man very dangerously
at the county fair In quarrel over a horse
race. For this he was sentenced to serve in
the states prison at Lincoln one year. and
has not since returned. The taxpayers of
the county are Disguised with the idea of
paying for another trial. The most singu-
lar feature of the whole affair Is said to be
that the bullet which killed Thomas is cali
Der thirty-two and that GibsOn's revolver
carries caliber fOrty-four If this be true it
is altogether probable that one or the other
of his brothers killed him accidentally in
the excitement.