New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-18
,uoT THE MAN HE HATED.
rRENZIED LITIGANT'S DEED
sx.ArroRNFT- GENERAL MILIhR.s Law
-rrrE THE SCENE OF THE AFFRAY.

o,, ,vD FIRES TWO BULLETS INTO HIS
S..oryrR-rS-IAw. WILLIAM PRUNING AND
O,pExrAlLY WOUNDS ALSO HIS OWN
,, MR.. MILLERs NARROW
pr- copLAND's RECITAL OF
HIS ALLEGED WRONGS.
,ts April 17.-Ex-Attorney-Gener
h'.a law Office in this city, over which ap-
Nfe' s;cn Miller Winter & Elan, Attor-
pears -" tho scene at about noon to-day of
rss ", shooting affray. In which Addison
ssnsS" nrominent lawyer Of this city, and
h"' II pruning. Of New-York. werc wounded
Win'n ~. Miller narrowly escaped injury. The
vhAs tho shooting. it is said. was feud be-
e " NJ Copland, of Madison lno'' anu
tween Rruning his brother-in-law. which be-
WHEN sc, when COPELAND began paying court
.aMr Bruning's sister
p,,ning family were opposed 10 the mar
II" .,ejr daughter 10 COPELAND. but IN 1870.
nas .ss latter was a member of the legislature
VIII" ,b4 Young woman arranged to marry
Dc o. ,ho will Of the parents Miss Brunins
as'.", v.s, but the family prevailed upon her
VIZ" home. later giving reluctant consent
~. marriage COPELAND and his wife TOOK
.s.r abode with the latter's parents where
'" ,,vsa until the parents died. Between the
' -a and brother there was. however olt-
~,,-.d. and when the elder Bruning died
" W. co,land brought suit to set aside the Will
" ,.ror,ed a short time afterward. another
:. .ro;ns, Bruning by Mrs. Copland 10 set
'I, oonvevance Of property alleged TO have
ss'0N - ~. ber to her brother under threats
w" ;F cba refused Those
~. nsra fled in Madison. but. as Bruning
!. now living in New-York they were removed
>. the Federal Court on petition or the ue-
,,a.,, DISPOSITIONS in the case were to be
..,., IN Indianapolis to-day. AS court ad-
..r-,sa az noon. COPELAND approached Mr.. Harris
q, LAWYER. and said that he understood that
-. ..,osit,ons would not he taken. as the parties
-. No, readv. Harris suggested that they
=. or.r n the office Of Miller Winter & Elan
-. "a. about Il. that firm having been en-
yloyed by Bruning.
COPELAND OPENS FIRE on PRUNING.
4, .,sv entered the office. Harris recognized
Bruning and advanced 10 snake hahos VIII"
~, A. the same moment COPELAND saw Bruning
and Instantly drew revolver ana began nrihe
O, him. Bruning arose as the hrst shot was
fred. and evidently attempted 10 defend hiH-
self but COPELAND followed UP his fire with two
more shots before any one could interfere
7, was found moment later that two shots
Rad taken effect in Brunings person. one break
ing his law and the other lodging In MS arm
As the third shot was fred. Mr.. Harris selzed
copand. and attempted to hold his arm Just
at this instant another shot was fired and Mr
Harrs's arm fell by his side. one Of the bones
being broken by the bullet Ex-Attorney-Gen-
,ral Miller who had been In the private room
rushed out and attempted to hold Copland. ou'
ve latter struggled desperately and. throw
sythe ex-Attorney-General from him. followed
auning into the front room Of the office, firing
she went
Police Superintendent Powell. who was passing
n the street, heard the firing, and entered the
rcon. With the assistance OF five other men, he
threw COPELAND 10 the floor and placed him under
arrest Bruning ran at once to doctor once
IN the struggle Copland received a severe cut
upon the head. When Messrs. Miller and Win
Ter emerged from the struggle. both We're COW
cred with blood from the wounds on Copand's
head
THE wOULD-BE AssAssIN's STORY
When seen al the police station COPELAND was
greatly excited and expressed regret that his
attorney. Mr. Harris had been hurt. Asked re-
gariing the cause of the trouble, he said
"0n September %. 1850 | married Bruning's 3
sister Before our marriage she was on visit
70 relatives at Mount Pleasant. Iowa. Brunng.
o. learning that was 10 marry his sister. went
% Iowa and forced her To deed piece Of prop
cry In Evansville. He told her thai II she re-
fused to sign the deed 10 the property before
sne married me. she would be a widow IN a very
.'T days after We were married. with MS
tands held up. he sWOre he would make her a
widow. She asked him If he intended 10 XII
ne He said he did. unless she made the dced'
eJ nc de ,fy,tr hs q
sclon until after my wife came from New J orK
= FEBRUARY. 1892 when my mOther-in-aw died.
bruning completely robbed my wife by having
MS father. who is eighty-fOur years OF age,
ernosi blind deaf and entirely incompetent. II.
Eske will disnheriting my wife. Five days
sl'er The funeral Of my mOther-in-law, BruninS
ndo MS father enter into a dissolution OF part
,,s'ship Of the firm Of j. II. Bruning Son.
M ne aiso had his father make a deed giving him
81 tne partnership interest Everything was
Kept from my wife
=, ! called Mr. Harris and waited until he came
n1m Inc courtroom. He took me across the
s s.Dse' to the ofiAe Of some one. know we
.ri. III up stairway and walked into a room
a. a" remember is that | saw that villain seated
~ - corner did not know he was in town
:. .Aa mad no idea " meeting him. He seemed
xts,% az nght up before me. do not remember
.hsi was done or who was in the room.
MI ,s.o sec no one except him. ! know lot OF
s -a pushed me into "A corner and hurt me. The
vi ayant M involved in the cases is about $5OOOO In
1880 and from $4,000 10 $O0OOO IN tho
'an.nership matters"
NJ, ,,ss,'pland was member Of the Legislature In
= =, .,ho ana lsS5, and has an extensive acquaintance
Ems ss city. 4 springback dirk knife. with an
n, ,s"s-incn blade. was taken from his pocket al
-. taL Inc revolver IS Of large calibre and Oi
H.. nanmerless pattern. II was stained with
WI Only one Of the six chambers was filled
INSPECTING Az ORDNA NCE PLANT.
oe'nehem. Penn. April II (SpeciaD.-The larg,