The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-23

other In Hospital.
A neighborhood feud. arising out OF
frifies, embittered by the strong charac-
fers and personal ambitions Of the partici-
pants. fostered by pernieious gossips. and
intensified By political differences. was the
real cause OF the homicide which occurred
near Avondaie. eight miles southeast OF
woodinvllIe on Wednesday. The imme-
dIate occasion was a wordv alteration be-
tween old ". L. Mccain and Joseph
Cicero, followed by the personal cbastise-
Ynent Of the younger man by the sons OF
fhe old man. and final resort TO deadly
weapons. Joseph Cicero being slain IN the
conflict by either John or James Mccain.
and the iast-nameG being MANNED for life
by n rife ball SCATTERING his elbow.
The cnbIttared families have lived on
sd ioining ranches for over seven years
and the members Of both were highly es-
feemed by the rest of the neishborhood
each being in n sense leader. with a friend
u following about equally divided. For
the first two years they were neighbors
the McCanns and the Clceros being ex-
ceedingly intimate. and they themselves
cannot tell from what small original dif-
ference the present aBimosity has arisen
The Mccanns are prominent Populists.
Mr.. Cicero was a leading Republican. DIFF
ferences OF opinion on political matters in
rural districts often embitter the entire
social life Of tho neighborhood and in the
neghborhood OF the Cicero homicide was
this especially true. Ever election for
several years has been turbulent and lndi-
cations OF violent examinations have often
appeared. While the feud was bitter IT
was not deadly and both sides seemed to
be anxious 10 respect the law. and in cool
er moments the taking % human life
would be abhorrent TO both families.
All but ono Of the eyewitness to the
toll hgf- ft
InteilIgencer reporter, and while there are
numerous minor discrepancies the ac-
counts all agree that the AIcCanns were
the acgressors.
How the Last Quarrel Began
John Parm, who was the nearest eye
witness OF the shooting. said II stopped
in the road where Cicero provan and
Davis were at work. and was talking TO
them when tho McCann boys came no
from their home, about a quarter of a mile
distant Jim Mccain at once went IN 20
Cicero and commenced 20 row with him,
saving:
"'You abused my poor old father. did
YOU?
"ETe At once jumped on Cicero. beating
him in the face with his fists John Nc
Cam also came up and hit Cicero lick
or two. Jim knocked Cicero down. and
used him terribly rough. pounding his face
with his fists. While hammering Cicero he
kept repeating:
You abused my poor old father. did
you?
when Jim at first said this. Cicero re-
piled:
I didn't do any such thing Go away
from here and let me alone
Jim at length let Cicero get up, and
the latter went over and sat down on a
log by the roadside. John Mccain then
went over and hit Cicero a lick in the
face with his fist. and as he did so he
said 20 Jim.
. Give him some of that you have in
your pocket. Tho --- -, shoot
him.
Cicero then rose UP and said: BOYS. I
never abused the old man. II that's your
ssre. 'nst walt here. I'll be back pretty
soon and he started Off Up the road toward
his home. about 500 yards distant Dur
ing the hght all us spectators We're within
ten to twenty feet or the combatants.
In Hot Pursuit of Cicero.
AS Cicero started for home. Jim go, IN
front or him and renewed the fight. Cicero
fought back. and finally got away from
Jun. running M the road toward his
house. The Mccain boys continued IN
FOLLOW Cicero up, when the spectators all
spoke To the boys and tried % get then,
a. let Cicero alone and 10 home. saving
that they had abused Cicero enough I
ana Hutchinson went on up the road tow
ard tho hoys while Davis and pr,vsn %
mained behind 20 tho work When ~
asked them to let up on Cicero the NJ
sahns stopped for a moment and thon
etarted after him again on the run. R,,t
Slceto had gotten "a good start and had
cut across his barn lot 20 his dwelling ho-
fore the MeCanns got up 20 Slc.ro-s
Fence. They thereupon got behind some
ng stumps and waited for Cicero 10 roam
pear. Cicero came out through his har,
10Y Win Winchester rifle hanging down
IN his right hand. evidently NOT ,vrastt,,e
- be-
Cicero got into the road and while he v,,s
ahout thirty steps away from the hovs
Jim McCann twice hailoeed out the warn
ms:
" Go hack. Joe
NCtapn Fires the First shot.
Joe didn't s'op bu, raised his gun into
position Tor shooting. As tho NfcCanns
we're behind stumps he could nor soe
them, and be came out further and crossed
the road When Joe refused - heed az.
second warning. Jim commenced % shoot
rring twice. and both shots missing thefr
aim. BY this time Cicero had gotten f,t--
Their cut in tao road ana could SEQ ,,her,
Jim was shooting from re fhcre,,,,,,
fired hts rifle az Jim. hitting him in tba
left elbow and Jim replied with another
Intellectual Shot.
As these last shots were exchanged
both Cicero and Jim Mccain were rapid.
~ advancing towards each other ana y-a~a
perhaps only ton or fifteen stems anar,
As he fired the last shot Jim rushed AZ
Cicero and grabbed az the rife IL was a
crazy thing 81 90, as 81 seems 20 NE Joo
could have filled Jim WIKI Head While ne
latter was rushing on him Rut either
Cicero was dared with The beating he asa
gotten In the fist fight or his gun wourgn.,
work Just ~ that moment was watch
Ing jim. Rut az any rate Cicero never
frcd another shot. for during the s~tsfle
with Jim ne dropped the rife ana h,,b
90 them, while C}uched stumbled a~~ssS
the read from where the rifle law. Cs.er,
rnaly GOT Jim down ard vas On IAN ~
him. I was about Gftv wards away fror,
them and as near as ! could judge cicero