Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1915 — HARRY EGER SHOT JOHN W. CLOUSE [ARTICLE]

HARRY EGER SHOT JOHN W. CLOUSE

Dispute Oner Cow Led to Hasty Action—Shotgun Used At Long Range Without Serious Result* Hairy Eger spent Wednesday night in jail and was released on a SSOO bond this Thursday morning when arraigned before Judge Hanley. Harry had fired two charges of shot at John W. Clbuse, who lives a neighbor to him at the north edge of town. Cfouse proved not to be seriodbly injured and this will probably mitigate the offer sc. As nearly as The Republican can get at the circumstances that led up to the shooting Clouse had gone to the Eger home to see a cow which belongs to Mrs. Clouse, who is not living With her husband but is at present in Illinois. The cow, it is understood, had been left by Mrs. Clouse in care of Mr. Eger. One Story is to the effect that Harry had told Clouse that the cow’s bag was sore and that he had better come over and look after her and that he was there for that purpose when Harry returned home from Nat Heuson’s farm, where he had been helping thrash. Harry, however, denies that he had asked Clouse to come over to see the cow and says that when he came home from thrashing Clouse was there and that he ordered him from the place but that Clouse began to curse him and that he went into the house and got the shotgun and that Clouse was coming after him with a club. He fired twice at,Clouse, both charges taking effect in his back, but Clouse was some 75 yards away and only five shot pierced the skin. Probably a dozen more passed through his coat and shirt and rolled to the floor when Dr. Loy, who attended him, was digging the others out. One shot was deep enough to resist without considerable probing and was left where it iad lodged.

L. A. Harmon, court bailiff, who had 1 jeen at Parr with his wife, was comng back to Rensselaer at about 4:30 o’clock and saw Eger out in the road with the shotgun and asked him what he was doing and Harry x replied that if he didn’t take Clouse to town he would kill him. Clouse at that time started toward Eger and Harmon and Harry made a movement to shoot again but Harmon restrained him. Clouse was brought to town by Mr. Harjnon and swore out an affidavit for Eger’s arrest and it was given to Mr. Harmon to serve. Walter Porter accompanied him to Eger’s home and Harry and his wife and baby all accompanied them to town and to the office of Deputy Prosecutor Sands. Just as they reached the top of the stairway they met Clouse coming out and Harry reached for his hip pocket to get a revolver which the officers did not know he had. Mr. Sands caught his arm and the revolver was taken away from him. His mental condition was such that Judge Hanley declined to consider admitting him to bail and he was sent to jail for the night. By this morning he quieted down and the bail was furnished by his brother, C. W. Eger, and his attorney, George A. Williams.