Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-14
THE STANTON SENSATION.

Both Sides of the story, as Told by
Members of tho pOstmaster's Family
and by Banks Bruther--A Quarrel
Over a Grocery iiili Assumed IA PEaze
That Led to IA Desperate mud Tragic
Ending.
Charles Schwendeman, aged 42 years
Stanton's postmaster, was assaulted By
Edwin X. Banks, Il blacksmith, Monday
morning, and his condition is such that
doubts are entertained as to his recovery.
schwendemnn was appointed postmaster
by President Cleveland ia April last lie
is married and Has Il family Of four chill.
dren. In addition 70 his position Us post
master he also conducts Il small grocery
store, and among his customers was Banks
the assailant.
Accounts differ az to the manner in
which the postmaster received his injuries
lie is confined to his bed, suffering from
concussion of the brain, and his condition
~ so critical that his physician refuses to
allow any one except the members OF the
family to converse with him. lie is de-
llrious and scarcely recognizes any one.
Sehwendeman's sou Louis told this story
of the assault this morning:
THE STORY OF THE ASSAULT.
Banks owed my father store bill, and
when the latter went to collect II, Monday
morning, an alteration ensued. As far as
! could learn Banks became angry when
father asked him for money, aud in this
manner the difficulty arose, My father
was leaving the shop when Banks APP
preached him from behind and knocked
him down with an aSehandle. lie was
stunned by the blow, but recovered him
sell and walked home, where he rested on
u lounge. The assault occurred between y
and o O'Clock, Towards noon his head
began hurting him, and he was compelled
to 20 to bed. He has been there ever
Since"
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
Edwin X. Banks was not at home when
an effort was made to interview him this
morning, having gone to Wilmington OH
q business matter, his wife said. His
brother 4. II. Banks, gave this version OF
the assault
My brother owed schwondeman a
grocery bill OF $40, and has been reducing
il from time to time until it is one half liz
former size. lie says that Schwendeman
has acted ugly about it and became abus-
i've several times. Monday morning my
brother was ut work in the shop putting
handle in Ratchet. Schwendeman
entered and asked when he was going to
settle that store bill. Ned told him il
didn't just suit him to pay the money at
soon as he could. Schwendeman
said to him; "Do you cali that Christi
anty?n Now my brother has been Il
pretty hard fellow in his time, but has re-
formed and joined church. When Schwen.
deman threw this taunt at hin q lump
came up in his throat and he said nothing
at that time. As Schwedenman left the
shop he said: You are christian -,
My brother replied that he Couldn't work
any Jimmy Jester game on him. Schwen-
denman had committed an assault OH
Jester and knocked him off the post office
porch, and my brother meant that he
couldn't work the game on him. Ned had
no sooner made the assertion when
Schwendeman grabbed at him with both
hands.
My brother then, in order TO defend
himself, struck Schwendeman on top of the
head. Both men clinched and went down
together. Ned punched Schwendeman in
the face and when thelatter cried enough,
he desisted
They got up and Schwendeman started
TO leave the shop Ned resumed his work.
when suddenly his attention was attracted
py nearing some one say; Don't strike
him. He turned round and saw Schwen-
deman coming at him with an axe-handle.
Inc warning was given him by two work
men who had seen the fight, and my
brother was just in time to dodge the blow
or he would have caught it on his head.
The axe-handlc, as it was came
Npnh pl bIt puCh OL LIS neck
and shoulder, cutting a cash back
of the ear, Schwendeman then went
out into the road and dared Ned out He
said he could lick all the Banks family in
New Castle county, andi Ned would come
out IN the road he would wipe up tho earth
with him. That ended the difficulty and
Schwendeman went home. The first thing
we knew he had warrant issued and Ned
was arrested and taken before Justice
Richardson, who held him in 500 bail for
further hearing on Saturday.
THE TALK OF THE TOWN.
The assault on the postmaster is the talk
of the town and opinion is equally divided
as To the responsibility for the tistic en-
counter. Schwendeman's condition is
critical.
IN A CRITICAL CONDITION.
Postmaster Schwendeman was still in a
critical condition, at noon Wednesday, and
his recovery was regarded as matter of
grave doubt.