Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1918 — A NEAR TRAGEDY ENACTED [ARTICLE]

A NEAR TRAGEDY ENACTED

Only Bad Markmanship Prevented Fatal Shooting Affray. Charles Marlin of Rensselaer, ■who has figured in the police court records several times on intoxication charges, is confined in the county jail in default of SI,OOO bonds on the charge of shooting at Nightwatch Critser at an early hour Thursday morning. It is alleged that Marlin and some companions drove over to Beaverville, Illinois, a little town just over the line in our sister state, which has become quite no- . torious since Indiana has gone dry and is the nearest “wet” station from Rensselaer, and had probably filled up on booze to a considerable extent. Mr. Critser went down to the Central garage after the party had returned about 2 o’clock Thursday morning and in conversation with Marlin, who is said to bear a grudge against the nightwatch who ’ had arrested him On numerous occasions heretofore, hot words were exchanged and Mr. Critser ordered Marlin to go home. The latter left the office and later, when Mr. Critser also left and started up town, Marlin, who had been laying in wait for him, assaulted Critser with a brickbat, striking him on the head and cutting quite a gash therein. Marlin then ran away, according to Critser, and the latter came on up to Van Rensselaer street

and, when near the fire engine house, some one called to bin. to watch out, and he saw Marlin with a shot gun in his hands and about to fire at him, in fact he pulled the trigger and the gun snapped but the shell failed to discharge. Crltser then opened fire on Marlin with his revolver and at the same time sought refuge In the fire housa. Marlin fired two shots from the shot gun but neither took effect. Critser then hunted about in the engine house for a shot gun which he thought to be there, but was unable to find it., Ellis Thoma’s, city marshal, was awakened by the shooting and soan appeared on the scene. The two then started in pursuit of Marlin, but the latter had evidently gone home. Near Kellner & Callahan’s office they found a belt containing a number of loaded gun shells which the fugitive had dropped in his flight. Later in the day Marlin was placed under arrest by Thomas and as the latter was taking the prisoner to the jail he remarked that he would ret that —— if it took him thirty years and he had to spend the rest of his life in jail, so Tho-mas. says.

'He was arraigned before Judge Hanley Thursday afternoon and bound over to court under SI,OOO bonds. He is still in jail and ft is understood that he will tak? a change of venue and the case be sent to Newton county for t-Hal at the coming term of court there. As a town marshal was shot and killed in Kentland some twenty-five years ago while trying to do his duty and arrest a citizen who had violated the law, It Is not probable that Marlin will get off very easy before a Newton county jury.