The record-union., 1895-04-02
PALMER PROTECTS His POPPIBS.
He Does 1t at the MuzzIe of His
Shotgun.
j. E. Mitchell Went to Pluck One for
His Wife and Got Double
Charge of Shot.

Governor Budd made the mistake OF
his life when he forgot to affix his sigma
ture to the Act Of the late Legislature de-
claring the poppy to be the representa-
tive flower of the Golden State.
The Governor said he had not intended
to slight the poppy, but on the last night
for signing bills it got lost in the shuttle
and was locked up in the safe where
several hundred other pet measures oil
legislators were ''pocketed." Just as he
was leaving his Office after the wearisome
duties of that eventful night the Governor
was asked by some one if he had ap-
proved the poppy bill.
Then it occurred to him that he had
not, but he said he wouldn't go back and
open that safe again even though he made
an enemy of every poppy in the State.
The poppy has already become a dis
| turbing element, because of the promi-
nence given 1t by the Legislature. A
lady saw one growing in field near Oak
Park on saturday, and she wanted it.
Her husband went for it, but he came
near gong home CORY corpse.
According TO the statement made bV j .
&. Mitchell. he and his wife went out to
the country TO breathe the pure atmos-
pher9 OF the suburbs. While ram bling
about the fields thore they espied a lonely
| but none the less lovely poppy growing
in an inclosure. Mrs. Mitchell expressed
desire to have il, and hei husband was
about TO climb over the fence 10 pluck
them when she called his attention to the
fact that portion of the fence was down
near by.
lie says he walked through the OPEN
ing and was in the act of gathering some
wild flowers when man named Eugene
Palmer. who was nearly q hundred
yards away, called out to him to leave.
Mitchell says his response was, "What
do you want? This was repeated, when
Palmer grasped shotgun that was near
by and shot at him, several of the pellets
taxing effect in his neck, chest and arm.
Mitchell says he then asked Palmer
why he didn't come out like a man and
explain himself, instead of shooting him.
and that he had no sooner spoken than
Palmer again leyeled his gun and fired
the second barrel.
Mrs. Mitchell FASTENED to her husband
ana was wiping away the blood that
trickled from his shot wounds. when
Palmer according TO her statement
called out: why don't you go down
there and read that notice?" at the same
time pointing down along the fence,
Mitchell then left the field in haste, had
his wounds dressed and swore TO COM
plaint against Palmer, charging him
with assault to murder.
Palmer's version of the affair was that
he warned Mitchell not to trespass on his
land, but that Mitchell refused TO heed
the warning and that the shots were fired
into the air to intimidate him. Some of
the shot went wild and struck Mitchell.
The shooting was witnessed by 5. A.
Smith, bOOkkeeper for Schaw, Ingram IL
Batcher, and his statement seems to bear
out that of Mitchell.
The examination OF Palmer was to
have taken place before Justice Grady at
Oak Park last evening, but when the
case was called Paimer's counsel, A. L.
Hart, asked for and was granted q con-
tinuance until this afternoon. District
Attorney Ryan will conduct the prosecu-
ton of the case.
1t is said that a week or two ago a
group of children were fired on by some
body in that neighborhood while gather
ing flowers, and that one shot pellet
struck little girl.
II the country people are all going gum
ming for city folks who invade their
poppy fields, the latter will have to take
Gatling batteries along with them.