The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-11-07
IN TROUBLE AT ALTON
Zeb Peterson, Formerly of Grand
River Uses a Knife During a
Row Among Gamblers.

Drinking, gambling, fighting, stab
bing-that seems to be the easy pro-
cess by which one citizen at Alton,
who formerly lived at Grand River, is
now facing possible sentence to- the
penitentiary, says the Alton Star Enter
prise. 1t may seem a rapid transition
but it is about what any reasonable
man would expect.
The trouble happened on Sunday of
course. Sunday seems to be the day
when those who are too busy or too in
different to go to church, can find time
to drink, carouse and get into bad COM
pany, and last Sunday was no excep-
tion. The affair in question had its in
ception in basement. 1t appears that
there was quite bunch of wise ones
assembled there enjoying game of
craps, either as spectators or partici-
pants. Almost everyone present had
been drinking heavily, and few were
almost, if not entirely drunk.
AT one stage OF the game one of the
participants grabbed the pot of money,
which was unusually large, and which
by throw of the dice he had just lost.
Naturally the winner, Mr.. Robert
Benson, of Hedrick, objected to this
high-handed proceeding and fist fight
ensued in which two Alton men sought
to hammer the husky stranger into
proper state of submission. But this
was game where the stranger proved
himself SO thoroughly proficient that
the Alton fighters soon got enough of it
and hostilities were brought to close,
Benson having easily the best Of it.
Zeb Peterson, who was not in the crap
game, but who did have hand in the
fight, made a trip home during the
truce and when he returned little
la@er a second fight broke out, this time
in the rear of GIattly's lumber shed.
During the scuffie, when Benson was
once more demonstrating his ability as
a pugilist, Peterson struck him with an
open knife, slashing the strangers left
arm, inflicting cut more painful than
serious
1t is likely that the general public
would have heard little about the. fight
except that Mr.. Peterson desired to
wreak further vengeance on his oppo-
nent, whom Zeb firmly believes is the
aggressor. Accordingly warrant was
sworn out for Benson's arrest, charging
him with assault and battery and
gambling. The warrant was served by
city marshal Wiles just as the wounded
pugilist was about to get out of town
on No. a. He was taken before Mayor
Bolinger who fined him $40 and costs
for fighting and $50 and costs for gam
bling. The latter was afterwards re-f
scinded and he was bound over to the
grand jury, and for lack of the 800
bond he now languishes in jail.
Benson proved not to be the rube he
was spotted for, and when he saw that
he was up against the tender arm of
the law, he got lonesome and longed for
his boon companions who had helped so
much to make the quiet Sabbath pass
so gaily and SO quickly. In other words
he swore out warrants for the arrest of
his fellow gamblers and also for the ar
rest of Mr.. Peterson on the charge of
assault and intent to commit great bod
lily injury. Three Aftonites were ac-
cordingly hauled before Mayor Bolinger
Monday morning who bound them over
to the grand jury under $100 bonds.
Of the three Alton men Zeb Peterson
is in the worst predicament. Although
he was not engaged in the crap game
the charge of assault with intent to
commit great bodily injury may be pun
ished by sentence to the peniten-
| tiary. Peterson's previous record is
not any too good and may hurt him
considerably if the judges have to i'm
pose sentence on him. Mr.. Peterson is
a splendid, hard working blacksmith,
and we'll liked by all when he is sober
Unfortunately he is addicted to drink
and Saturday night and Sunday are ,es-
pecially inviting times for him to i'm
bibe. Last summer he and companion
while under the influence of liquor were
thrown from buggy, his companion
was killed and Zeb only escaped death
by the narrowest margin. Not over a
month ago he had row with an erst-
while friend and it is alleged that he
was going to stick knife in the friend,
when others interfered. 1t is for rea-
sons such as these that he will be lucky
indeed to escape prison sentence. It
is understood that Mr.. Peterson claims
that he was acting on the defensive
throughout his difficulties and it is upon
this claim that he will base his plea for
clemency if not exoneration.
Injured at the poultry Dlant.