The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-09-01
A BLOODY ENCOUNTER.
NJ. W. Smith Wounded Three
Times.
THE STAHLBUSCH FAMILY BADLY
USED UP.

A bloody neighborhood encounter
! took place on the island a short dis
tance above Corvallis on Tuesda,
evening in which Mr.. and Mrs. M. w
Smith, John Stahlbusch and two
grown sons participated. John Stahl
busch was arrested Wednesday and in
the afternoon was arraigned before
County Judge Huford on a charge oi
assault with dangerous weapon. He
waived examination and was bound
over in the sum of $500 to appear for
preliminary trial tomorrow.
All the circumstances leading up to
the difficulty will perhaps never be
made know to the public. The fami-
lies live on adjoining farms and con-
siderable bad feeling has existed be-
tween them for some time. Repeated
difficulties, more or less serious, have
arisen, and the investigation by the
court will probably enable the public
to form fairly goDd idea as to who,
in the main, are the aggressors. The
facts regarding the fight Tuesday eve
nlng are stated by Mr.. and Mrs
Smith to be as follows:
On the evening stated Mr.. and
Mrs. Smith went to turn out of their
field some cattle belonging to Stahl-
busch, Mr.. Smith riding pony. AS
they were proceeding to the gate to
turn ont the stock Mrs. S. heard
two whistles at intervals, to which she
paid little attention at the time. The
cattle were driven through the gate
and as they were returning homeward,
they were approached by John Stahl-
busch, Sr., man 70 years old, who
threatened Smith with cane. Smith
dismounted and ordered the old man
off his (Smith's) land. After some
words they separated. starting in oppo-
site directions. Presently Hermann
Stahlbusch approached Smith with a
shot gun in a threatening manner,
whereupon Smith commanded Her
mann not to shoot. The latter, how
ever, came up with threats and placed
the muzzle Of tire gun near Smiths
abdomen. Smith graSped the gun and
threw it upward, when it was dis
charged over his shoulder. In the
struggle which ensued for the posses
sion of the gun the stalk and barrel
parted, with the latter of which
Smith struck Stahlbusch Sr. who in the
mean time had come up and was beat
ing him with a cane. Smith then
struck Hermann with the gun-barrel;
and about this time John Stahlbusch,
Jr., arrived and began shooting with a
revolver, and also received a stroke |
from the barrel. From this time all |
parties clinched and fought for some |
time until word in German from one
of the Stahlbuschs seemed to be the
signal for them to discontinue the
whereupon Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith started home. They were met
on the way by their daughter who
fastened for assistance.
John Stahlbusch, Jr. was in town
the following day, but he is an excit-
able person and a clear statement of
he affair could not be obtained from
1Im. He says, however, that his
ather was out looking for the COWS,
which Smith had been in the habit OF
irving off. While about their home
le and Hermann heard their father
:rying for help and Herman at once
tarted in the direction of the sound ,
While he went into the house, obtained
pistol, and followed. When he had
'roceeded to certain line fence bel 1
ween their land and land belonging to
'mlth, he observed his father and
rother lying on the ground on the
opposite side of the fence. At this c
1oment he was struck with-a club and :,
artially dazed by some person unob- c
sryed. He began firing and emptied !
is revolver in the direction from s
'hlch he supposed the blow had come. :
1hen he fully recovered he and his f
rother were endeavoring to convey \
lie father to their home. AS to the t
'ouble before Johns arrival on the 8
,ene the GAZETTE has been unable to t
btain statement from the Stahl-I :,
uschs, further than that the old gen b
eman has been in no condition to r