The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-01
A FIGHTING EDITOR.
Captain Lee Linn Ends His Career In
Santiago de Cuba.
While IN Charge Of Newspapers His Per-
sOnal Attacks Made Enemies.


Born In ST. Louis, Mo, in lsi3. he
came To Wabash in 1852 living in
Liberty township with his mother. He
took a short course at Notre Dame UNI
varsity and enlisted IN the Union army
when H. He learned the printers
trade IN the Rochester Flag office at
Rochester Ind. worked at Brookville
ON the American under Capt McClurg
Of the Muncle Times. then went South
and returned To wabash county In 1871
and began farming.
The Democratic organ OF this county
was then the Wabash Free Trader,
published by A. l.. Bagby Linn
thought he could improve it's tone and
increase It's influence, and suggested as
much TO the leading Democrats, and
few Of them secured for him an inter-
est in the publication. Tins was In 1884,
and before two years had elapsed Linn
had given his partner, Bagby, SOUND
drubbing. bought his interest IN the OF
fee. and won the sobriquet which chung
to him to the u Of the hghtlng
editor OF the wabash
LINN began TO print a paper teemins
with invective aimed al his political
ana personal adversaries. For months
delegations waited on him weekly TO
obtain satisfaction. IL the callers were
mild I'm their protests Linn arranged
matters pleasantly, but IL there was a
show Of belligerence. Linn invariably
got In the first blow.
Though a good writer, Linn was never
successful as business man. his
paper had "A circulation when snouiu
have made him independent. his adver-
tisng was heavy. but he was always
harassed by creditors.
In the fall Of 1878 Theron +. keator or
Chicago purchased the rival paper the
Plain Dealer. and Linn at once trained
his batteries on Keator. The latter
stood II awhile, and then began to re-
taliate The conflict grew hotter, until
every week each paper was devoted al
most exclusively TO the characters OF
the editors. After one particularly
vicious broadslde from the Plain Dealer
Linn and Keator met on the street and
revOlvers were drawn out, but friends
interfered and averted tragedy.
Keator left in 1880 and Linn naturally
rejoiced -. the victory.
After the newspaper quarrel with
keator there was a marked decline OF
enthusiasm among the Democracy IN
the support OF the Courier.
In February. 1894, Linn determined to
fiop the paper into the ranks of the
enemy Active Republicans were con-
suited and they promised a Republi-
can subscriber for every Democrat lost.
The last week in the month the Courier
4 n
diana by appearing with a column edl-
torial announcing its change OF heart
under the caption Farewell, Vain
World" A letter signed "A Jeffersonian
Democrat" addressed to the editor was
taken as text.
When the Courier. with its editorial.
appeared Democrats fiocked into Canal
street. lined up before the Office door
with their subscription money in their
hands, and until after nightfall two
clerks were writing receipts entering
up credits. and disseminating the paper.
Meanwhile the Republican agents
were at work, and big lists of Republi-
can subscribers arrived from every post
Office The paper suffered in It's pa
tronage. however. and. as Linn was as
aggressive in behalf of Republicanism
as he had been for Democracy, he soon
hau his former associates breathing
anu SldubuleI.
When Mrs. Helen Gouger lectured
here in May, 1884, i'm the interest of
the ProhiL onlsts. the Courier paid its
respects to William Stone, an old resi-
dent and Democrat. who was present.
The following day Stone and Linn met
on the street and Stone struck Linn
with cane Linn knock him down.
Two OF Stones sons jolneo their father.
Twice the Stones knocked Linn down
and kicked him in the face. breaking
his teeth and innicting other injuries,
and but for others the man would have
been killed.
Just before the election the Courier
printed a paragraph warning Repubn-
cans to look out for the imported
heelers OF the op' osition, and mention-
ing Bill Hickey who had formerly
lived in Wabash county and was known
rs a bad man. As Linn. and two other
men were leaning across the counter
n the front office Hickey entered As
ne came over the t..reshold ne placed
his hand inside his coat as II 10 draw
/ weapon. Instantly there was the
rack OF a revolver. ana bullet from
inns weapon struck the door frame.
Hickey wac unarmed and complained
o Linn that he had not been fairly
reated. and together they talked the
natter over and shook hands.
Nothing was seen OF Hickey until the
pring. when he returned with his
vowed intention or killing Linn on
light. and the following morning was
n front OF the Courier office as Linn
anne down. Linn told the man To get
way. as he wished no trouble. Linn
warned him 20 stand back. and when
he fellow rushed at him. Linn drew his
evolver and fired twice infiic.ing
Wounds from which he die few hours
lter. Linn was fnnny discharged and
he tragedy soon IA Ted out OF memory.
Two years more he ran tae Courier
- a Republican organ. but there was
10 room for the second Republican
'aper In Wabash. and financial crisis
anne in 1886 when the Courier's Re-
publican creditors formed a stock COM
amy, assumed the debts. and with Linn
n editorial charge the paper was pub
ished tih March. 1857. when it was sold
ind Linn went 80 Texas and began The
publication OF the Denison Morning
\aws This. too. was n failure. ami IN
S95 ne returned 90 Wabash. Last
summer h. was appointed a captain IN
he volunteer army I'm charge of the
'omm.ssary NJ the army " Manila
lie returned 90 Wabash November :.
md. though he had been sick for weeks.
he WIS in April ordered % report AT
N-aHHNH