Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-06

Gun play lead flying, glass crashing
pool balls used as missiles, and by
ISLANDERS and principals ducking bullets
and breaking for outdoors in the
quickest possible way, furnished al
the details of thrilling western stuff,
as the movie men would say. at the
Fred Gates cigar and billiard hall, 1O4
East Main street. al midnight Satur-
day No one was injured.
F. II Cummings. an insurance agena
with offices In the Cronkleton build
ing. who played the role Of gun man
IS In Jail. harged with carrying con
cealed weapons He carries the only
injury of the thriller bruise on the
wrist, where pool ball landed That
another pool hall murder, like the one
in which Doc" Seibert was shot down
few years ago was not enacted. was
due. probably. to purely fortunate cir
cumstanceS.
Words Lead to Row.
Spectators are not agreed as TO all
the details of just what led up 10 the
shooting Figuring with Cummings as
principals were Jerome Gregory and
Roland Opp;ce. The former. the object
Of Cummings wrath. was stuck up
a the ,r,,,zzie of the revolver OpDiCe
led a flank attack with pool balls that
may have saved Gregory'S life AT
least it draw CUMMINGS fire. But as
to whether or not Cummings actually
shot at Opplce, or pulled the trigger
blindly. Specta .ors do not entirely
agree Judging by The relative posi-
tions of Cummings and oppiCe the
bullet era shed in the direction " OPP
pice. but high 1t smashed corner
of large mirror. just beyond the par
tition door to the cigar store in the
front end of the building, then Caromed
against the frame Of the door leading
to the LaSheIle Cigar Company offices,
that occupies the upper floor Of the
building.
Cummings "Thirsted' FOR Action.
Bill" Clark, an employee of the
place. and George Moser. collector
fer the Credit Guide Company. were
playing pool. AT another table game
was in progress. Looking on were ten
or a dozen young men, among them
Gregory and Oppice.
This was the stage setting when
Cummings came IN. Spectators say
Cummings was belligerently lntoxicat-
ed and was loud and abusive.
Gregory and other spectators say
Cummings was loudly calling for &C
ton on money he was willing to wager
on shots in the Clark 4Moser pool
game In fact, according to witnesses,
! Cummings was thirsting for play on
! his coin.
Words Lead to Shot.
| He approached Gregory. who was
sitting on the arm Of a chair. and, ac-
| coNong to Gregory, the following dia-
log. expunged in vile language, took
place.
"Betchu ten fifty. 100 or $500 on the
toss Of a coin," loudly dares Cum
nings.
Let's see your five hundred" sneered
| Gregory.
Let's see yours" Cummings sneered
back and his sneer was a size larger
than Gregory's.
~ don't think you've got five hun
dred.'' Gregory came back.
7 think you're great big --."
Cummings answered, threatening and
loudly.
Il think you're a great big
too" Gregory returned 10 Cummings
! AND 60 on away from me.
Some say Cummings struck at Greg
Dry. Others that he did not. Greg
DRY said he didn't know What he did
was to shove Cummings away from
him. he says. With the shove Cum
mings went down.
Gun Gets into Action.
When Cummings got up he pulled a
revolver from his pocket and. cursine
tT
shoot. He was waving the gun men
acingly under Gregory's nose
A player from one of the other Ia
bles whose name could not be learned
| at the pool hall broke in at this point
Showing up toward Cummings hi
dared him: You --, you haven't
got nerve enough to shoot anybody"
This was the cue that brought OPP.
pice into action from the rear ant
flank. Gathering a handful Of poo
balls from the table. his rapid f1rel
broke out
The first shot missed Cummings
caromed off the pool table. and barely
missed Gregory. 1t was either tn
next or the third that took effect
. When it stung Cummings on the wris
! | he turned and cut loose with his guI
but shot only once.
! Crowd Breaks For Cover.
Burst out" only mildly describes tn
manner Of the hasty. enthusiastic. an
even mad efforts Of players and by
ISLANDERS to get out Of range. Cum
mings had shot in the general direc
ton Of the front entrance to the poo
room. This rather effectively barre
exit in that direction. But there is
hack door.
Some drcked under tables. Other
leaped over them. Chairs were over
turned. There was a rush Of feet. L
twinkling, tho some of the special
ors' route to the open lay under table
and was taken on hands. and knees. tn
place was empty.
Gates. owner Of the place. ordere
Cummings out The latter left in
minute thru the rear door.
Cummings Arrested Sunday.
Clark, Gates clerk says he left {
a / ana1l a pap', C.t1Yprr1ir,pa vryn