The Forrest City times., 1898-09-09
POLITICS AND PISTOLS.
Fatal fractional Fracas Among the
Silver Republicans at COL
orado Springs.
CHARLES HARRIS, OF DENVER, KILLED.
The Tragedy the Result of One Faction At.
tempting to Obtain Possession of the
Opera House Where the Convention Ia
to be Held, Already Seized and Guarded
by the Other.

Colorado Springs, Col, Sept. s.-The
political war between the two factions
of the silver republican party resulted
in the death of Charles Harris, of Den.
yer. 1t was the result of an attempt
by the Broad faction to capture the
opera house, which was guarded by
the Sprague faction.
At four o'clock a rush was made by
IS or 100 of the Broad men from both
front and rear of the building, and the
Sprague men, who held possession, in
repelling the attack fred volley into
their assailants, and Harris fell with
bullet through the abdomen.
Where the Shooting Occurred.
The shooting occurred just outside
the opera house door. Several arrests
have been made. The man who fired
the shot which struck Harris is I'M
doubtedly in custody, but his name
can not now be ascertained.
The tragedy was preceded by the ac-
ton of National Chairman Towne, in
removing Richard Broad from the
craftsmanship of the state committee,
on the ground of ''disloyalty to the sill
yer republican party and the cause it
stands for it being alleged that he
had joined in conspiracy with
friends of Senator Wolcott to defeat
the proposed fusion with democrats
and populists.
The Teller and Towne Delegates Were in
Possession.
Charles S. Sprague, representing the
Teller and Towne delegates, obtained
possession of the opera house in which
the convention is to meet, and refused
to surrender it at the demand of ex-
Chairman Broad.
Mr.. Sprague is editor of the Colo
RADIO Springs Evening Telegraph.
James A. Howsee, Walter Russell, J.
j. Lang and A. C. Smith, of the party
in the hall, were arrested.
Marks of the Bullets.
The sliding doors which form the
entrance to the auditorium show the
effects CT the shooting. The right
hand door, as the room is entered, is
perforated with the bullets from
Winchester, and a ball also lodged in
the left door. Both were fired from
the inside of the room and are about
as high as a mans head from the
floor.
Harris Didn't Live Long.
Harris died soon after he was shot.
Another man was struck in the cheek
by the same bullet that killed Harris.
Sheriff Boynton and Chief Gathright
took control of the opera house, and
made a thorough search. The sheriff
said they discovered a whole arsenal
in the building. The officers seized
six Winchester rifles and ten revolv-
ers.
The opera house is now in posses
sion of the police, deputy sheriffs and
adherents of ex-Chairman Broad No
one is allowed to approach the doors.
Chairman Blood's Statement.
Mr.. Blood says that the armed force
which entered the opera house was
headed by Sheriff w. S. Boynton and
Frank Howbert, collector of the in
ternal revenue, and policemen in uni
who were in possession of the hall
were arrested without any warrant or
process of law whatever, and thrown
into Jail.
EX-Chairman Broad says he was
justified in taking forcible possession
under lease made with him on
August % last, which Manager Nye
violated by turning it over to Charles
s. Sprague.