Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-01
FEUD AT ACTON
AIRED IN COURT
YOUNG BELLIGERENTS TELL
OF HOSTILITlES
TROUBLE STARTED BY BOYS ON
ADJACENT RANCHES
Each Father Endeavors to Have Son
of Other Declared Delinquent.
Lad Fires at An
tagonists

Acton, small in population, but large
in possibilities as to belligerencies,
was fully represented in Judge Will
bur's juvenile court yesterday when
the inhabitants of that town, from the
prominent citizen down to the lowly
woodchopper, appeared to watch ana
take part in the legal proceedings re-
sulting from a feud of four years
standing.
The proceedings were those in which
it was sought to have Louis and Fran
els Eckelberry, aged Is and IA years
respectively, sons of the leader of one
faction, declared delinquent, while
similar object, it was hoped by that
clique, might be accomplished with
respect to Ernest Newton, the 1f-year-
old son of Nelson Newton, the ac-
knowledged head of the opposition.
The Eckelberrys and Newtons live
on adjoining ranches, and friction be-
tween the two families was manlIest
Immediately after the Eckelberrys
moved into the neighborhood four
years ago. The trouble began when
several cows belonging to Eckelberry
entered the Newton preserves, and mas
since developed into a feud, the cit
liens aligning themselves on one SIDE
or the other and deferred from open
conflict only by fear of the law ana
the fact that a large number of the
male inhabitants have been sworn IN
as peace officers.
Blows Struck
Three weeks ago matters reached
climax, when, according to the state
ment of Mrs. Nelson Newton, she or
dered Francis Eckelberry to drive ms
fathers COWS from the Newton grain
field. "Francis made faces at me and
said, 'blub- blub- blub-blub Mrs. New
ton told Judge Wilbur. The elder
Newton appeared on the scene carry
ing a pitchfork handle. Francis picked
up a stick, ready to do battle, and
stated, when Newton struck him on
the head, he retaliated with blow
on his older antagonists head.
"Then he caught me by the throat
and struck me again. His wife also
hit me with a stick" said Francis.
At this point Mrs. Walker, grand
mother of the Eckelberry boys, inter-
fered, her commands to cease hostil-
tiles backed by a formidable looking
stone. Newton and the Eckeeberrys
went to their separate homes carrying
marks of the struggle in the form OF
ugly looking gashes.
A week later Newton's son, Ernest,
is said to have been found lying in the
street near his home in an unconscious
condition, the result, he said of
blow on the head administered by
Francis Eckelberry. When he revived
his father placed 32-caliber revolver
in his hands and told him to protect
himself in the future. The occasion
came three days later.
81 was on my way to herd the cows, J."
said Ernest yesterday, when the Eek
cherry brothers began throwing stones
at me. When / told them to stop
Francis threw another stone, striking
me on the Leg"
Fires Two Shots
"What did you do then?" asked
Deputy District Attorney Keetch.
Il, fired two Shots" replied the young
feudist.
did they rum" asked Mr.. Keetch.
"Yes. they went away" answered
the boy, with an evident purpose to
speak charitaby of the precipitate
flight of his enemies.
Two days later, Ernest continued.
the father of Eckelberry, senior, chased
him into the brush and demanded his
revolver. Il hid the gun and he didn't
get it," said the boy.
A race was then made for the juve-
nile court, the leaders of the two fac
lions arriving almost simultaneously
to file complaints. Newton, however,
went Eckelberry one better when he
swore to a complaint charging the lat
ter with threatening to kill him. This
case is still pending in Justice Sum-
merfields court.
The juvenile court held "a late ses-
sion last night in order to dispose of
the matter. and Judge Wilbur will
render his decision within few days. !