Amador ledger., 1902-08-22
SHOOTING SCRAPE
Ray Meehan Shot by Owen Fallon.
Outcome of Long-Standing Feud

deeds of mortal mischief brooding in the
minds of any of those who participated
in the proceedings was never dreamed
Of But so the afterclap proved.
Owen Fallon referred two OF the bouts,
while Ray Meehan was one of the cor
ner men attending to one of the boxers.
Between these two men there was q
gulf which was lot to be bridged.
Fallon, who is married man, had
cause to believe that Meehan had in
vaded the sanctity of his home life,
and the thought made him desperate.
1t is reported that while the boxing
was in progress Fallon told Meehan to
arm himself and be prepared for
trouble. After the audience was dis
missed, Fallon drove Riehl over to SUIT
ter Creek. Before going, it is reported
that he informed Meehan that he was
going to the neighboring town, and for
him to be ''heeled" when he returned.
He got back to Jackson shortly after
two o'clock Sunday morning. Owing
to the large crowd in town Saturday
night, most of the saloons were still
open. Young Meehan and Charley
Gregory we're in the Gem saloon about
half-past two, standing at the counter
partaking of some beans. While so
engaged Owen Fallon entered, passed
through the bar-room, and entered the
card room. He said not word. He
evidently went there to see the situa-
tion inside. He almost instantly re-
appeared through the swinging shut
ters and passed through the barroom
and into the street. At the front
swinging door he tarried for a moment,
and glanced at the men at the counter,
but said nothing. The doors had
scarcely stopped swinging when he re-
appeared, and stepped up to the bar,
taking his place next to Gregory and
nearest to the front door. He was not
in the least excited, neither was he
under the influence of liquor. His
voice is naturally weak, in fact he is
unable to articulate much above a
whisper, owing to some disease of the
vocal organs. Looking at Meehan, he
said Go heel yourself" " He then shifted
his position over to the side of Meehan,
thereby placing himself so that Meehan
was between him and the street door.
He again said, go heel yourself; as
I'll kill you or you'll kill me-" Charley
Gregory thereupon went to him and
endeavored to pacify him; told him
not to cause any trouble there. Fallon
thereupon with strong effort seized
Gregory with his left hand and hurled
him through the swinging doors into
the card room. At the same time he
drew his pistol and commenced shoot
ing, apparently aiming at Meehan's
head. The first shot went over his
head and lodged in the inside casing of
the front door, about feet from the
floor. A second shot followed immedi-
ately. Frank Burgin, who was behind
the bar during the melee, says a streak
of fire passed close to Meehans head,
and he saw the hair raised by the cur
rent of air caused by the flight of the
bullet. The bullet went through the
glass door, and struck the canvas
awning in front of the porch. The
two men grappled and fell on the floor,
FallOn on top. In this position two
more shots were fired at short range,
the pistol being held close to Meehan's
back, just below the left shoulder. The
shots entered within three inches of
each other, one wound showing powder
marks, and being considerably larger
than the usual entrance wound OF
pistol shot. A fifth shot was fired as
the two men were on the floor; this ball
making flesh wound in the left arm,
and burying itself in the floor.
At the first sound OF shooting those
in the saloon scattered to get out of
harms way. In the card room they
got the impression that a hold-up was
in progress, and they skedaddled out
of the back door. At the fifth shot,
knowing that the chambers were ex-
hausted, young Gregory and others
interposed, and attempted to get the
pistol from Fallon. He finally sur
rendered it to Burgin. Meehan was
hurried out of the front door, and ran
hatless down the street, in company
with one or two others.
Nightwatchman Parker was near
the National hotel when the shooting
began, and hastened in the direction of
the shooting. He met Meehan in front
of Langhorst's store, and was told that
the shooting was at the Gem. He at
once went there and told FallQn that
he placed him under arrest. Fallon
was still about the coolest man in the
place, and answered "All right Parker
III go with you" He insisted upon
treating all in the place before going,
and then was taken by ightwatchman
Parker and lodged in jail.
Ray was taken to the Central hotel,
and Drs. Endicott and Gall were called.
1t was at first thought that the wounds
behind the shoulder were superficial
and made by one shot; the theory be-
ing that the bali struck the shoulder
blade, and was detected, and came out
a few inches from the point of entrance.
On a more careful examination the
next day, when the patient had been