Skull Is Fractured

GILBERT, NELSON, JACKSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/1/2009 at 19:56:34

Grinnell (IA) Herald (1916)

SKULL IS FRACTURED

"INNOCENT BYSTANDER" SUFFERS

Archie Gilbert Is Struck By a Stone Thrown By Discharged Workman At His Foreman.

Archie Gilbert lies at his home on Reed street in a critical condition from a blow on the head from a stone which struck him on Friday afternoon during an affray at the new recitation building on the campus in which he was in the most literal sense of the word, an innocent bystander. Frank Nelson, the man who threw the stone, is still at liberty. Gilbert was struck just back of the ear and the skull was fractured at the base of the brain. An operation performed Saturday resulted in the removal of a fragment of bone which was pressing on the brain, and at last reports his condition, though serious enough, is satifactory. He is semi-conscious.

The trouble at the recitation building was instigated by Nelson. He had been discharged a couple of weeks ago for bringing liquor to work with him, and bore a grudge against the labor foreman, Charlie Jackson. Friday afternoon he came up to the office of the Bailey-Marsh company near the new building vowing vengeance on Jackson. The bookkeeper put him out of the office and he walked over to where Jackson was standing not far away, called him a name and struck at him. Jackson parried the blow. Nelson struck again and this time his fist had a knife in it. The knife blade cut a gash in Jackson's overalls. Jackson jumped to pick up a steel rod and sought to protect himself against the attack when Nelson, seizing a good sized lump of limestone hurled it at the foreman with all his might. Jackson dodged and the missile, passing him, struck Gilbert, who was peaceably engaged in unloading a car near by.

Nelson has been found by the police and is now in the city jail awaiting trial. He was located at his home town, Liscomb, Ia., and brought back to Grinnell.