Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-26
A DUEL ON THE STREET.
Newspaper Personalities Leads to
Fatal Encounter.


Two MEN hileu anu seVerhi Otnerb
Badly shot--Blood Mt n Holiday Fete--
One Of the Most Daring of Fights.
COLUMBUS, o., Feb. 23.-A horrible
triple tragedy occurred here shortly
after 1 o'clock this afternoon. Two
men were killed and several wounded
in a fusilade of pistol shots. The terri
BILE affair was the outcrop of a news
paper feud which had been raging for
several weeks between the publishers of
the Sunday World and Sunday Capitol
of this city. Col. w. ]. Elliott, editor
Of the Capitol, shot and instantly killed
Albert Osborne, city editor of the
World. w. L. Hughes, an old gentle
man, who was standing near by, was
shot and killed with stray bullet from
Elliott's pistol.
The tragedy, as before stated, was the
result of newspaper war. Two weeks
ago the World made charges against
Elliott's family, duplicating female
relative of Elliott's. Elliott retaliated
on the following Sunday with four
column article, charging f. w. Lever
ing, editor of the World, with being the
joint proprietor of an designation house,
being associated with woman named
Burton in disreputable enterprise.
lowering is an assistant state oil inspec-
tor and prominent in politics. The
charges, therefore, created profound
sensation. The charges against lowering
also implicated Claude Meeker lowering
and his city editor, Mr.. Osborne, re-
taliated yesterday with a sensational
the crimes on the calendar.
IT1I;,t4 With, 1,;5 b,o4t,n. D,4,;c1r -
Osborne met this afternoon on High
street, near the American Hotel Patrick
Elliott opened fire upon Osborne, and
Osborne returned the fire. A running
battle ensued, in which w. j. Elliott
joined, all three men emptying their
revolvers as rapidly as possible. One
of the shots from w. j. Elliott's gun
grazed Osborne's arm, and he turned
and fired at the former The shot
missed its mark, and Osborne fled into
Malcolm Macdonald's hat store. As he
did so he turned and fired at w. j.
Elliott, The latter fired his weapon
almost simultaneously, and the shot
took effect in Osborne's chin. II went
clear through his mouth, upward and
| backward through the brain, and came
out at the base of the skull.
Elliott had followed Osborne into the
store, and as he fired the last shot Crap
| Piled with him. In the scuffle which fol
| lowed both their guns were discharged,
and Osborne fell to the floor dead,
| although the last shot, il is said, did not
| take effect in either man, the ball which
caused Osborne's death having entered
his face as he came in through the door
way Osborne fell upon a large pile of
boxes containing hats, and the weight
of his body causing the boxes to col
lapse, then engulfed him, completely
covering him. Elliott retreated out the
front door, and disappeared in the crowd
| with the revolver in his hand
w. III. Hughes, a highly respected citi-
zen, and formerly steward Of the Imbe-
ellie Asylum was standing on the pave
mcnt, watching the formation Of the
parade. He was struck during the rum
ming battle The ball entered his head,
Immediately over the left eye, and he
dropped upon the iron grating in front
of Ambrose Restaurant, expiring in
stantly. Patrick Elliott was shot in the
back and arm, and has a frightful
wound on top Of the head, The physi-
clans are as yet unable to determine
now stFlUuS MS wounds are.
Three other men are known to have
received bullet wounds. G. w. Sulli-
van, clerk for G. G. GriswoId, who
while passing the scene, was shot in the
left arm, though not dangerously. The
other was a young student, named
Gardner, who received bullet in the
left leg. Several other persons are re-
ported as slightly injured, but were
hastily carried away. w. j, Elliott was
at one time state supervisor of printing
and has taken active part in politics. IlC
is personal friend of Charles Stewart
Parnell the deposed Irish leader. Both
of the Elliotts are locked up at the sta.
ton house.
The story Of the shooting as related
by Gusand Shedan Johns, eyewitness
is that A. G. Osborne was standing in
front of Schrocder's talking 10 Frank
Clark, an attorney, when the Elliots APP
peared, walking south on High street
The two men walked up close to where
Osborne was standing, and one of the
Elliotts remarked "Give it to the -
of -," whereupon one of them free
at Osborne, who started 10 back away
He pulled pistol and began firing a
the two Elllotts, who were following
him with revolvers in hand, shooting a
him. They were facing the north whil(
Orborne fired south. The latter neareC
McDonald's hat store, he opened Til,
door and ran inside, Pat Elliott in clost
: pursuit shooting at him. Pat Rolmai
and Dan McNlanay caught Colonel w
j Elliott, and took the revolver ava,
from him. When the police entered thu
hat store they found Osborne lying deat
, on the floor, and Pat Elliott standin.
over him with revolver still smokinl
in his hand.
Three revolvers have been found, Blu
0sborne's is not among them. Two o
{ them belong to the Elliotts and ar,
t nearly empty Of loads. The police ar,
anxious to find the owner of the third
} Every chamber is loaded, and the polio
believe it was held by some fourth partl
yet unknown. There were, altogether
IA shots fired. Pat Elliott says MI
2 hughes was killed by Osborne, Will
3 eyewitness claim w. j. Elliott sho
c Hughes. w. j.. Elliott said that he dill
c not regret the death of Osborne in til
, least, but would rather have served 2
: years Of his life in the penitentlary thaI
= to be indirectly the cause Of Mr.. Hughes
!. DEATH
f The excitement incident to to-day
: tragedy continues, and the situatio
! looks threatening. large crowds cor
+ tinue to hover about the scene of iii
I tragedy. w. j. Elliott and his brothe
. are held at the city prison, and, OWN
to threats which have been openl
# made, the police authorities have take
g extra precaution to prevent any gu