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Frank Stearns Lies in a Dangerous Condition Dan Koontz Escapes With a Flesh Woundon His Right Hand.SHOT GUN SERVEDWEAPON.Robbins Caught Near Columbus While Trying To Escape—Now Behind the Bars at Vernon Waiting for March Term of Court.“Thirteen” may be brought into play as being unlucky for Willis Robbins, who, while under the influence of liquor Saturday night, shot Frank Stearns and Dan Koontz, using a shot gun loaded with a heavy load of No. 6 shot.The stories told by Willis Robbins, Stearns and many witnesses do not agree and everyone must judge for himself as to the truth of their statements.Robbins stated that he is 58 years old and has been a resident of Queensville for the past four years; in that time had but little trouble, and when he did had been drinking. He was at North Vernon Saturday, had taken only threj drinks of whisky during the day, and had a one-half pint bottle in his pocket on going home. That one of the drinks taken was with Frank Stearns, at a saloon on 0. M. avenue, and at the time he made the remark that he had never had any trouble with Stearns. They left this city on the 4:30 Pennsylvania train and on arriving at QueenBville someone bumped into Robbins, making him a little angry and causing him to make a remark not complimentary.Stearns took offense and started to take off his coat to settle the matter and Robbins Bays he was struck in the right temple by Stearns, and knocked down, while Stearns and a number of witnesses say Robbins struck at Stearns, and beiDg barely able to stand up, lost his balance and fell headlong,wounds. He stated that there werebetween 75 and 80 shot in Stearns’ right breast and shoulder and four entered his neck. The shot pene-11£ft11\IcEtWillis Robbins, taken last Monday.—Photo by Otto White.trated so deep it was impossible to remove any of them. Tuesday StearnB was able to sit up a little, although a mild case of lung fever had developed. The chances are he will recover. The wounds of Dan Koontz were slight, a piece of flesh being torn from the hand just at the base of the little fingeron the right hand. John Buchanan who lives just across the road from Robbins stated he saw££1ct*r8€181Iaattc818atncIav1ccc1striking his head on a rock, which caused a knot to raise on his head. Stearns’ intention was to jump on and give him a whipping, butfriends Btepped in and would not let him. Robbins got up cursing, and started home, making the remark that he would get even. He went to his home, which is about one square from the general store kept by Mr. Hendrickson, secured bis shotgun and came down the to meet Stearns, who lived beyond Robbins about 100 feet. Robbins met him about 150 feet down road and started to curse and abuse him, threatening to shoot, etc. StearnB made the remark that he, Robbins, was a coward and would not shoot, which seemed to be the case, as he laid down the gun, and started to throw stones and bricks, which Stearns dodged. In the meantime a crowd had gathered Mr. Heodrick picked up the gun and threw the shells out,while others parted the combatants and started them home. This waB about dark; near 7 o’clock Stearns started back to the store, and as hei *passed Robbins’ home the latter claims Stearns commenced cursing and yelling that he, Robbins, was a coward and would not shoot. Robbins also stated a stone hit his door and that he heard a shot fired; the door blew open and Bobbin?, who had his gun handy, stepped to the front aud fired two shotB in succession in the direction from whence he heard the sound of voices; as he still heard someonehe reloaded the gun aud firedtwice more; then all was quiet. At this the neighborhood was aroused and people rushed to the scene but were warned not to come any nearer, as he wanted to make one more shot. On inve tigation Stearns was found about fifteen feet from Robbins’ frontdoor lying in a ditch, where he fell from the sidewalk when shot; up the roadsome 100 feet Dan Koontz wasfound sitting by his own gate, with a part of a load of shot in his right hand. On hearing the fuss between Stearns and Robbins he had started down to the Robbinshome and arrived just in time to ;et in range of a shot that was red in the dark. Stearns was taken to the general store, thenhome where Dr. Wilson, of Scipio,WATCHES, 1AD, OTMSTOPULH5 GENTS A DAY BUYS A FIN►Vs.On Saturday, Feb. 27tb. ’09 only and for thr m, for the purpose of further introducing t vicinijy tha merits of the Famous South BeTEN (TO)Hi SIZE 7 JEWEL SOUTH BE]on a special small payment plan of $1.00 ci5 CENTS A DAYRemember this watch has seven genuine je material, iH accurately timed, ib fully guariVKing.Our wat.*h and jewelry department(barring none) in S)utbern Indiana whowwork. Only genuine material used. Pron Watch Store isED WILLIAMNORTH VERDealers in Elgin, Waltham. Hamilton,Jewelry, Silverware, JMV*. V.four streaks of fire come from the Robbins door, while Robbins says he only shot three times.As soon as Robbins realized what he had done he told his wife he thought he would go to Greens-burg, but instead started to Columbus. He said he drank the half-pint whisky enroute; when lie was nearing Elizabethtown, which was about 2 o’clock Sunday morning, it was so dark that he could not see enough to keep in the j middle of the railroad traek, and that he crawled into a box car and Btayed until daylight, when he started on his way and had reached the Haw Creek bridge when arrested by Policeman Suddith, of this city, and Sheriff Cox, of Columbus. The Sheriff of this county was notified soon after the shooting and went to the scene, but could not find any trace of Robbins. Policeman Suddith was sent to Greensburg but returned and started to Columbus Sunday morning on the 8 o’clock Pennsylvania train; when passing a graveyard several miles this side of Columbus he, and Chas. Curtis, who was a passenger, noticed someone sitting against the graveyard fence facing the rain and no doubtaBleep. Mr. Curtis said it was was callsd and who dressed the I Robbins. Suddith, on arriving at
Newspaper Details
North Vernon Plain Dealer
North Vernon, Indiana, US
Thu, Feb 18, 1909
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 13 Apr 2019
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