Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-28
FOR TRYING TO KILL
Joseph Shelley, Buffalo Town
ship Farmer, in Jail Under
81, 900 Bond.
HAD BEEN SHOOTING EN- UP SOME
Uses Revolver Trifle Too Care.
lessIy to Suit More Civ.
iIized Neighbors.

Joseph Shelley, the Drury farmer
who about year ago was brought
before the public as the complaining
witness in case in which a son-in-
law ns med Moore was tried for pune
turing his anatomy at close range
with load of heavy shot, is in the
county Jail under 81 900 bonds as the
result of indulging in the too free use
of a revolver in the lower end Mon
day.
Late Monday afternoon Shelley was
returning home afoot from Muscatine
over the high bridge. and when he
reached the south end of the structure
he paused and locked over the railing
down where a gang of men with W hom
he had had trouble were at work on
the ground below.
Draws a Gun.
The quarrel was resumed and Shell
ley, who seemed prepared for trouble,
whipped out a eVolver and with it in
his hand went down to where the men
were and proceeded to bluff the whole
crowd. After seance in which he
covered one of them with his gun he
returned to the road above to go on
his way. Here he met Bert Girls. au-
other lower end resident, and the two
went TO Mrs. Armstrong; feed yard,
where many of those going to Musca-
tine leave their horses to avoid pay
ing toll, and Girls got his animal
On the way Girls was so indiscreet
as to demonstrate with Shelley for his
rash acts and when the former had
gotten upon his horse Shelley drew
his gun and made him ride away for
dear life under threat of being shot if
he looked back. When Girls had
gotten out of range he pondered over
the treatment he had received and
grew angry. Going to the home OF
John Duncan he borro~ed a single
| barrel shot gun and returning TO q
point where he knew Shelley would
| pass, he elm bed upon a woodpile be-
/ side the road and waited for his man.
Finds More Trouble.
| Shelley in the meantime had been
overtakeA on the road by one Walter
hinder, ard more trouble ensued
He drew his gun on Under, but thai
Old acquaintance did not take him
seriously, and after a few moments
the two rode on together. When the
bend in the road was reached wher,
G,rls sat upon the woodpile. Shelley
spotted his enemy and advanced to the
attack with sublime courage Girls
barricaded himself behind the pile
and when Shelley came within range
he fired, putting several small shot il
the latter's legs. AS the onslaught
was not checked by the bonn bardmen
and as Girls bad but one load, h,
took to his heels and presently came
out unscathed in a race during which
he had been the target for cold leaC
from Shelley's revolver.
| During the race Shelley had recog
Dized the shot gun in the hands o
Girls, and he became wroth with the
Duncans for having loaned it to hi
enemy. So he repaired to the Dun
can domicile and told the family whaI
he thought about it. emphasizing his
opinion with display of his revol
yer.
Tries to Make Arrest
Later Shelley tried to arrest Girls
but the latter disputed his authority
and refused to go along. Each finally
swore out a warrant for the other FOL
attempted murder, Shelley before
1 u -. t.. 70.