Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-08-17
ANOTHER SIDE.
OF that Little Difficulty over in Seville
Mr.. Angeles Side-Neighbors Inter
viewed.

The undersigned went to Seville on Mon
day last to make an investigation of the case
which was reported IN the Gratiot Journal,
the Alma Record and the st. Louis lndepen-
dent of two weeks ago, relative to the alleged
almost murder of an ''inofensive old gentle
man" named Moiles, at the hands of one H..
b. Angel.
The investigation of the case
satisfied the writer of this much, at
least, that the case was grossly exaggerated,
and that several of the statements current
are gross misrepresentation.
As to the melee itself, Mr.. Angeles version
is substantially as follows: He said that he
was on his way to Mr. Hamp's, neighbor,
and stepped into the cornfeld, turned to the
south, where he saw that gentlemen at work
a few rods away. He had gone but few
steps when he heard someone say: Here,
You miserable dirty sneak, get out of here"
He turned his head little to one side, and
seeing no one, thought one of the boys was
talking to some hogs III the corn, which was
about up to his shoulders. He had taken
but one or two steps further when the same
language, louder and more forcible, was re-
peated: Here you -- miserable dirty
sneak, want you TO get out of here" He
turned and looked to the north, and about
five or six rods away he saw Moiles under
standing then for the first that the salute
was meant for himself and came from
Moiles. Angel then returned his salute with:
$50 long about your business, you -
------ or I'll stone you" He then
saw Moiles stoop down, saying at the same
time, You'll stone me, will you? Angel
says he picked up two stones and threw
them, as he says, not at him, but as bluff,
10 scare him and send him along about his
business He was looking for the third,
when they came together and cinched. He
is positive that neither stone hit said Moiles.
In the melee he got Moles down, though the
latter got in two blows with a steel railroad
cutoff chsel which he had in his hand, max
ing a cut over Angeles eye and bruse on
the chin. Angel succeeded in wrenching
this weapon from him and throwing it away
distance of few feet, and held Moiles by
the throat. Mr.. and Mrs. Hamp by per-
suasion caused Angel to release his grip and
let Moiles up, who, no sooner was the grip
released, than he grabbed into Angels
clothing, tearing his shirt with rer.t of II
to ID inches. At this Angel griped him
again by the throat, and would not let him
up till he promised TO 90 about his business
Angel disclaims striking Moiles, kicking
him or doing him any other injury
than taking him down and choking him.
The hand which was hurt (which he doubts
was hurt seriously, he thinks possibly might
have been stepped on in the scuflle, though
this he does not know. He is positive it was
not hit with a stone. Hamp corroborated
this story so far as he knew, except that he
thought Angel threw more than two stones
thought it might be five or six. He heard
the beginning of the alteration, but did not
understand what was said-frst he saw was
the stone throwing Moiles was able to take
himself from the field without help, and was
found in bed with his clothes and boots on a
few days later, when visited by the fence
indicating concusively that
he had taken his bed quite hastily on the an
of callers The story of am
bush, jumping on him, with several others
afoat, are entire fabrications. When Mr..
Hamp was asked whether Moiles went for
Angel, Angel for Moiles, or both for each
other, he said Gas nearly as l could make
ont, both went for each other" This cor
tainly would not look as though Moiles were
to keep out of harms way.
To get better idea of the beginning of
the old feud, the writer interviewed three
others of the neighbors, and the assessor of
the school district in 1890, when the trouble
with Moiles began. Mr. Angel believes that
he was the victim of a conspiracy in that
school district matter. Moiles was on the
side, and never lost an opportunity
during the last four years to taunt and hurl
vile epithets at Angel on every possible oc-
delighting in making
some insulting remark when ladies were
present This was testified 20 by three of
Mr.. Angels neighbors.
During the present year the log fence,
which had been built and always
maintained by Angel between Angel
and Moiles, burned out, and
the former took steps to nave ii replaced.
Moiles refused to build, and fence viewers
were called out, who made specifications and
served notices on both parties to build in a
certain time. Angel built his according to
specifications, nine plain wires, one barbed
at top and three stats securely fastened be-
tween posts, and exactly on line as established
by county surveyor. Moiles built his with
four barbed wires and no stats; and, instead
of being on the line, it was placed just over
on his own land. not touching the line. The
fence viewers came on and accepted Angeles
and refused to accept Moiles' part, serving
another notice on him to build fence accord
ing to specifications. This Moiles refused to
do, saying the fence was good enough for
him. 1t was soon after the fence had been
refused by the viewers and second notice
served that the meeting took place in the
cornfeld. This, perhaps, may account for
the choice bit of language with which he
saluted Angel.
As IN Moiles being ian inoffenslye old