The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-05-23
SHOT WHILE DEFENDING HIS HONOR
A Tale Of Love, Jeaieusy and Crime
Program for che Observance Of
Memorial sunday I'm North Yak.
lima, at Mason,s.

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his associates. His wife is q comely
woman, and the fruit of the union is a
boy about ten years old. The peace of
their home, on Front street, the old VAL
ley house, was disturbed some months
since when G. Q. Halbert, hide buyer,
secured room there. He was consider
stely treated by Steele, but either through
deliberate seige or through association he
soon won the heart and affection of Mrs.
Steele. This she lavished upon him in a
prodigal manner, when they were
supposed to be alone, but it could not be
entirely concealed, for the argus eyes OF
jealousy were alert and Steele watched
the pair closely. He discovered enough
to know that Halbert had superseded him
in his wife's heart, and this resulted in
frequent quarrels.
Early last Saturday evening Mrs Steele
told her husband she was going across
the track to gather some green's. From
some cause or other Steele's suspicious
were aroused. He followed her and wit
messed a meeting with Halbert. This
was too much for his temper to stand and
be burst out and called Halbert the most
offensive OF names. From the bandying
OF words they commenced hurting rocks.
and then Halbert drew q gun and fred
three shots, one OF which struck Steele in
the arm and passed through bis body,
coming out at the breast. There were
but two witnesses Of the shooting, the
woman and Mr.. A. S. Paul. The latter
was some distance off, but his attention
was attracted by the first report and ne
saw Steele running away and Halbert
with revolver in his hand pointed to-
wards the runner. There were two more
reports and Steele dropped on his knees.
With this Halbert walked off and Mr..
Paul went to the scene of the shooting
and finding Steele badly wounded assist
| ed him to his home. Mrs. Steele when
questioned by Mr.. Paul said that Halbert
had shot her husband and would give no
reason except that they had quarreled.
Halbert, with the blood streaming from
a cut in his head produced by rock
thrown by Steele, made bis way to Chap
pell & Cox store and informed Mr.. Cox
that he had shot man, Here he was
taken in charge by Deputy Sheriff Field.
AT the jail he was not inclined to make
any statement, but in reply to inquiries
OF The HERALD representative he said he
had no gun and that his injuries were
brought about by man coming up be.
hind him and striking him over the head
with rock. While in the sheriff's office
friend brought him bottle of stimu-
lants and he managed to whisper q re-
quest to him to go to his house, secure
some letters and destroy them. The
sheriff made the friend divulge this, and
the letters, written by Mrs. Steele and
containing burning terms OF love, are
now in the hands of the authorities.
1t was supposed at first that Steele had
received two bullet wounds as there was
one IN the arm and one in the breast.
and as he was coughing up blood. DR..
Frank on making hurried examination
gave it as his opinion that the wounded
man could not live, and advised Prose.
cutting Attorney Englehart to receive his
ante-nlortem statement. Steele was noti-
fed that he could not live, and proceeded
to 60 over the story OF his troubles and
the fracas Of that evening. He said he
did not want to say anything against his
wife, but that it was through her fault
that he was brought to his present condi-
ton. He had accused her of iufidelity
and she had denied it, OF course. He
did not believe there was anything very
wrong, but HaIbert always managed to
slip In the house as soon as he stepped
out; and on one occasion, when he was
gone for several days. Halbert spent most
OF the time there. This he learned after
wards. He had waited on Halbert and
told him he wanted him TO leave his
wife alone, but he would watch his
chances to be with her just the same.
One Sunday evening Halbert and bis
wife slipped ont of church and he follow.
ed them to his home. Wien he entered
Halbert ran out OF the house. Again he
accused her of wronging him, but she
denied 1t and again he excused her. That
evening he followed her and witnessed
the meeting. He called Halbert Church
Going - and Halbert hit him
with rock. He then stopped for rock
and while in that position Halbert drew
a gun and fired, the ball striking him in
the left arm. Knowing he had desper.
ate man to deal with aud expecting to bt
killed unless he could get in an effective
blow, he picked up the rock he had beer
reaching for and threw it with all his
force at bis assailant, striking him or
the head. Halbert then fired again, bul
how many times he could not say. Wit
ness thought he had received two bullets
one in the arm and one in the breast
and he realized that he could not live.
Throughout this statement he would
frequently speak Of Halbert as shat cow