The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-12-05
WHISKEY AND PISTOLS.
Corvallis Policemen Thirst for
Blood, aad Go Cunning.

The spirit of the "wild and woody west"
as the effete cast considers it, manifested
itself in Corvallis Saturday night. The
principle actors were the police force of the
city, the sheriff of Benton county, several
members of the Smith-Lieb company, a
| justice of the peace, two councilmen and
several citizens. Whiskey was also mixed
up in the matter to considerable extent
and revolvers figured quite freely.
To begin at the beginning the Smith-Lieb
company was giving most excellent enter
tainment at the opera house that evening.
Some Of the boys in the gallery were dis
turbing the house and Mr.. Babson, man.
ager of the troup, requested Chief of the
| Police Taylor ami Nightwatchman Nc
! Lagan to stop it, but they failed to doit.
Shortly afterwarl Mr.. Babson requested
the officers themselves to keep quiet as they
were seriously annoying the audience by
loud talking. according to one OF the
| ushers McLagan asked Babson if h. knew
who they were Babson replied that he
| did, but it made no difference, it was duty
they owed the rliyers rs well as the audience
| to keep quiet and that they must do SO or
| leave the house. McLagan then left but
soon returned. Mr.. Babson' and James
Hornng were standing in the hallway and
both state that after fea words with Horn
| ing, McLagan suddenly and without warn
| ing or proyocation. struck Babson a severe
blow in the face. This indignity he resent
| ell by telling the ghtwatchman to the
| ground with a cane. Horning caught him
as he fell and sent in for Chief Taylor think
| ing that he might pursuade alcLagan, who
was in an ugly humor, to go to bed and
sober up. Whatever Taylor advised him
then McLagan determined upon taking per-
sonal revenge. He went down to the hotel
| and announced to several that he intended
| shooting Babson on sight and exhibited n
| formidable revolver. Several friends tried
| to pacify him but their efforts were useless.
| He was evidently strongly under the in
| fiuence of liquor and would listen to neither
pursuasion, reason nor threats.
At the closing of The performance word
was sent to Mr Babson that his life was in
danger should he venture ON the streets.
McLagan and Taylor got together again
| and were soon joined by two members OF the
| company, Mezsrs. Tjader and Scott. Tay-
] lor, if an ything, was more intoxicated than
| McLagan and encouraged hi:a in his de-
| termination to to take tho life of Babson.
/ The four started up the street toward Marys
river. bridge and the conversation that
ensned was related by Mr.. Tjader.as follows.
Mr.. Scott (good naturedly). Nov,
"Mac," pull yourself together, be reasona-
BILE and brace up.''
McLagan.-"Well, the d-a cass didn't
treat me right and 1 want to get teven.'
Tjader with one eye on MACS" pistol
pocket and the other on Taylor's revolver).
-ssNow, chief, VIC are good friends, aren't
we, old man? Let's go back and drink to
| sunny skies.'''
Taylor with tottering dignity
sunny Skies Say, "Mac," (hic) I'm the
biggest taxpayer in 'ish town, (hic) amt T.
MeLagau.-"Yes."
Taylor.-'The --o Of a -- insulted
me, didn't he, an I'm the chief of policei
They tried to down me last spring. didn't
| they? I'll show 'en who 1 am. Suited
me, didn't he?''
|. McLegan.-''Tes, and / resulted the in
suit to my chief"
Taylor.-(hic) That's right 'Mac." Their
he hit you with a club. I'd kill the -- o
-"
Tjader, however, induced them to dese
the killing long enough to drink a health tc
sunny skies
In the meantime Mr. Dabson and savera
of his company, unwilling t. engage IN
pistol encounter with the whole police fore
of Corvallis, remained barricaded in tn
opera house. Sheriff OsUurn was notifies
that the police force was running riot Il
town and that his services were required a
, body guard for Mr.. Babson from the hal
to the hotel. lie took him down safely AM
the,. in Company with Justice Holgate an
, several citizens went to look after the pollc
! department Councilmen Flett and LIE
, had meanwhile been sent for and did the
i. best to quell the disturbance. McLaga
, and Taylor were found at ''Our House" an
, McLagan finally promised to drop tho maj
l ter if the Justice would let him swear out
warrant for Babson's arrest. Justice Ho
{ gate, to pacify him, consented. 1t wf
about 2 O'Clock Sunday morning when tn
: Justice took Taylor and McLagan to Il
C court house, but not having his keys he WI
d unable to get in. Holgate then went to h
other Office, over the First National bank,
= get out the papers, the police force agreeir
to await his return. After writing out tt
complaint Holgate again appeared at tt
:, court house but the police had evidently 70
:, gotten their agreement, and instead
III meeting at the court house they car
ie down town. They then went throul
It, the Corvallis and Occidental hotels agar
er the protest of the proprietors looking for NJ
ar Babson, but failed to discover his room, n
d. Bahson having been assigned diftere
ce room from the one given him on the regist
id | Justice Holgate came down town to 10
e. for them and stepped into 'Our House
Just as he was enquiring for them Tay
came in and, according to several witness
n said to the squire, ''You are trying to sne
or out of your responsibility. I'll pull "
nj nose. I'll break your back. He grabt
all Holgate by the throat, bnt just then Geo
nd Avery seized Taylor, who pulled out his
nd volver. James forming who, hearing
-. rumpus, came in about this time and
.f tempted to quiet Taylor, but Taylor pull
- - the gun up into Horning's face and cocl
it, remarking that he was the chief Of pol
=" and what he said went. After some m
H.