Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-19
nay PROVE: A MURDER
a Drunken Brawl on the Street
Proves q Serious Affair for
Principal Participants
Joe staebner Hits George Kelly, Of
Des Moinss. and Latter Is
Critically Injured.
:. 3. Young Arrested for Bootleg.
ginglhe LaGranges Again
Other Police News

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"A drunken street brawl, occurring
Monday night about 1916 o'clock, may
Gauge murder to be added to the GRIM
inal annals of the city. AS q result of
the fight, which was participated in
more or LEGS by four men, George Kelly,
a young man Is years of age. who claims
to hail from Dee Moines, lies In a critical
condition with an injured head.
About 1880 Monday night, after the
saloons had closed. Kelly and stranger
appeared on the streetquite little the
worse for liquor and met Joe Staebner.
a young German plumber, who was in
company with his partner" George
yThornblade. also of this city. Staebner
had been drinking some during the
evening and is alleged was hailed by
Kelly in a way that didn't suit him. The
men had had some words in saloon
earlier In the evening. and the feeling
between them wasn't of the best owing
to a previous trouble, several weeks ago,
when Staebner had Kelly arrested for
assaulting an old soldier on the street.
while intoxicated. One word led to ans
other and 1t was but short time until
Kelly and his friends, arrayed on one
side. and Staebner and Thornblade, on
the other. commenced q. pitched battle.
Altho Kelly was pretty well organized
he was able to care for himself, and
Thornblade was sent sprawling to the
pavement. Staebner was attacked and
for few moments got the worst OF the.
bargain, until he managed to get the
advantages of his superior strength and
weight into play and got Kelly down,
where he held him until the crowd in
terfered and he was released.
1t was thought this would end the
difficulty, as staebner left the scene. in
company With Thornblade. He did not
remain away long. however. but re-
turned and the quarrel was renewed.
This time it was shorter. but more fur
ious, and Bill James. colored, who was
a bystander and was inclined to inter-
fere, wac hit by Staebner on the neck
and felled to the ground as If he had
been struck with sledge. hammer
Kelly received the next blow, on the
head and down he went, not to rise, and
with the blood gushing from his nose
and mouth. Staebner turned and walked
away, and Kelly was picked UP uncon-8
scious and carried TO a room in the Ire
mont. A physician was summoned and
his injuries We're pronounced very SER
ious. The principal wound was an abra-i
sion on the side of the head, which
caused bad swelling to appear on the
forehead. over the right eye. The doc
tor thought that the skull had been
fractured, and that the chances We're
very slim for his recovery Kelly re-
manned In a comatose state all night
and until after o'clock this morning.
when he became conscious. Another
examination was made Of the injured
head this morning, resulting in the con-
Iclusion that fracture was not sus-
tanned but instead a severe conclusion
of the. brain, and altho the injury is still
considered critical, it is thought the in
jured man stands a fair chance of re-
coveryi if inflammation does not set in.
What Staebner used to strike Kelly
and James with. is not known. altho
from the nature of the Commissions the
natural surmise would be slung shot.
Staebner insists, however, that he used
nothing but his fist. and that he would
not have used that had he not been
acting in self defense.
Staebner was arrested about midnight
by City Marshal Jones and arranged
this morning before Mayor Pierce. He
was sent to jailto await Developments
before it is decided what charge to
lodge against him.
Kelly is a very nice looking young
man, and has always been steno-.
grapher and bookkeeper. He has been
in the city three weeks, coming with the
expectation Of getting a position, which
was to be determined shortly. He has
been drinking more or less since he has
been in town, and from all reports
seemed to be looking for trouble all day.
Monday. He il said TO have become
engaged in an alteration With stran-
ger during the afternoon. and in a fight
that ensued hit the man such blow.
that he was unconscious for an hour or
l. 4 ,ttf,