Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-25
A SHOOTING SCRAPE.
BUCK HOLIDAY AND J. p. BURTON
EXCHANGE SHOTS.
The Dinculty Said to Bave Arisen from
an Old Grudgo-No One Hurt by
the Bullets-Omcer Hens
ley injured.

There was fusilade of pistol shots
last evening about 8 80 O'Clock on West
Second street, between Spring and Main.
The firing took place in front of Wight
& Burton's cigar stand, adjoining
Melsted's restaurant. The principals
we're Buck Holiday and ]. p. Burton.
1t is known that six shots were ex-
changed.
A witness to the affray stated to
HERALD reporter that he heard at least
ten shots. None of the shots took effect,
and the marksmen stood within about
eight feet of each other. Itappears
from the statements of several people
who were present that the difficulty
was brought on in consequence
of former Misunderstanding
between Burton and Holiday. This
quarrel seems to have arisen over
game of cards. Some one who is evi
IDENTIFY posted on the ins and outs of the
"poker room" in the rear of the cigar
stand kept by w. S. Wright and
Burton, stated that short while ago
Holiday and Burton won some money
from miner who WAS visiting the city,
and that Burton, who seemed to hold
the mutual winnings, refused to make
an equal division. Whether this be
true or not it is, however, stated by
others that the shooting was brought on
by prior misunderstanding about some
gambling transaction.
At 1l2 West Second etreet is a cigar
stand about l0xl2; in the rear is a
''poker room," shut from the public
gaze by screen door. In the little
poker room are three tables and several
chairs. At about $50 last evening
Burton and seve al others were seated
around table, just having finished
game. Holiday entered the cigar etand
and walked back into the poker room,
saying to Burton that he wished to
speak to him. Burton replied that
he did not wish to talk with him. Mr..
Wright, one of the proprietors OF the
room, stated that as soon as Holiday
entered he anticipated trouble and
finally succeeded in backing Holiday to
the screen door but that Holiday per-
sisted in talking with Burton and gave
expression 10 some Fighting talk"
Another witness stated that Holiday
struck Burton and after several blows
were exchanged, Holiday struck Bur-
ton on the head with his revolver. Hol-
liday retreated towards the door and to
| on reaching the street fred five shots in
rapid succession at Burton. Holiday
then turned and ran up the allevway
| between the cigar store and South Spring
I street. While discharging these five
shots rapidly from hemmerless Smith
g. Wesson revolver, Burton was standing
about the center of the sidewalk oppo-
site the cigar stand. The distance be-
tween the two men was not more than
eight feet. 1t is stated that Burton fired
only one shot, and that when Holiday
ran up the alley he ran to the entrance
and fred at the retreating man in the
darkness. However, it is claimed by
several OF the employees in Melsted's
restaurant that more than Elk shots
were fired. One man states that he
heard 10 shots, and that five were fired
in rapid succession, as if by one man.
| One of the walters rushed out to see
what was the matter; he felt something
strike his shoe, and he rushed back to
see what that was A flying bullet had
knocked off a portion of the heel of his
ehoe. ~
Holiday continued running up the
alleyway, as if making for the 10 :45
north-bound train. A telephone mes
cage was sent to the central police sta.
tion and Clerk Cottle telephoned to the
train master at the Commercia-street
depot asking him to hold the train
Detective Bosqui and others went to the
station and looked closely through the
cars, but evidently Holiday was
not on the train. Officer Hus-
ton, who was in the vicinity at
the time of the shooting. arrested
Burton and took him to the station.
On Burton's person was found 80
calibre Smith q Wesson hammerless
pistol. Only one barrel had been fired.
There was ecalp wound on the top of
bis head, where be had been struck by
Holidays pistol. The wound lie slight.
Burton went out with an officer to
secure bail, but soon returned, had his
wound dressed IN the receiving hospital,
where he remains until the disposition
of the case this morning. No charge
was entered against him.
At late hour this morning Holiday
had not been found. 1t is hardly pos
sible that he left on the 10 As train, as
the alleyway through which he ran was
very dark. and besides he had scarcely
sufficient time to make the depot.
Officer S. p. Hensey was detailed to
intercept the north bound Southern Pa.
ciic train. He mounted Officer Hous-
toms horse and started for the depot at
a lively pace, when turning south into
Spring street from Second street the
horses feet clipped from under him and
he fell in heap to the ground. Officer
Hensley's left foot was caught and in
jured. He was taken to the receiving
hospital and WAS attended by Drs Mac
Gowan and Choate. 1t was found that
two or three bones in the arch OF his
foot had been broken. The fracture was
set last night and will confine Mr.. Hens
ley for about five weeks. The injury
will not materially interfere with the
use OF the foot.
Sleep on lesC side.
Many persons are unable to sleep on their
left side The cause has long been puzzle to