Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1904-04-29
TRAGEDY AT CORVALLIS
Two Men Killed and One Injured In
An Attempt to Arrest Drunk
EN- HOOdlum.

4 ~M AAOOOA0hIs
The reign Of hoodlumism in Cor
!, wallis eliminated in a bloody shoot
ing affray about ! o'clock Sunda,
4 morning, in which Chester Ready, th,
Il l8-year-old son Of George B. Ready
and James Dunn were killed and
| Nightwatch D. A. Osburn wa.
probably fatally wounded, while
Sheriff Burnett escaped by a hairs
breadth from meeting a similar fate
Young Ready has been the acknowl-
edged leader of a band of hoodlums
that have been responsible for series
OF outrageous actions in Corvallis and
which have aroused the indignation
OF that community. Bert Turner, who
was with Ready when the shooting
occurred, was arrested as an accessory
The trouble began few minutes be-
lore midnight when some one fired q
revolver near Broders' saloon. Officer
Osburn, then block away, hurried
to the scene and found Ready, Turner
ana others discussing the question of
whether or not Ready could whip Ben
Guier, with whom Ready and other
boys had trouble some months aoo
Osburn advised Ready to go home
and did what he could to pacify mat
ters' After parleying awhile Ready
and his companions passed to the
First National Bark corner, where
there was more trouble.
Ready passed out into the street,
followed by Osburn. Here Ready
displayed his revolver for the first
time, and notified Osburn not to
approach. Osburn kept advancing,
urging Ready meanwhile to do
nothing rash. After passing thirty
yards or more southwark on the west
side OF the street in these relative posi-
tions, Ready entered crowd that had
collected near zierolf's store. Dunn
was among the lot and he urged
Ready to give up the gun.
Ready presented the revolver and
holding the crowd at bay, began to
back Off across the street. Dunn and
OSburn emerged from the crowd.
Ready kept backing until almost
directly in front Of the postoffice and
within four feet of the pavement By
this time, Osburn, still endeavoring
to pacify Ready, and telling him to do
nothlng rash' was within te9> feet of
Ready -
Don't come any further or I'll fire.
said Ready, but still Osburn advanced.
A report of Keady's revolver followed,
and Osburn staggered into the arms
OF Dunn. Osburn was at once SUD-
ported to the hotel and surgeons sum-
moned.
After presenting his revolver in a
threatening manner to John Vineyard,
Ready and Turner passed south on
Main street and thence after a detour
81 several blocks came down College
street and stood talking on the side
walk, just south Of James Taylor's
residence. Sheriff Burnett meantime {
lad been sent for, Dunn being one of l
he first to notify him of the occur i
renee. Chief Of Police Lane was also
summoned, and half a dozen men l
began search,
While Ready and Turner stood talk
ng Hermann Breyer approached. {
Ready leVelled his revolver at him and G
old him not to come nearer than 10
eet' Breyer made protestations Of y
rlendship, however, and was allowed l
o join the group lit was while Ready '
vas thus occupied that Sheriff Bur y
lett arrived. He was accompanied Z
y Dunn. As the officers approached, "
Aeady stepped off the sidewalk, with a
is back to the street. q
81 want you, Ready" said the Ca
heriff, laying his hand on the latter's ST
boulder. I'll
Quick as flash, so quickly, in fact
lat it is now certain that Keady's re-
Oliver was in his hand, Ready fired
atthe Sheriff, but missed OF
is mark. M
Dunn apparently jumped forward Mt