'Shooting Affray'

HOBSON, MCGUIRE, PEACOCK

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 1/2/2005 at 16:13:40

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa
Saturday, August 22, l874

'SHOOTING AFFRAY'
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Below we give an account of the shooting of GEORGE HOBSON, of this place, who has been employed on the B. & M. Road for some time, as a bridge carpenter. We copy from the Albia Union:

About midnight last Friday night, the citizens of the north-west part of town were disturbed by the firing of revolvers at or near the house occupied by MRS. DOUGHERTY and her daughter, MRS. MARIA STEVENSON. Someone went after Mr. Boals, the Marshal. When he got there he found GEORGE HOBSON being lifted into a bus, he having a bullet hole through his thigh. The Marshal went through the house, but found no man there. HOBSON was brought to the American House, and Dr. Lambert sent for to dress the wound. It was found that a large ball had passed through the thigh about three inches below the groin, shattering the bone badly. It is a very serious wound, but the patient seems to be getting along well.

Next morning JAMES MCGUIRE was arrested upon the charge of assault and intent to murder GEORGE HOBSON; MCGUIRE is wounded also, a small pistol ball having struck him in the breast, glancing upward from the rib and coming out near the collarbone. He informed against WM. PEACOCK, charging him with assault with intent to kill him. PEACOCK was arrested and his preliminary examination held before Mayor Downs Friday and Saturday. He was bound over in the sum of $500, and discharged from custody.

At present writing (Monday) the preliminary examination of MCGUIRE on the charge of shooting HOBSON, is going on before Squire Peters. We understand he admits having shot HOBSON, but claims that it was done in self-defense. The women mentioned above, having before them the prospective penalties of the law for keeping a bawdy house, have left town, promising never again to return to Monroe County with the intention of remaining.

This occasions general rejoicing among the citizens of the north-west part of town. The version we get of the affair, is that MCGUIRE was in the house when the other two, being intoxicated, went to the house and demanded admittance. MCGUIRE came to the door and a quarrel ensued, ending in the shooting with the results above stated.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 13, 2003
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialucas
posted at this site with Nancee's permission.