The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-08-25
All Doing Well.

Inc wounded OF last Sundays fra
cas- are doing well and no lives will be
sacrificed. The almost tragedy and
double killing was the direct outcome
of sabbath breaking, blind jealousy
and poor whiskey. Richard Collins,
the leader IN the affray, is our late
chief OF police, and at the time IF the
trouble was a member of our police
force. His married life of about four
years has not been a quiet and peace
fnl one, but very stormy, and while
chief guardian Of law and order, his
own home was the scene of numerous
violent quarrels, and several times his
wife lett hun, but afterwards relented
and forgaye and returned To his home.
In some justice to Mr.. Collins we will
say that he was kind to his wife on
general principles, hut when he got
little too much liquor he was the re-
verse OF this and trouble always fol-
lowed, and it has been a wonder to
the people of the town that tragedy
has not before been enacted there.
Last Sunday there was what is called
German picnic on the point, oppos-
lie the town, but if we may Judge
from the condition of many whom we
saw that evening, and 1ho had at
tended SAID picnic, we should say
say to call it Sunday free to-all
drunk would be a more appropriate
name. Two weeks before this Mr..
| Collins and his wife had another of
their family quarrels, and his wife had
left home and taken refuge in the
house OF Mr.. James Myers, a quiet
man and one of our draymen. OF
course things had not been pleasant
under these circumstances, and last
Sunday things grew worse, as Mr..
Collins saw his wife dancing with
other gentlemen when he was refused,
and to make long story short he
worked himself up by the use of whs-
ky to such pitch that when the
party of which his wife was member
returned to town, he followed her to
Myers house, forced himself though
the door and began to upbraid his
wife, and but few words passed
when he drew his revolver and fired
at her. Mr.. Myers had expected as
much, and jumping forward struck
Collins on the arm, thus lowering the
shot; but instantly the revolver was
raised and leveled at the woman, and
again the arm was struck down, when
Collins turned and fired at Myers the
men clinched and fell over chair,
Collins falling on top with his reyol-
yer pressed against Myers breast, but
it failed to 90 off, and in the meantime
Myers got his pistol hand free, and
pressing his revolver against Collins
head he fired. About this time Chris
Frey, James Newton and John Bar
don arrived, Mr.. Frey being the first
to enter the house, and Mr.. Myers
cried take him oH-look out, he's
got revolver" The room was full
0? smoke, and no one could be very
plainly seen, but Mr.. Frey got hold
Of Collins rs he was on top, and drew
him oil, and with the assistance of the
others took his revolver from him.
Myers got up and said, "he's shot; |
done it," and handed over his own
revolver, and gave himself mp to the
Sheriff, and was put in Jail at his own
request for safety.
On examining the woudcd it was
found that Collins had received a
scalp wound, the bali entering just
back Of the ear, and passing upward
came out near the crown, but doing
DO serious injury. Both of his first
shots took effect in his wife, one pas
sing through the flesh on the left leg
above the knee, the other making Il
deeper wound in the right leg be-
tween the thigh and knee, and pas
sing around the limb, lodged near the
surface on the opposite side, and was
removed the following day.
There were some five or six per-
sons III the house at the time the
shooting began, but all soon got out,
and only the two men were engaged
in the death struggle when help ar
rived. Mr. Myers is a light young
man, and from physical standpoint
was no match for his powerful antag-
onist, and it is wonder he escaped
with his life. Myers was arraigned be-
fore justice brown on Monday morn
ing, and held in $1,000 bonds to APP
pear when wanted. Tuesday evening
Mr.. Collins was arraigned and he was
held III the same amount for his APP
pearance. This feat of Justice CD is
without parallel in court records. It
is on par with holding the man who
owned the horse equally guilty with
the man who stole the horse, and is,
we are glad to say, theory peculiar
to Superior only. And here, undoubt-
edly the whole matter will end.