The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-06
DUEL TO THE DEATH,
Triple Tragedy in the
Kentucky Bluegrass
Region.
FATHER AND SON SHOT.
Victims of an Unprovoked
Quarrel With a Drunken
Man.
THEIR AssAILANT WOUNDED.
All Parties to the ARRAY Prominent
in Social and Business
Circles.

LEXINGTON, KY, Aug. 5.-The most
desperate and tragic duel that has taken
place in the Bluegrass region since the
famous fight in which Goodloe and Swope
killed each other occurred in the Woodford
Hotel at Versailles this afternoon, when
William Newton Lane of this city shot and
instantly killed James Rodenbaugh and
mortally wounded the young mans father,
II. G. Rodenbaugh.
The facts leading up to the difficulty
show that it was the result of drunken
debauch. Lane was drunk at Lexington
Saturday night, and yesterday morning, it
is said, had wordy war with hotel
clerk because the clerk would not give him
another drink. Lane was very ugly, and
serious trouble was barely averted. He
went to Versailles this morning, and on
arriving there continued drinking. About
noon he went to the Woodford Hotel and
was given room, and slept until about 4
o'clock this afternoon.
A few minutes after that hour he came
downstairs and met James Rodenbaugh in
the hallway. He was in bad humor. He
asked the young man the amount of his bill,
and upon receiving an answer Lane began
abusing Rodenbaugh, who was a cripple.
Their words soon led to blows, and both
men drew their pistols about the same
time. Lanes first shot struck Rodenbaugh
in the neck just above the collarbone and
lodged Just under the skin in the hack of
his neck. Almost at the same instant that
Lane fired Rodenbaugh's pistol was dis
charged, the bullet producing flesh
&c in, 20 oft
side in line with his heart. The blood
gushed from Rodenbaugh's throat, and,
giving few gasps, he fell backward a
corpse.
Just as he fell his father opened the door,
and as he did so the slayer of the son
turned upon the father and fired, the ball
striking him in the mouth and lodging III
the back part of his head. He reeled, and
when falling Lane fred again, the second
bullet lodging in the old mans spine. He
dropped to the floor and lay by the side of
his son. Casting glance at his victims
Lane walked out of the hotel to be arrested
at the door by an officer and placed in Jail.
When physicians arrived they found the
young man dead and his father in such a
serious condition that his death is ex-
pected at any hour.
H. G. Rodenbaugh was first lieutenant
in the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry and was a
gallant soldier. He was Postmaster at
Nicholasville for two terms under
President Grant He was also prominent
turfman, being for years the senior member
of the racing firm of Rodenbaugh g.
Rodgap.
w. N. Lane is native of Montgomery
County and is about % years old. He has
been considered coed business man and
quiet gentlemen when sober, but when
drinking he is quarrelsome. Lane comes
of a good family and is related to some OF
the best people in Montgomery and Wood
ford counties.
Lane was seen in Jail tonight and told
the following story:
81 came down and told Mr.. Rodenbaugh
that the room was so filthy that did not
care to pay for it. He cursed me and
started toward me as if to do me bodily
harm. / shot the old man because thought
he was going to kill me. While l was
shooting the boy got his pistol and began
shooting at me and l had to shoot or be
killed.
There is great excitement in Nicholas
vile, and the people of Versailles are
highly wrought up over what they call an
unprovoked murder. It is believed that
should Rodenbaugh die the slayer will be
lvnched