Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-24
ADDITIONAL COUNCIL BLUFFS.
"A Bold Attempt at wiilful Murder.

w.
There was a lively little time while
it lasted about half-past IL Saturday
night, at the home of Mr.. James Coyle,
n farmer living about three miles south
west of Rapp's landing, between Lake
Manawa and the Missouri river. For
some time Coyle has suffered from the
acts of vandals, who have torn down
his fences, despoiled his crops, and
turned his cattle and hogs into his
cornfields; He has suspected three
men working for a neighbor, Mrs.
their guilt. Saturday night he no.
ticed the men start for the city,
and made up his mind that
if these were the guilty parties they
would attempt more deviltry on their
return. He and his hired man sta
toned themselves in the barn and
awaited developments. Shortly after II
o'clock three men were seen sneaking
down the road, lodging behind hay
stacks and evidently intent on mischief.
After u while they entered the barn
yard, whore Coyle was keeping twenty
head of fine calves. One of the prowl-
ers was heard to remark, Il generally
do anything / set out to do. and | have
an object in this. Now you tear down
the fence and let the hogs out, and
| will shoot these calves" Suiting his
actions to his words he levelled Il double
barrelled shotgun at the nearest infant
beef. This was too much for COyle and
he demanded a halt" The would-be
bovine eXecutioner Immediately
whirled upon his heel and let fly ut
Coyle, who lodged back through the
barn door as the shot came whizzing
past him. The first shot was promptly
followed by another, but Coylc
fled through the barn, out of Il
rcar door and a for the house.
As he went around the end of the barn
he was saiuted by another shot and then
another and another. the last taking eff
feet in his head and shoulders. His
wife, who had heard the racket, ad-
mitted him to the house.
After waiting until the men were
gone, Coylc vcntured out to the barn,
where he found his man in hiding, and
the pair saddled horses and rode rapidly
to the city, reaching here about l O'Clock
yesterday morning. Captain An
| derson. of the Merchants police.
was found, and to him was
~recounted the story. Sheriff O'Neil
was then awakened, and after securing
a team at Bray livery stable, the party
started for Mrs. Murphy's. The house
was surrounded, and after considerable
delay the sheriff gained admission.
Three men we're found in the attic aud
placed under arrest. They were in
clincd to be troublesome, but The argu-
ment Of a Colts Az proved very con
vincing and effective. The trio were
brought to the city and lodged in the
county Jail. They gave the
names OF AL Rowland, Frank
Dwyer and An3el Egwood, the
latter Il boy Of seventeen or eighteen
years OF age. The other two are tough
looking customers and would be classcd
anywhere rs bad men,
Coyle identified them as the parties
who invaded his barnyara and at
tempted to murder him. The reason of
their attempted assassination is an
known, us they are total strangers 10
Coyle. His escape from death was re-
%markablo, the shot doing him little
injury. The case will doubtless prove
interesting when it comes up for trial.
The prisoners refuse to talk, but from
the evidence ~obtainable, their con
viction and sentence to "a long term in
the pen seems certain.