Queer Proceedings
Deputy Sheriff of Crook County Arrests Two Men For Murder and releases them on Account of Probable Expense to the County.

Salem, Or., Jan. 10-The deputy sheriff of Crook county to-day arrested James Townsend and Frank Tharpe, charged with the Prineville murder. They were arrested at the residence of the father of the latter, near Stayton, and lodged in jail in this city, a number of citizens of this county having, however, made affidavit to the fact that both were in this neighborhood at the time of the murder. The officer released them rather than to put his county to the expense of a trial on suspicion only. There appears to be a diversity of opinion as to the policy pursued, however, and the matter may hereafter come up in a new light.

     Deputy U S Marshal Johnson arrived here yesterday from Prineville, having in charge Joseph Aldridge, J.R.A. Allen, formerly of Cottage Grove, and John Sizemore, at one time a resident of Jackson county, all charged with false swearing in regard to the entering up of claims of land occupied by them near Prineville. They were arrested on the complaint of L.C. Perry. They will be examined before a United States commissioner.

     Brownsville, Or. Sept. 2
     Mr. A. Masterson, of Prineville, is here on a short visit to relatives on the Sound.

     Accidentally Shot-By a letter from South Springs, Crook County, thirty miles from Prineville, dated January 31, it is learned that a camp boy came in from one of O'Dell's sheep camps, bringing the information that William Evans, a herder, aged 19 years, had accidentally shot himself through the bowels. Messengers were dispatched to bring in the unfortunate boy and a physician was summoned from Prineville. It was thought that your Evans could not survive.

     The Prineville Land and Live Stock company is one of the recent incorporations; principal office Prineville; capital stock, $125,000; incorporators, B.F. Allen, H. Hahn, Leo Fried and J.N. Williamson. The object is to deal in land and live stock in Crook county.

     The Prineville News reports sheep shearers still at work in spite of the recent unfavorable weather.

     A Nebraska man has bought 10,000 head of mutton sheep near Prineville, at an average of $2 per head.

     The measles are prevailing in Prineville, Crook County.

     Prineville will have  a teachers' institute May 23, 24, and 25.

     Mr. J. Sommerville has gone to Prineville to open the first national bank of that city, of which he is president.

     Sheep shearing has fairly begun, and will soon be in full blast, says the Prineville News.

     Prineville News: Stockmen are gathering their saddle horses, preparatory to a general spring roundup.

     Prineville paper: This section is indeed suffering for rain. The range is so dry that grass is not growing and grain is on a stand still.

     W.J.H. Gray was appointed stock inspector for a period of one year by the Crook county court last week. A.B. Webdell having resigned that position.

     The annual county institute for Crook county, for the present year, will be held in Prineville, commencing on the 28th day of next May.

     Ochoco Review: S.J. Newsome has erected the first water works in Prineville. He has built a cistern on the hill north of town capable of holding 100,000 gallons of water, which he supplies by means of a wind pump from a well on the Ochoco. The cistern is about --- feet from the well and the water is raised nearly 100 feet. From this cistern Mr. Newsome intends to irrigate a garden and orchard on the hillside, which is free from frost, and where he can grow all classes of tender vegetables. This spring he put out 2500 strawberry plants, which are thriving well and promise to yield considerable fruit this season.

Welcome Rain in Crook County.
     Prineville News: The drought which made the future for Crook county look so uncertain a few weeks ago has ended. The rains of the last two weeks have been general, and altogether nearly four inches of water have fallen, which has thoroughly wet the ground and all kinds of vegetation is growing rapidly. There had been no rain of any consequence since the first of February, grass had quit growing and much of the spring-sown grain had not sprouted. Had the dry weather continued there would not have been enough grain raised for see another year,  and there was not enough grass on the ranges to feed stock through the summer. But the recent rains have changed the appearance of things. Sufficient rains have fallen to insure pretty fair crops and good grass, and we can truly say the country is saved. It does seem that with all the drawbacks this country is subjected to, it is still a favored locality. Last winter with a foot of snow on the ground and the mercury down to 40 degrees below zero the outlook was anything but favorable, and with the past four months dry weather and all kinds of vegetation burning up, it seemed that ruin was inevitable, but we have come out of the dilemma each time without serious loss, and Crook county is coming  to the front as she always does.

     Less building has been done in Prineville this summer than for many seasons past. The scarcity of money is the main cause, not a lack of confidence in the future of the town as many seem to believe.

     Mr. James Smith and children are here from Prineville on a short visit.

     Mr. J.F. Venner departed for Prineville with a load of canned and green fruit.

     FIRE BUG AT PRINEVILLE-A few days ago the brewery of Adolph Benswanger was burned at Prineville, and loss being $800, says the Albany Herald. Henry Stroud was arrested and held in $500 bonds for the incendiarism. The citizens of Prineville have offered a reward of $250 for the arrest and conviction of any person caught attempting to set fire to any building within the city limits. 

Horrible Mutilation of a Young Man at the Heels of a Wild Horse.

     The Ochoco Review published at Prineville, Crook county has the following:
     On last Thursday evening an accident resulting in the death of a young man by the name of Weston happened near Van Houten's on Hay creek. The young man was handling a lot of range horses in company of his cousin, Mr. Cole and while leading one the rope got fastened on his foot and the horse ran a half a mile with him. Mr. Cole succeeded in heading the horse off and rescued the young man who was horribly mutilated and dead. Examination showed that his leg was broken at the ankle, several ribs broken, neck broken, and his head and face badly bruised. Young Weston lately came from St. Paul and was not used to handling wild horses. He was 2- years(?) and had no other relative here than the one mentioned.

     Mr. S. Pringle of Prineville and Miss Lizzie Houk were married Wednesday evening at the residence of the bride's parents.