Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-04-26
MURDER! !!
Two Officers Shot Down by a
Drunken Assassin.

Drunken Assassin.
On Sunday morning just after
II, David M. Osburn, the night
policeman, was shot in the neck
by Chester Ready.
Shortly after James Dunn, who
had just been appointed a deputy
sheriff, was also shot by Ready.
Immediately after Ready was
shot by Sheriff Burnett and died
in a few moments.
The first fracas occurred On
Main street, near the post Office.
The shooting of Dunn and
Ready occurred on Madison street,
near the corner of Third, on the
north side of the street.
Early on Saturday evening a
small gang OF heodlums, consist
ing of Chester Ready, B. L. Tur-
ner and Joe Bryant, started in on
a time. They visited the Opera
House where the cantata of Queen
Esther was being performed, and
created some disturbance. They
attempted to throw out the door
keeper, but were not successful.
They then went around to the
rear entrance of the Opera House,
and tried to batter down the door,
but this was too tame for them.
Tiring of this, they went back
down town and proceeded to
''torch up" as they expressed it.
Ready became ambitious to show
off his bravery, and run the town.
Coming out of the Whitehorn
saloon, on Main street, flourish
ing his ''gun,' he fired across
the street, diagonally, striking
the Hotel Corvallis. He then
passed the pistol to Turner who
carried it for him. On the
street in this vicinity they first
met Policeman Osburn, who en-
deavored TO get Ready to go
home.
Ready broke away from Osburn
and proceeded up the street to-
ward the postofhce. On the
crosswalk at Madison street, Tur-
ner gave the pistol back to Ready.
4 Ready wanted to shoot some
body, and made several threats.
His friends tried to dissuade him.
Turner then took Ready cut
into the street to argue with him.
Again Osburn tried to persuade
him to 60 home. Ready warned
him to keep his distance OF he
would shoot. Osburn came
nearer and Ready fired striking
him in the neck, the bullet pass
ing back and down, lodging back
of the shoulder blade. Osburn
was taken to the Occidental Ho-
tel and medical assistance sum.
moned.
Ready aud Turner started
away. In the meantime tele.
phone messages had been sent te
Sheriff Burnett and Chief of Po-
lice Lane.
Burnett arrived on Main stree
and deputized three men to helI
in finding the murderer. They
started out in different directions
In the mean time Herman Breyer
barkeeper in Broder's saloon
on his way home met the two
hoodlums near the corner of Thirt
and Madison street. Ready want
ed to shoot him, but was persuad
ed not to. While they were talk
ing Sheriff Burnett and Dunr
came walking up the street. I
| was too dark to tell who they
were. Ready raised his pisto
and said, "Watch me shoot thos'
two s." Breyer told hin
they were "only two men OF
their way home, and he mustn'
shoot"
When Burnett and Dunn cam
near enough to recognize tn
crowd Burnett placed his hand OF
Pegs shoulder and said "Keady
I want you." Ready raised hi
pistol and fred at Burnett, bu
missed. Dunn grasped Ready b
the shoulder and turned hin
round. Ready placed his gu
against Dunn and fired. Burnet
shot Ready through the head
when both Ready and Dunn fell
! Dunn then shot Ready twic
through the body. Turner star