The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-05-04
POINT IS
BADLY WOUNDED
oskALoosA BOY VICTIM or A
DRUNKEN OFFICER
AssArLArr NJ NJ SUICIDE.
Being Detailed 20 Arrest His sUperio.
the Lieutenant IL shot-Wiu
He Promoted N He
Survives.

Salt Lake City, Utah, May t-Cap,
tain w. A. R%aibourn, T~wcnty.ninth In.
fantry, U, s. A., committed suicide nj
Fort Douglas yesterday, after making
q murderous assault on Lieutenant
William II. Point, also OF the Twenty.
ninth infantry. Point was shot twice
by his superior officer, ona bullet pen.
etrating his left thigh and another
inflicting a deep flesh wound in his
right leg. After Lieutenant Point had
fallen Captain Ralbourn turned his
revolver upon himself, sending a bull.
let into his head about three inches
behind his right ear. He died almost
instantly.
Captain Ralbourn had been drink.
Ing heavily and the tragedy was an
outgrowth OF mis- arrest on Tuesday
last on q charge Of drunkenness.
Tuesday Of last week Captain Raj
bourn was appointed officer of the day
at Fort Douglas, but failed to report
for duty and was absent I'm the city
twenty-four hours without leave. He
was arrested the following day, but
was given the privileges OF the fort
under orders not to leave the grounds.
Saturday evening Captain Raibourn
broke the parole and came to the city.
Lieutenant Point, who was sent after
him with an ambulance found him
in a Main street saloon and he was
returned 10 Fort Douglas under arrest.
He was ordered to remain In his quar-.
tiers.
Shoots His Friend.
Lieutenant Points quarters are only
two doors from those which Captain
Raibourn occupied. The lieutenant
had just stepped out Of doors early
yesterday when Captain Ralbourn
appeared, carrying a heavy 4S-caliber
reoylyer. His manner was threaten.
ing. and Point said:
Now, captain, don't do anything
foolish"
Ralbourn made no reply, but imme.
diately began shooting.
When other officers and soldiers ran
out after hearing the shots Captain
Ralbourn lay dead and Lieutenant
Point lay In front OF his quarters. He
is said TO be resting well. Raibourn's
body was embalmed at the post hos
pitaI and tomorrow II will be shipped
to Oakland City, Ind, where his moth.
or and two sisters reside. He has a
brother In Chicago.
Captain Raibourn sought to avoid a
c~ourtmartial, and had forwarded TO
Washington his resignation from tho
army. II had not been accepted, and
IL Ia supposed that a trial by court.
martial awaited him.
Worried over Probable Discharge.
Worry over the probability Of a dis.
honorable discharges from the army
and dissipation are believed 10 have
unbalanced his mind. Captain Raj.
bourn, who was Is years old and un.
married, enlisted In tho army in 1891
as n private and had worked his way
up from the ranks. Captain Ralbourn
and Lieutenant Point had served to-
gether in the Philippines and were
firm friends.
Lieutenant Point entered the army
from Oskaloosa, Iowa, and was a cap.
tain in the Flfty.1rst Iowa volunteers.
Later he was appointed 10 the regular
service. He has passed the examlna,
ton and qualified for promotion 10 a
c%aptaincy.
Captain RaibCurn formerly was re.
garded az an efficient officer, but re.
Gently he had been drinking TO excess
and could not be relied on for duty.
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