Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1902 — SHOUP AGAIN SHOOTING. [ARTICLE]

SHOUP AGAIN SHOOTING.

Lands a Load of Buckshot Into Two Melon Thieves. Bill Shoup, who, while living south of town, shot a fellow who was in his melon patch, has been having similar experiences since moving to the vicinity of Fair Oaks. Only a few weeks ago he landed a few shot in a visitor to his melon patch and last Friday night he again brought his old- musket into use to the sorrow of two unknown men. Shoup discovered a party of three raiding his melon patch, and as they attempted to depart he blazed away. Two of the men were crawling under the fence together and received a number of shot in their bodies but escaped and their identity was not discovered. The third party escaped injury. As the shot struck the trespassers they gave a yell aud cried for him not to shoot again. As the musket was already empty Shoup complied with their entreaties. In their hurried flight the melon thieves dropped a sack containing two melons, and a package consisting of a new hat, a pair of suspenders and a handkerchief purchased that day in Rensselaer at the Chicago Bargain Store. Shoup has the articles in his possession awaiting an owner. The sack was perforated with twenty shot from his musket. Shoup is altogether too handy with his gun, and his grievance hardly justifies the revenge he takes on the visitors to his melon patch. Some of these days he will kill some one and then there will be trouble, or if he fails to kill some one, some of his victims are liable to take summary vengence on him, and who would blame them very much if they did.