Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-04-24
HOMICIDE NEAR MERLIN
jeff Gibson Shoots Schon Bach
Ter Through the Head with
o Winchester Rifle.

On Friday evening between and 6
O'Clock, Schon Bschler who lived on
Rogue river Just below the mouth OF
Jump office creek, about four miles
from Merlin, was shot and instantly
killed by JEFF Gibson, young man who
was living upon aud farming the place
adjoining BIchler's, known as the "0ld
Man Simpkins place" The tragedy
was the culmination OF a dispute Of
many years duration over the boundary
line between the two farms.
The only witness TO the shooting was
Ohas. Van Dorm, who lives just across
the river from Bachler's and his testi-
mony is deficient in that he was able to
see only one of the parties at the time
when the shooting took place, Van
Dorm, according to his testimony given
at the co:oner's inquest, was on the
other side OF the river and some 400
yards distant from the scene Of the
tragedy. He saw Gibson coming down
toward the river, armed with his gun,
a $3.50 Winchester. Gibson had a
canoe on the river, but it was fastened
on the Bachler bank and Van Dorm
supposes that Gibson was coming I
ask hm, Van Dorm, to get the canoe,
not wishing himself to 90 on Bschler's
ground after it. Van Dorm heard Glib.
son call to some one, apparently to
Bachler, to "put down that gum" or
words Of similar import. Gibson was in
plain sight OF Van Dorm but Bachler vas
not, there being some trees intervening.
The men were some 200 feet apart.
Almost Immediately after calling to
Bschler, Gibson fred and Bacher fell,
Van Dorm being then able to distinguish
the PROSTATE form beneath the interven.
ing trees. Gibson then turned and
walked some distance, partly around
his victim, and fired second time. He
then called to Van Dorm to come over,
but the latter was unable to cross the
river until a boat was sent for him.
Gibson Immediately surrendered him
self to the authorities and was brought
to Grants Pass. The body of Bschler
was found on the line between the two
farms. Both shots had taken effect /;
one in the center OF the forehead, the
bullet tearing away nearly all the back
OF the head, the other wound was in the
shoulder. From the position Of the
wounds, 1t appears that the first shot
was the instantly fatal one. Bachler's
gun was found lying across his body.
1t is an ancient single barreled, muzzle
loading shot gun and was loaded with
light charge OF bird shot.
The circumstances which caused the
dispute and led up to the tragedy are
somewhat peculiar. Many years ago,
when the Simpkins homestead was
taken up there was small fragment Of
land, Tot" to which no title was
acquired. This piece of land lay Dext
TO the river and the Smpkins farm
completely enclosed IL on three sides
Years afterward, il was discovered that
the Simpkins place enclosed piece OF
government land and Bachler appropri-
ated 1t for a home. Ever since that
time there has been friction between
Bachler aud the occupants OF the Simp.
kins place. The lines were in dispute,
Bachler claiming strip about two rods
wide beyond the boundary conceded to
him.
1t is claimed that Bschler was a man
Of quarrelsome disposition and that
there was constant friction between him
and his neighbors. On the day before
the shooting, he was in Grants Pass TO
see what could be done toward settling
the boundary question, but had it seems,
received little satisfaction Returning
home in the evening through Merlin,
angry AMI soma what under the influenc
oil liquor, he made threats against
Gibson's life in the presence Of several
witnesses. Gibson was warned and was
in all probability worked up to high
pitch Of nervousness and excitement by
the threats Of Bachler. Bachler was a
native Of Germany and about 60 years
Of age. He leaves wife. Gibson came
here recently from the Willamette
valley. He is man held in good
esteem by his acqusintances, He has a
family, a wife and two small children.
Information against Gibson was filed
in the circuit court on Tuesday and bis
trial will probably be held on Thursday