A Bitter Business Rivalry Ends in a Shooting
A Garfield real estate businessman remains in critical condition after being shot in the street by a rival.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Thomas Turnbow, a well-known businessman of Garfield, Washington, was shot down by J. E. Brown following a long-standing dispute. Both men had been at the local Oregon Railroad & Navigation train depot and were walking back into town. Brown reached the corner of Third and California streets, turned around, and upon seeing Turnbow ten feet behind him, shouted, 'What are you following me for?' When Turnbow denied following him, Brown swore, pulled his gun, and fired. The bullet entered Turnbow’s shoulder and lodged against his spine. Brown surrendered immediately and was taken to the jail in Colfax. There had been 'bad blood' between the two men for two years prior to the attack. Surgeons removed the bullet, and doctors remain hopeful for Turnbow's recovery, though lynch mobs were rumored to be gathering in Garfield should the victim pass away.
“Brown said with an oath, 'I'll teach you to follow me.' and then pulled his gun and fired.”
Public disagreements between businessmen in small towns often escalated into violence in the early 20th century, a stark contrast to today's mediated legal disputes. The fear of mob justice (lynching) in the wake of the crime reflects the volatile state of law and order in Eastern Washington during the territorial and early statehood transition.
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