New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-24
A DEADLY STREET FIGHT.
TWO MURDERS IN THE MIDST OF A HOLIDAY
CROWD.
BLOODY ENDING OF NEWSPAPER FEUD IN
tHE CAPITAL OF oHIo-AN INNOCENT BY
SANDER KILLED AND SEVERAL
WOUNDED BY FLYING BULLETS
tsr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.J

WOUNDED BY FLYING BULLEIS4
tPY TELEGRAPH To TRBUSEJ
Columbus Ohio, Feb. 23.-As the result of
newspaper feud, a tragedy occurred at 80 this
afternoon which ended suddenly the lives of two
men. one an innocent spectator, who was unfort-
innate enough to be passing along when the des-
nerate encounter took place. The shooting took
place on Hgh-st., the principal thoroughfare OF
Tho CITY in front of the State Capitol, and at
time when thousands of people had gathered 10
witness the demonstration i'll honor of Washing
toms Birthday The signal gun for the procession
10 move from the east side of the Capitol had Juse
been fired and the Sons of Veterans Drum corps
with martial music were filing along High-st. on
the west side of the building and directly IN lrohV
of the scene of the tragedy. The principals !"
the affair were William j. Elliott, Editor and pro-
prietor of The Sunday Capital" and his pfother'
Patrick j. Elliott on one side, ana William
lowering, Editor and proprietor OF Inc ounuaS
World,n and A. c. Osborne, the city editor OF the
same paper, on the other.
The feud that led to the shooting had lis orisi"
in a quarrel between w. J. Elliott and OSBORNE
who was formerly in the employ Of Elliott as
CITY editor, growing out of business rivalry anu
personal feeling in their relations as employer anu
emplove When Osborne left Elliott's employ
and engaged on a rival newspaper plt'er wal.
fare was at once opened through the columns u
the respective newspapers, Elliott Deihs 'he az
cressor W. f. Levering was accused py Ing
CAPITAL Of hiring and publishing rlVai p"p,i
on the proceeds of house oi III
repute run by himself and a woman whom' IL
was alleged he had ruined, ana his
CITY editor Osborne, was charged IN plalh terms
with being a thief and blackmalIer. Ihls artl'ie
appeared one week ago. and yesterday leVelihS
and Osborne retalated through The world
They charged that Elliott story was part oil
conspiracy to ruin business llVal ana uieS
boasted of immoral relations with female men,
bers of Elliott's family.
Roth articles were of the most bitter personal
character. and the occurrence of to-day was not
uuexpected. At the hour stated both of the
Elliotts, heavily armed, walked south on Highest,
and caught sight of Osborne, who stood IN 'front.'
of a hat store The street swarming with
people bent on day of pleasure and sightseeing.
The ElliOtts pulled their TevOlvers, William D.
being the first TO fire. The fire was returned
by Osborne, and a regular fusllade followed, not
less than fourteen bullets being sent whlzzlhg lhuo
the crowd. At the first report the throng surgeo
toward the men, but those nearest them IN
moment realized what deadly fight was IN prog
ress and attempted retrace their steps 80 dense
was the crowd that those in advance were hemhleu
in as if surrounded by stone wall. a circle
few feet in diameter formed, and in the CEN
ire the Elliotts stood and fred, while Osborne on
one side answered every shot. The most intense
excitement prevailed. Women and children hemmed
in by the tbrong shrieked, and strong men Seneo
"Murder!" in lusty tones.
Suddenly the crowd parted, and T. j. Elliott
started toward the cent,e of the street. but soon
turned and followed Osborne into the hat store
where the two men came close together a terrlho
hand.to-han encounter took place, as the dozen
or more people who had taken shelter in the room
scrambled for the rear door. Several shots were
fired in quick succession, and Osborne fell dead
with bullet through the head and another
through the heart. James Peoples, the baseball
man, was the only one who failed TO escape from
the hat store lie was cut off from retreat and
took shelter from the flying bullets
behind the counters He escaped injury.
During the fight in the store W. J. Elliott held the
crowd at bay on the outside until Policeman Nc
Manary disarmcd him Pat" Elliott was next
captured by the policeman
The killed are A. c. Osborne city editor Of The
World aged thirty-three, single, and w. L.
Hughes aged siXty-three, married; he leaves a
wife in this city and a married daughter in Buff
falo. Mr.. Hughes received two balls through the
head.
The wounded number four, as follows: 7. j.
Elliott, aged thirtyive, scalp wound on the head,
shot through the arm and a slight wound in the
back; John Reese, formerly of the Adjutant-Gen-
erals office, shot through the leg: g. f. Carl"
medical student of Danville. Knox County, slight
wound in right knee {. W. sullivan, book
keeper shot through the left arm just below the
shoulder Joint. Several others were slightly
and a number of people had
bullet holes through their clothes.
The most lamentabe part Of the tragedy is the
murder of Mr.. Hughes a quiet and inOhcnsyc OLD |
man, who stood high in the community. W. j. |
Elliott is the man whom cX-State Auditor klcsc |
wettcr shot at in a hotel in the fall of 1886 on
account of personal assaults through the formers
paper w F. Lcvcrng holds an appointment as
Deputy State Oil Inspector under Governor Camp |
bells Administration, and p. j. Elliott is super
intendent of the State Free Employment Agency |
in Columbus There is great indignation among |
the people tonight, and considerable talk OF
iynching is heard. ,c.,..-,..,
In the Senate this afternoon Mr. Cole introduced |
q bill which was suggested by the ARRAY to-day |
IL provides that any editor. proprietor, owner or
who publishes, or permits 1" ne !
any attack upon the private character !
Of any citizen with intent 10 lnJurc his dedlt or
standing in public. or to publicly charge any clt-
zen with unlawful practices in private aiialrs
shall be deemed guilty Of felony ana nheu no,
less than 81 900 and confined in the peni'entlary |
not less than one year or both at the discretion
Of the court.