Semi=weekly graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1895-1902, 1896-05-06

after until two pistol shots were
heard, and then, with short inter
mission, the third one, and Lew
Owens was seen rolling down thu
steps like dead man and onto the
sidewalk, bleeding profusely. Then
so a witness informs us, City Clerk
Bloom ran down the steps and be.
gan beating the PROSTATE form
of his bleeding and unarmed
antagonist over the head
with his glistening revolver until
Messrs. Simon Bloom and Arthur
Murray rushed up and stayed his
! hand.
Bloom was then promptly arrest
ed and taken to the office of the Chief
of Police.
Owens was picked up and carried
to DR.. Runyah's office where his
wounds were critically examined and
dressed by Drs. Rnnyan and
] Troupe. Upon investigation, as
marvellous as 1t may seem, notwith-
standing the belligerents were in
four feet of each other, it was found
that not single shot from Bloom s
weapon had perforated his person,
| but that his head and face were
badly beaten up and cut with sew
eral severe gashes in the back of the
head and cash in the face. These
wounds were promptly dressed and
sewed up and Mr.. Owens removed
to his boarding house. In this con
nection it must also be mentioned
that no weapons whatever were
found on Owens person.
When it was found that Owens
wounds were not dangerous, Bloom
was allowed bond in the sum of
81, 600 and permitted to return to his
home.
All day Friday Owens was making
preparatio to leave for Hot
Springs the next morning, and his
difficulty in no wise changed his
course. When GRAPHIC reporter
sought Mr.. Owens Saturday morn
ing to get his version of the affair, it
was found that he had gone to Hot
Springs in hope of recovery from the
rheumatism. Mr.. j M. Tucker, who
was with Owens at the time of the
trouble, was also not in town, hay-
ing engineered freight out on the
Cotton Belt the midnight previous.
Therefore, the GRAPHIC is unable TO
publish any statement from either
of these gentlemen, and all other ne
counts are exceedingly conflicting.
The GRAPHIC reporter also calleu
on Mr.. Buck Bloom yesterday for his
statement in regard to the unfortu-
nate affair, and in compliance with
our request, he prepared the follow
ing statement
BUCK BLOOMS STATEMENT.
II was at work in the office last
night (Friday) when a friend of
mine, a Mr.. CRANKY, stepped in to
talk to me of personal matters,
about $50 O'Clock. l invited Mr..
CRANKY to Join me in a glass of beer.
We Immediately repaired to the
Hotel Truloek bar. Noticed there
were about hall a dozen men at the
bar and after giving my order
noticed one OF the gentlemen trying
to give me some kind of signal,
which, under the circumstances,
took to be a warning of impending
danger. Immediately afterwards
noticed Owens walk behind me and
that he carried an immense cane. |
After sizing me up and after punch |
ing my friend with the stick with
the view of getting him to leave, as
thought, he again started towards |
me, and as he saw | was in my shirt |
sleeves aud unarmed, | believe he in |
tended to strike me, but was called |
off by MIR. Tucker, aud taken out of
the front door, having been preceded |
by his friends. A few minutes later
Mr.. Cranky and myself also left the
saloon and as we passed Owens he
remarked in sarcastic manner to |
CRANKY That's fine company you
are in Mr.. CRANKY called my at
teution to the remark, saying he be-
lieyed Owens was looking for trouble |
We came back to the Office and after
talking "a few minutes l closed up
and, believing from Owens actions
and remarks during the day that he
intended to injure me, and remem-
bering that my pistol was in the
Office, put it in my pocket, and on
leaving the Office, saw Owens and |
Mr.. Tucker coming towards me, as
if they were coming to my Office, be-
ing olny few feet from them, and
as we got face to face / spoke to Mr.. |
Tucker, saying Hello Tuck" just |
as did so, Owens struck at me,
raising his stick at the same time.
lodged his lick and took few steps
back, and seeing Owens coming
after me, pulled my gun and fired
twice. Mr.. Tucker then asked me to
stop, which l did, but Owens still |
advanced toward ME with Tucker |
between us, and as he raised his cane