Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-12-30

VI. L.
.----u-u-.u--.-~
view OF the intrepid character OF the
souths, to abandon hostilities entire
ly.
Shortly after the death of Francis
Belinger came the arrest OF john
Craft. of Grant Bellinger's party, for
alleged cattle rustling. He was ac-
quilted after a hard legal battle and
then was shot through the neck by
Frank Harris, of the opposing fac
ton, who alleged that he had detect
ed the man he wounded rstling cat
tie. Craft died some time ago.
Road disputes have formed a pro.
life cause of trouble between the
factions. Not long ago the Bellingers
became so enraged by the result Of
a court case that they closed to traffic
n trail used by the public for 40
years. A suit for damages is pend
ing because of this fact.
Shortly previous to this incident"
the telephone wires of l.. NJ. Taylor
were chopped into small pieces for
n distance of 100 yards. Though n
peaceable man. Taylor Is friendly
with persons antagonistic to the Bel
llnger's interests.
A month ago ID. L. Taylor, a son
of the rancher. was stopped by Grant
Belllnger and a member of his fac
tion on the way to Lebanon, but
escaped by squirting his horse past
them. A few days later his brother,
Nv. II. Taylor, was attacked by Bel
lingcr at wood camp, on Scott
creek, and thrown over n log and
choked. Both boys heve since armed
themselves and are now known as ad-
herents OF the antl-Bellinger faction.
d. l.. Taylor has livld scar on his
left wrist. caused by the knife with
which VIII Fitzwater defended HIM
self from Jesse McKlnney's attack.
He was trying to close the door aft
er Fitzwater and Mckinney had been
separated when n blow with the
knife was aimed by Fltswater at his
opponent and the keen blade was OBJ
structed by Taylor's wrist.
A short time ago one or two OF
the Bellinger boys went to Albany
to be witnesses for the defense at
the trial OF Ralph Tnrpin, accused OF
a statutory charge In connection With
a young girl named Wilson. They
failed To take the stand, on discov-
ering that Deputy District Attorney
Gale S. Hill intended accusing them
of paying a debt OF gratitude by
testlfying for Turpin, because his
brother, John Turpln, had testified
for the Belllnger's at the time a
rancher's girls were assaulted. John
Turpin narrowly escaped prosecution
for perjury at that time, the deputy
district attorney being outspoken IN
oondemning his conduct.
The shingle mill conducted by Gil
bert Bros. was barned four or hys
years ago. II was located on Scott
creek and everything pointed to In
cendiarism. At that time the Gill
berts were not very friendly toward
the Belllngers and had refused to
discharge VIII Fitzwater from theii
employ. In the last few years the
brothers have been regarded as mem
bers of the Bellinger faction.
The barn destroyed by the firs
early Sunday morning was the largest
in the Hamilton creek country, and
at the time of it's destruction con
tained about 100 tons of hay. The
house was located 200 or 500 yards
from the barn and was unoceupied
The only clew to the perpetrator OF
perpetrators is said to be one or two
clear footprints.
The tenseness of the situation hai
; been greatly increased by this boit
crime and the vigilance of those ex
pecting personal injury or damag'
, to their property has been redoubled
, All are wondering what form will b'
taken by the next exhibition OF dead
ly hatred and venom characterizini
the historic feud.