Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-12
LEADEN COMPLIMENTS.
Two Former Abileneites Let Loose
the Dogs of War on One Another
Ont in Colorado-No One Killed.

GAC 0g5G ~ -
out in Colorado-No One Killed.
La Junta, Colo, Watermelon: La
Junta was the scene of another shoot
ing seance on last Saturday forenoon,
between W. D. Robb and Charles
Rouhan, both of Rocky Ford. The
origin of the iil-feeling between the
two men dates back to over year ago,
when they were partners in an irrlga-
ton establishment at Rocky Ford,
whose lateraIs ran principally Anheuser
Busch fluid and McBrayer straight.
The cocktail and toddy trade developed
q divergence of opinion between the
partners as to the most successful
manner of conducting it. Rouhan was
in favor of reciprocity in its broadest
Jim Blaine sense, while Robb favored
a limited form of reciprocity-Or, in
other words, no treating or giving away
Of booze merely for friendship or &C
Quaintance sake! 1t drew no custom
-hquidsted no bills! ROuhan was
too free! And upon this rock the part
ners split. In settling up, Robb
agreed to give Rouhan 5000 fO- his
half interest in $500 worth of book &C
counts. The matter stood thus for
some months, when Rouhan sued Robb
for the 5000. Pending the trial of tie
cause, Rouhan and Robb met, had
a few words, and engaged i'll a
rough and tumble, Robb wearing
mourning peppers for some days after
the encounter, while Rouhan was con-
fined to his bed for a week, with in
ternal hemorrhage, caused by blows
received in the fight. This intensified
the bitterness between them, and it is
said both went armed after this. The
trial before the Rocky Ford justice of
the peace, Judge Denness, resulted in a
verdict for Rouhan, and RObb appealed
to the county court, where nearly two
days were consumed in hearing the
evidence and testimony, and which re-
suited this time in RObb's favor, who
claimed legal Offset in various notes
and payments made.
Immediately after the conclusion of
the trial, both men met in the hallway
in front of the court room, and the
testimony as to who made the first
hostile move is conflicting. RObb says
that on entering the hallway he was
confronted by Rouhan with pistol,
who Immediately fired, he (RObbl dOdg-
ing and escaping the deadly messen-
ger, and that just as Rouhan fired
again, he grabbed the barrel of the
pistol, thrust its muzzle aside, and
countered upon the top of ROuhan's
head with a heavy hickory cane break
ing that instrument, RObb then
clinched his antagonist, and help ar
irving, the gun was secured, but not
before Rouhan bad fred his third shot,
which burned RObb's left hand and
passed through ROuhan's left arm.
On the other hand, Rouhan says that
Robb first advanced toward him with
uplifted cane, threatening to brain
him; that he pulled his gun and fired
Just as Robb strueh him vicious blow
upon the top of the head, causing him
to reel and make the shot ineffective.
Rouhan's scalp was laid open for dis
tance Of four inches, the blood running
down his face and binding him,
Both parties were placed under arrest
and tried before Judge Brinkman on
Monday, who bound them over in the
sum of $500 each, to await the action
of the grand jury, which meets in
June.
Bond was given in both cases, NJ. ].
Daley and ]. NJ. Snowden being sureties
for Rouhan, while Isaac Freshour and
G. w. Pritchard signed for Robb.
All authorities agree that the end is
not yet. That one or both of the
parties will yet be buried with lead in
his body, is prevalent belief among
those who best know the two deter
mined men. Each has many times
vowed that he would have the others
life, the friends of each claim, and an
opportunity, however slight, is all that
is wanting to herald tragedy.
Actual witnesses to the scene are
wanting from the fact that Judge
Seebre and Roe Powell both crawled
behind the stove, and Roe AYERS that
the Judge actually thrust his head
inside the heater, while Judge Abbott
took a leading but secure position