The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-17
FOUGHT WITH PISTOLS.
One Fatally and the Other
Seriously Wounded in
the ARRAY.
EACH EMPTIED HIS WEAPON.
A Demand for a Retraction of
Slanderous Accusations Caused
the Trouble.

PORTLAND, Or, Aug. 16.-Dr. Amos
Holmes and DR.. Robert K.Ausplund OF the
Portland Hospital engaged in shooting
affray in the formers Office at noon to-day.
Each emptied the contents of a revolver at
the other. Holmes was wounded in the
left breast andleg, but will recover. Aus
plund wi die from the effects OF bullet
near the heart, second in the right arm
and another in the back of the head.
DR.. Holmes was for long time in charge
of the surgical department of the Portland
Hospital. Ausplund was informed that
Holmes circulated reports at various times
that he (AuspIund) was in the habit OF
kissing the nurses. This aroused Aus
pIund, and he demanded retraction. The
men met on the sidewalk, and Holmes in
vited Ausplund into his Office. There a
quarrel arose and Ausplund threatened
Holmes life. ,Ausplund's ante-mortem
statement says:
''Holmes has long been prosecuting me,
talking disrespeetfully about me and my
friends. / bore the treatment till / was
almost driven to desperation. Smarting
under the injustice of Holmes treatment
1 drew up retraetion of all the ISLANDERS
Holmes circulated about me, which | in
tended TO have him sign.
? "Before noon met Holmes, just as he
was going to his office in the Dekum build
ing. / stopped him, and, handing him the
paper, asked him to sign it. He invited
me into his office, saying he wanted to
read what had written before attaching
his name to the paper. l followed him.
After seemingly carefully looking over its
contents, he said that before signing the
retraction he wanted me to accompany
him to DR.. Richmond Kelly's office, as he
desired to justify some of the remarks. All
this was only byplay on Holmes part, as
he wanted more time. -"
.sNo sooner did ] consent to the latter
than he whipped out a revolver
and began firing at me. l Immediately
reached fer my: weapon. After discharg-
ing one chamber, my pistol-arm became
disabled from one of Holmes bullets, and
L changed the pistol to the left hand, firing
until L dropped"
=. Holmes statement is: to the effect that
after discussing the retraction Asplund
said -;
eff you do not sign the paper, one Of US
must go into eternity?"
'I then got out of my chair" said
Holmes, sand ordered the doctor out of
my office. He threatened to kill me. Not
fearing him, I struck him under the chin.
Ausplund at once; drew a pistol and fired
two shots, whereupon Iaopened fire. At
the fifth shot the doctor exclaimed, MY
God, Pm killed. He fell through the
open door into the hallway. Ireloaded
my pistol. AS I stepped into the hall
Ausplund, who was PROSTATE on the floor,
fired another shot, which struck me in
the leg"
Holmes was removed from his position
as manager of the surgical department of
the hospital yesterday. Since then he has
been very irritable. Before the meeting
with Ausplund he had a quarrel with Hos
pital Director T. A. Wood, who says that
Ausplund's stepping up just at the time
he did probably saved his (Wood's) life.
Holmes is 40 years old, native of
Oregon, and studied in France and
England. He is prominent in his profess
sion and a married man. Auspiund is 81
years old, a Swede: by birth, and was
formerly barber in this city. he gradu-
ated year ago. Once he was student
with Holmes. His condition is very eriti-
cal tonight. "