The herald., 1896-12-16
BOTH WERE BADLY USED UP
A Murderous Fight at West Glendale
Yesterday Evening
J. j. Burke Uses a Wagon Spoke on Jesse
Conyers' Head and Accuses the
Latter of Stabbing Him.

Two badly battered UP persOnageS
were J. j. Burke and Jesse H. Conyers.
as they sat In the office at the county
jail last night at II o'clock, each nursing
his wounds while they awaited the, ar
rival of doctor from the county hos
pital to patch them UP before being
consigned to the tanks under arrest.
Burke had knife wound in the left side
of his head above the ear, from which
the bleod had streamed down his face
neck, and also had received such
smash on the jaw that it was knocked
out of shape and he could talk with dill
Guilty. Conyers had three large, ugly
scalp wounds on different portions of his
head, his forehead was laid open and
both eyes swelled almost shut, the whole
face being beaten black and blue. Each
gazed at the other and wondered whicn
had got the best of the desperate fight
they had engaged in.
Conyers Is engaged on the ranch Of a
Mr.. Pebly at West Glendale and has
charge of the place. He is man of about
81 years of age and bears a good reputa-
tion for peace and quietness. Burke Is
a blacksmith, whose shop is called the
three mile house on the San Fernando
road Contrary to Conyers, he is dis
posed to be quarrelsome and has more
boarding at the Pebley place, and it was
there the encounter took place.
Burke said that he was out in the barn
about $3.50 last evening, after supper
feeding his horse. Near by was the gra-
nary. the door of which was open and
which he stepped up to close Conyers
was inside and jumped out, hitting him
over the head, whereupon he retaliated
and knocked his assailant down. On get
ting up Conyers rushed to the house,
where he procured shotgun and came
out. Meanwhile Burke had armed him
self with wagon spoke and promptly
laid out Conyers with a blow on the
head as he appeared.
Then he jumped on the PROSTATE man.
and belabored him with the heavy spoke
about the head until pulled off by Robert
Garrett who happened to- be about the
place. Burk also claims that he wrest-
ed knife away from Conyers and it was
with this weapon that the wound in the
head was inflicted The knife was given
into the handAof Garrett for safe keep
ing.
Conyers' side of the story is very diff
ferent. He alleges that Burke came to
his back door just after supper and, call
ing him out felled him to the earth with
blow from the heavy wagon spoke. He
defended himself as best he could, and
absolutely denies having attempted to
use either shotgun or knife, yet Of
fered no explanation of how Burke re-
ceived the stab in the head. He was
feeling pretty sore and bruised up, but
had the consolation of knowing that he
had not got much the worst of it. He
did not desire to talk and refused to give
any explanation of the reasons Burke
might have had for attacking him, say
ing he would await examination in
court.
No charge has as yet been put against
either man, although both were brought
In as prisoners by Garrett. That The
fight di not develop into a murder is
most fortunate, as the wagon spoke
used by Burke Is terrible weapon, ca
pable of crushing mans skull with
blow. Conger's weapon was an or0i-
nary large size pocket knife capable Of
Going effective work. After their wounds
had been dressed the men were locked
I'D.