The Evansville Daily Journal

(From the Harrisburg Herald.]

Another Account of the Shooting Affair at Chambersburg.

Our readers will recollect that some two or three years ago, a great excitement was created in Pittsburgh by the announcement that a man named Isaac Craig had seduced a daughter of Chambers McKibben, Esq., who is both deaf and dumb. The affair passed the rounds of the press, and was the subject of general comment.

Craig had married a daughter of Mr. McKibben, who was of a sickly character, and in her absence abroad to obtain relief, it was alleged the act was done. As might have been expected, the brothers of the lady, whose character was thus ruined, were exceedingly indignant over the occurrence, and several attempts have been made at different times to take the life of the individual who is supposed to have been guilty of the disgraceful offence.

On Friday of last week, one of the brothers Joseph C., who has been abroad, one of the new members of Congress elect in California for some years, and is one from that State, in company with another brother Robert, passed through this place, to visit their father at Chambersburg, where he has a country seat. They have remained there since that time.

The elder of these brothers, Joseph, is described to us as a large, fine looking man, who would weigh probably 200 pounds, while the other is of rather spare build. Craig, the alleged seducer of their sister, is a small man.

On yesterday morning Craig passed through this place for Chambersburg, in company with his little boy, whom he was taking to see his mother, with whom the husband is not living, and who resides with her father. It is said that he was not aware that the brothers McKibben were at that place or he would have remained away.

The brothers did not hear of his arrival in the town until in the afternoon, just before the cars for this place started; but learning that he was to depart in the 2 o'clock train, they immediately armed themselves and started to the railroad with the view of taking his life.

When they arrived there, they both walked along the platform of the depot along side which the cars stand, until they espied the object of their search, when Joseph immediately jumped up to the door of the car, and Robert ran to the opposite end and each fired in at Craig.

The car was full of passengers, and it may well be supposed that the disturbance immediately created the wildest alarm amongst them. Some threw themselves down on the floor, others dodged behind the seats, others jumped out of the windows and a general scene of excitement occurred.

The firing was continued by the brothers in this way for several rounds, but both seemed to be under so much excitement that they were unable to take direct aim, and Craig remained unwounded. As soon as he could do so, he extracted a revolver from the place where it was confined, and fired it several times, each time taking aim at Joseph. He has since said that he did not desire to injure Robert, whom he might have shot with the greatest ease. There were some twelve or thirteen shots fired in all, in the car.

Finding that he could do nothing in the car, Craig made for closer action with Joseph, when the latter started to run, and was followed by Craig, with the other brother in the rear. During this race Craig fired several shots at Joseph, one taking effect in the arm and injuring him slightly. Robert also fired several shots at Craig, one of which entered his back. During the melee, Craig was also pierced in the groin by a ball, but we cannot say with accuracy from whose pistol.

The parties were separated after having chased one another around the depot building for some time, and endangering the lives of a great many persons who were in the vicinity. All the parties were armed with two pistols apiece.

Craig is represented to have acted with the utmost coolness during the entire affair. Several of our citizens were present throughout the melee, and one of them, Mr. James L. Reilly, very narrowly escaped with his life.

After the parties had been separated, the McKibben brothers were seen surrounded by some five or six young men, and it was understood were preparing to make another attack. The Superintendent of the railroad company, Mr. Lull, learning this, ordered the Conductor to start immediately with his train, which he did, bringing Craig along, and leaving many of the passengers behind, who were standing in squads discussing the affair.

Craig did not at first feel any apprehension from the wounds he had received, but after the train was in motion they came under the medical charge of Dr. Stewart.

McKibben brothers have since been indicted by the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company, and placed under bonds.

We are informed that Craig has expressed himself at several times to persons who have visited him at Shippensburg, as gratified that the subject has been a matter of litigation, as it will now afford him an opportunity to prove his innocence of the charges made against him.

He resides in Pittsburgh, where he is engaged in the lumber business, and is said to be a very intelligent man. The car in which the affray took place was very much riddled by the pistol balls. The wounds of Craig have been pronounced not dangerous by his physician.