Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1894 — A FAMILY FEUD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A FAMILY FEUD.

Hon. A. C. Harris and W. H. Bruning Shot by W. H. Copeland. Indianapolis was wildly excited, Tuesday, over a sensational shooting affray in the law office of Miller, Winter & Elam. William H. Copeland, of Madison, shot Hon. A. C. Harris, of Indianapolis, and W. H. Bruning, of Madison. Mr. Harris was wounded in the left arm, the bone being broken. Mr. Bruning was hit by two bullets, one of which struck him in the left arm, the other fracturing the lower jaw. Copeland and Bruning are

brothers-in-law. Mr. Harris was Copeland’s attorney in the cases between Bruning and Copeland, and received his wound while trying to hold Copeland down. The difficulty was over family affairs, Copeland charging that Bruning had tried to alienate his wife, and that he had systematically swindled Mrs. Copeland in the settlement of the elder Bruning’s estate, the larger part of which, he says, the junior Bruning absorbed. Bruning denies all the allegations of Copeland. Mr. Copeland has been a member of the Legislature and is a prominent attorney of Madison. All the parties are prominent people. Ex-Attorney-General Miller, in whose office the shooting occurred, was mixed up in the melee incidentally, The office where the tragedy took place is the one formerly occupied by ex-President Harrison. The affair created a tremendous sensation at the capital. Mrs. Copeland arrived at Indianapolis from Madison, Tuesday evening. She confirmed Copeland’s statements concern'ng the quarrel between her brother and husband that resulted in the shooting. Mr. Copeland was arraigned in the Poke Court, Wednesday, and was fined $25(1 lor carrying concealed weapons. The fine was stayed. Ho was held in bonds for 12,503 for assault with intent to kill W. H. Bruning, and in bonds for SI,OOO for the issault on A. C. Harris. Mr. Harris's arm proved to be broken' :n two places, and a stiff joint may result :rom the injury. Mr. Bruning’s Injuries ire serious but he will recover.

W. H. COPELAND.