The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-11-28
IS HANDY With His GUN
Contractor Owens In Jail For Shooting
Merchant Conway at KenneWiCk.
NOMINEES FOR THB CITY OFFICERS
A striking and Able Euiosy Pro-
nounced at the Funeral OF state
auditor Grim es-Other News Notes
Under Sub-Heads.

Merchant Charles Conway, of Kenne-
wick, was shot in the right shoulder by
Edward Owens, n contractor. while
standing in front OF his store on the morn
ing of Nov. %. After the shooting
Owens took to the hills where he remain
ed until 4 a. M. OF the following day,
when owing to the cold, lack Of an over
coat, and probable knowledge that Con-
ways injuries were not of a serious
nature he made his way to ,Pasco and
gave himself up to the sheriff.
The assault was due to a complication
of circumstances in which an unbridled
temper, neighborhood gossip and the
| hard times were the principal factors.
Co. began the construction Of ditch to
water the lands in the vicinity Of Kenne-
wick Considerable work was done but
the ditch was not completed when the
Dell Haven Irrigation district was orga-
nized under the Wright law and the
interests of the company were sold to the
district Owens was one of the con-
struction contractors and performed work
to the value OF several thousands OF dol
lars, for which he received warrants but
little or no money. Conway furnished
Owens with supplies for his men and was
secured by warrants which proved to have
little commercial value, or at least were
not negotiable at satisfactory figures.
Matters went along in this way for some
time, when Owens was arrested for open :
ing one of the ditch gates and permitting
the water to escape. For this he was
placed under bonds, giving as Sc
Gu rity scrip of the Dell Haven Irriga
ton district of the face value of 81 900.
This scrip found its way into the hands
of Conway, ostensibly for safe keeping,
but after the settlement OF Owens legal
trouble he refused or did not surrender it.
Thus the matter stood up to the time of
the shooting.
According to what developed at the
| lClu DCiOlC uo-
tice Rodman in the parlor OF the Hotel
Yakima, on Tuesday of this week,
Owens rode into Kennewick on the morn
ing Of the 22nd and passing Conway's
store holloed to him that he wanted to
see him later on. A couple OF hours after
wards he put in an appearance, as Con-
way was standing in front of the store,
and according to the testimony submit
ted, said "What is this hear about that
warrant" With this he planted his
fist in Conway's face, drew revolver.
aud after Intellectually trying to fire it
once. managed the next time to send a
bullet through Conway's left shoulder.
Then using the gun as club he beat the
storekeeper over the head.
Conway and his wife both testified to
this effect and the appearance of the
prosecuting witness, who was swa thed in
bandages, evidenced that the assault was
a vigorous one. They also testified that
Mrs. Conway came from the storeroom at
the beginning of the trouble and that she
begged Owens to spare her husband as
they had always "befriended" him. For
this, according to their testimony, Owens
pointed the gun fairly at Mrs. Conway's
4 face and pulled the trigger, but the car
fridge failed to explode. Then he struck
at her head and through lodging the gun
landed on her shoulder. Owens took the
witness stand only to refute the latter tes-
timony. He admitted shooting Conway
but denied any assault upon the woman.
No plea was entered Tor the defendant by
his attorney, Mr.. Fred Miller. the effort
being directed at having the bail placed
at low figure. Justice Rodman named
$500 as the sum, which Mr.. Miller init
mated would be secured as soon as COM
munlcation could be had with Owens
| friends at Kennewick.