The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-10-30
Hurder and Suicide

Two men lie de5 in the Webb a,
mex today as the deed of a rum-craze
man. AT about 8 O'Clock Thursda
morning George vining killed jaime
Jones, shot a Seattle tough name
Hackintire, in tn arm and closed n
oloody deed by turning the gun O
himself. The affair is the result of
drunken hight earlier in the evening
in which Vining got the worst Of 4
He left Deer's saloon saying that h
! would Kill couple of men and the,
finish himself. He went to the cabir
where he was patching with Ere,
bailey, secured his rifle and came bac1
down town. Bailey heard him going
out but thought he was going hunting
and paid no further attention.
Returning to the saloon he opened
the door and covered the men in the
room, but not seeing the parties he
was evidently after, went out on the
street again. Shortly after, Mackin.
tire and man named Ed. Irwin, with
whom he had fought, came out of the
saloon. and Vining fired, the bullet
shattering the formers arm.
The men in the saloon put out the
lights and scattered, and James Jones.
who was friend of Winnings, came
out with P. McCutcheon, and Vinine.
who was standing across the street in
front of the Shelton building, fired the
second time, shooting Jones through
the body, killing him instantly. Vim
ing. then leaned az ainst the store build
ing and putting the gun to his abdo-
men, discharged it by some means.
and expired before anyone reached
hinl.
People came out from the Webb
hotel and adjoining buildings and
found both men dead. The third man
shot found his way to Shelly's Drug
store, where he had been that evening
to get an injury dressed as the result
OF the earlier fight. He broke into
the store and was there found in the
morning. The bones of his arm are
shattered and Drs. Beach and Wells
will amputate the arm just below the
shoulder
Coroner Chapman held an inquest
on the bodies Thursday morning, and
the Jury returned verdict snbstant-
tally as above.
Geo. Vining has a brother William
now on Grays Harbor, and both have
been in this vicinity for about eight
years. He was a native of Canada,
80 years old, and was not especially
quarrelsome except when drinking,
but had never before had serious
trouble. He had been drinking dur
ing the day and night, and was un-
doubtly crazed with rum.
James Jones was an innocent victim,
a friend of Winnings, whose death was
not intended. He was Mason County
boy boon at Clifton, SO years go.
His mother died when the children
were young, and Mrs. VIM. Walter
brought mp the girl, who married Alex
McTavish some years ago, and is now
living at Clifton. His two brothers,
George and Gus are woodsmen. work
ing in this vicinity. His father, who
is an old veteran, lives at the Soldiers
Home in Orting, and has been tele-
graphed for. James Jones was quiet
inofensive man, who generally we'll
liked among the woedsmen.
Remarks such as Vining made of
his intentions to kill others, are fire.
quently made by men while under the
influence of liquor, but it seems to us
that this terrible crime might have
been prevented, if the men around
him had taken him in charge. The
whole affair ought to be a strong tenn
perance lesson, and saloon men gen
orally should use stronger efforts to
prevent those affairs. This is the
worst crime which has ever occurred in
Shelton, and although its citizens are
by no means responsible, it is blot
on its fair name aud a detriment to
the town. Drunken men who are
using abusive language or making
trouble on the streets should be promp-
thy arrested and fined heavily and
there would he more restraint.