Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1905 — SHOOTING AFFAIR AT BROOK [ARTICLE]

SHOOTING AFFAIR AT BROOK

James Portwood, a Former "Rensselaer Man , Probably Fatally Wounded.

The town of Brook, in Newton oounty, was the scene of a shooting affair Wednesday between Thomas Thorn and James Portwood, in which the latter was shot three times and probably fatally injured. Thorn had been driving a team for some renovator men. and Poriwoed got into trouble with the head of the renovator gang some days before, and smashed him with a beer bottle. This led to a quarrel between Thorn and Portwood; their meeting taking place about noon, in Spitler’s restaurant* Both began shooting with revol vers, at only abont three feet distanoe. Thorn’s first bullet hit

Portwcod on the*chin, and lodged agaust the jugu'ar vein in the neok, This shot seemed to have destroyed Portwcod’s aim, and all his shots went wild. All of Thorn’s shots however took effect. One bit Portwood in the left breast, and oame out at the back. The third hit him in the side and was cut out below the navel. It is beHeved his wounds will prove fatal. It is unde, stood that this is the same Portwood who lived in Rensselaer some years ago, although the supposition has not been fully confirmed. Thorn is under arrest and will probably soon find safe keeping in the jail here.