H. J. SPENCER

 ATTACKED THE POSTMASTER.

A War With Sticks at Green Springs.

The Spencer Family Assaulted by the Millers—Arrests to Follow.

     Postmaster H. J. Spencer, of Green Springs came in this morning besmeared with blood from a gaping scalp wound, above the right temple.  He had attempted to move the postoffice fixtures about 6:30 o’clock in the morning, from the Frank Harmon building to that of his own and met with vigorous and hostile resistance.  He came in to swear out warrants against the attacking parties.

     This is the story Mr. Spencer related to a Mail representative:

     “I had put up a building about 120 feet from where the postoffice had been kept, and this morning, assisted by my wife and daughter, Lillie, started to move the office from the old building to the new one.  My daughter is 19 years old and deputy postmaster. When we had started to work moving the things we were assaulted by A. J. Miller, A. A. Miller, Daisy Miller, Nettie Miller and Andrew Miller, who claimed to own the old building and the fixtures.  They attacked us with sticks.  My daughter was struck on the right arm and shoulder.  In front of the office I was struck with a piece of board, about four inches wide and three feet long, by one of the assailants.  They then carried the things back into the office.  They claimed we were taking their property.  I had not rented the building from them and had no business transactions with them, and Mr. Barkley had told me that the fixtures belonged with the postoffice.  I was appointed postmaster at Green Springs in March, 1892, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of W. G. Bird.  I have lived in that neighborhood for the past 18 years.  The Millers moved there about three years ago from Kansas.  When they carried the things back into the old office, I told my daughter to go and take charge of the mail and prepare to send out the morning mail.  I don’t know whether she was marked by the lick she received or not.  After telling my daughter to take charge of the mail I came on to town to swear out warrants against our assailants.”

The Nevada Daily Mail, Nevada, Vernon County, Missouri June 5, 1893, page 1.

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