San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-06
PISTOL PICNIC.
A Crank's Trigger Finger, and the
Accidental Shooting of
McCluskey,

A Crank's Trigger Finger. and the
Accidental Shooting of
McCIuskey.
Last night about 1880 O'Clock a whole
sale pistol fusilade took place at Har-
nisch & Baer's confectionery store, on
Commerce street, that would have been
really laughable had not the lives OF so
many innocent citizens been placed In
jeopardy 80 crimlnally. The Kentucky
lawyer, Virgil b. Duval, furnished the
Herman Stappenbeck, delivery man for
Ronse & Wahlstab, started Ii. Counsel
lor Chevalier. formerly involved In q
feud with the doughty lawyer, WAS not
to blame this time. Stappenbeok and
wife and Duval and wife have been
occupying the same house on Blum
street, and Stsppenbeck yesterday had
ordered him to vscate their part OF the
house. Stappenbeck alleges that Duval
Guarrelled with and insulted Mrs. Slap
penbeck, calling her q liar. Stappen-
beck was not at home at the time. Yes
terdry evening he saw Duval
pass Ronse & Wahlstab's door, and
ran rapidly out and caught
him by the coat collar, demand
ing satisfaction for the insult to his
wife. Wrenohing himself free from his
enemy's grasp, Duval stepped back and
stepped into the alley next the Pacific
Express offics. Directly they emerged
and Duval threw quart can Of oysters
at Stappenbeck who lodged and Mr..
John SPAIN, who was passing, caught
them on the first bounce. The two
beligerents then closed and broke away,
Duval running back through the store Of
Harnisch & Baer, into the back yard.
He must have jumped the fence and
emerged into the back yard Of the Ex-
press office, as Stappenbeck soon found
him there when he went to get bis
team. He hustled him out and
then Duval started of firing at
Stappenbeck at random. slap
penbeck, too must have started of, as
did all the others. Presently Duval
emerged from Harnisch & Baer's store
shooting As he ran wildly up the street
toward Commerce street bridge, yelling
and firing. People on the street gave
him wide berth and 1t was not until
his ammunition had gone that he ceased
ian and had drank barrels OF whisky and
gore. Soon Officer Bennett appeared
and disarming him marched him of to
the bat cave, where he was accused OF
assault with intent to kill, and then
transferred to the county Jail. He says
he meant to kill Stappenbeck and wishes
he had, and also wanted another bullet,
to have q shot at John SPAIN.
Duval's trial is set for next Monday q.
m. at 10 O'Clock, 10 Justice McAllister's
court.
MC'CLUsKY's CONDITION.
Another shooting affair, this one pure
ly accidental, however, and which the
LIGHT had mention OF yesterday after
noon, was In the Revolving Light saloon.
Constable K. o. Stevens and Deputy
Sheriff Dan MoClusky were sitting at
table talking about expert twirling and
handling of pistol. Dan reached over
hand and began twirling 1t about on his
trigger finger like q great many Texans
love to do. In whirling the pistol
was cooked and In the revolution by its
own velocity, the hair trigger which
Mr.. Stevens always uses on his pistols,
fell upon and exploded the cartridge, the
ball grazing Dams sleeve and passing
up, Embedded itself In his neck, making
an ugly and very dangerous wound.
He was carried to the hospital and at
tended by DR.. a. Herff. He rested we'll
last night, although partial paralysis has
set In and the surgeon thinks there 10
some chance ofhis recovery.
On the say-so of some one Constable
Stevens was arrested and charged with
assault with intent to kill and was taken
before Justice McAllister, who fixed his
bond at 5000, which he gave al once,
with Bryan Csllaghsn and Dan Lewis as
sureties.
The wounded man himself stated to
his sister and others who talked with
him about the shooting, that Constable
Stevens was In no way to blame for the
shooting. That IL was purely accident
al, inflicted by himself.