Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-24
AN OHIO TRAGEDY.
TERRIBLE RESULT or A FsUD BE-
TWEEN RIVAL EDITORS.
A Regular Fusiiiade In Crowded Street
One of the Principals aud
Bystandsr Killed.

COLUMBUS, o., February ga horrible
tragedy occurred ON Hight street at i:30P.
NJ. in which twelve or fifteen shots were
fred. W. Elliott, of the Sunday Capital,
and A. @. Osborn. Of the Sunday Word,
are understood 10 have done most Of the
shooting. A by-stander named Hughes
was shot through the head and died al
most instantly. The street was crowded
with people incident TO parade. The
trouble grew out of On exchange OF srti-
Giles Of sensational character IN when
the men slandered each other and their
families. Osborn was shot through the
heart and has since died. The Elliott
brothers are under arrest at the police sta
ton and threats are openly made against
w. j. Elliott. His brother, who is presi.
dent of the Free-Employment Bureau OF
the State, was shot in one arm and the
back. The stories Of the shooting are con-
fictine. W. j. Elliott CLAIMS that Osborn
fred the first shot. which killed Hughes.
w. J. Sullivan, a by-stander, was shot IN
the arm and two or three others received
slight wounds, but their names cannot be
had.
THE STORY OF WITNESSES.
Witnesses of the tragedy say Osborn
was standing on the sidewalk on High
street talking to friend, when the Elliott
brothers came along and when close TO
Osborn began firing at him. Osborn back
ed away. firing as he did 30, until in front
Of McDonald's hat store, when he opened
the door aud ran in. AS be entered the
store he turned and received shot under
his chin, which came out Of the back OF his
head. When the police entered the store
Patrick Elliott stood over Osborn'S body,
holding a smoking revolver in his hand:
w. j. Elliott had been seized and disarmed
by bystanders,
Three revolvers have been found, but
0sborn's is not among them. Two. OF them
belong TO the Elliotts aud are nearly empty
Of their loads. The police are ANXIOUS to
find the owner of the third. Every cham
Der is loaded, and the police believe 1t was
held bv some fourth party yet unknown.
There were altogether fourteen shots
fred. Pat Elliott SAYS Mr.. Hughes was
killed by Osborn, while eyewitness
claim that w. j. Elliott shot Hughes. w.
j. Elliott said that he did not regret the
death of Osborn in the least, but would
rather have served twenty years OF his life
in the penitentisry than TO DO indirectly
the cause of Mr.. Hughes's death.
SERIOUS THREArs OF LYScHING.
The excitement incident TO the tragedy
continues and the situation looks threat
ening. Large crowds continue to hover
about the scene. w. j. Elliott and his
brother are held at the city prison, and
owing to threats which have been openly
made the police authorities have taken
extra precautions to prevent any outbreak
Of mob violence. The prison doors have
been securely fastened and only officers
having business in the prison are allowed
TO pass them.
THE AFFAIR SUGGESTS LEGIsLATIyE ACTION.
In the Senate this afternoon Mr.. Cole in
troduced a bill which was suggested 10y
the newspaper feud resulting so horribly
to-day. II provides that any editor, pro-
prietor. owner. OF correspondent who pub
lishes or permits to be published any at
tack upon the private character OF any
citizen with intent TO injure his credit or
standing in public, or to publicly charge
any citizen with unlawful practices in
private affairs, shall be deemedguilty OF 9
felony and fined not less than I 900 and
confined in the penitentiary not less than
one year, or both, at the discretion OF The
Court.