Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1911 — BAD MARKSMANSHIP LET CULPRIT MAKE ESCAPE. [ARTICLE]

BAD MARKSMANSHIP LET CULPRIT MAKE ESCAPE.

Dave Haste Used Pump Ghi on Fleeing Object Eat His Aim. Was Bad and Man Made His Getaway. Residents of the west end of town were startled at about 7:30 o’clock Thursday evening by the rapid firing of a shotgun and those who lived close enough to the scene of activity report that the evening air was not only surcharged with the reports of the shooting but also with a choice variety of cuss words. From all evidence The Republican could acquire, Dave Haste wak the man behind the gun tmd also behind the cussing. Both the epithets and the shot were fired at a fleeing man of mystery, who. outran or dodged five charges of shot fired from Dr.ve’j pump gun. Mr. jmd Mr*. Dave Haste, who live at the corner of Jefferson and West Harrison streets, are themselves considerably mystified at the audtlcity of the man at whom Dave, shot. Several of the neighbors have reported some queer actions in the neighborhood. A mpn has been seen crouching about in its dark places and peeping in windows and has caused 4uite a little terror among tbe women and children. Several petty thefts have occurred and Harrison Timmons had 26 nice young Plymouth Rock pullets stolen. Whether everything that has happened can be traced to 'this one individual or not is uncertain. Mr. Haste works at tbe light plant and as he whs going to work at about 5:30 o’clock he saw an object standing in the Shadow of a tree not far from his house. He returned to inform his wife and told her to telephone him if the man came around their house. Shortly after 7 o’clock Mrs. Haste saw the man just outside of the house, and she called Dave by phone. He responded as quitkly as he could <,and by that time the man was out in the back yard between the Haste and Eld Hall homes. Dave got the pump gun and rushed our demanding that the man give an explanation. The man decided that bis escape depended upon his agility as a footracer and he didn’t stop to explain anything. Then Dave cut loo*e with a lot of clankety Diasrk business and between the dashes end blanks and explans tion points there Defied forth cn the quiet evening air the r oar of his artillery. The‘man ran to the corner of Jefferson street and thence south. Dave was in pursuit and as fast as be could pull the lever and reload the gun he pulled the trigger. Dave say’ the man was abort and had on a light overcoat and from the glimpse Mrs, Haste got pf him thinks he had light hair. Davie has long lege but the blonde short man soon had him outdistanced and Mas so far away that even the pump gun had no terrors for him. Evidently all of Dave’s shots went wild of the mark; at least no one has been around to any of the doctors to have birdshot picked fronn their backs. It is hstdly probable that the culprit will put in his appearance iq that neighborhood again, but if be does he will probably hgve more than one charge of shot to dodge, for about all tbe neighbors have signified their In tentlon of Joining in the man hunt There is nothing more beastly than to skulk about In the shadows of the night, frightening women and incidents of this kind have been reported several times lately as occurring i i different parts of town. A charge of shot planted on tbe slick side of the trousers would be small punishment for a window peeper and it is coming to any fellow that engages in the practice.