USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. page016 ATTEMPTED HOLD UP ENDS IN TRAGEDY[?] [Picture of 1 Boy and 2 men] Princibals in Saturday night's hold up and shooting. Reading from left to right. Eugene Doty, 15 year old son of Chas. Doty; Oliver Lightner, the victim; and Chas. Doty, who killed Lightner. (Courtesy of Lima News) YOUNG BLUFFTON MAN IS KILLED SATURDAY MIDNIGHT IN HIS EFFORT TO ROB CHAS. M. DOTY AND SON Eugene Doty's Presence of Mind Thwarts Bandit's Purpose and Saves Father's Life. A small patch of blood on Ottawa street just across from Gettman's residence, marks the spot where Oliver Lightner of Bluffton breathed his last. Four bullets from the pistol of Chas. Doty had crashed thru his body, three of them thru the chest and one thru his thigh. Lightner died within a few feet from where he boldly attempted to hold up Mr. Doty and his son last Saturday at about midnight. Doty and son Eugene (Jim) were on their way home from his place of business, the pool room, and carried with them a large amount of money in checks and currency. When they arrived at Cross street they noticed a suspicious looking character pass in fron of them. Doty who always carried a loaded weapon with im when on his way home at nights, prepared himself for any emergency that might come up. He took his revolver and held it concealed in his overcoat pocket. When they reached a place just opposite the Gettman home, a masked bandit leaped from behind a large tree and held a pistol in their faces, asking them to throw up their hands. Eugene realizing what was happening, and with great presence of mind, reached out for the bandits arms and shoved them upward. In the meantime Chas. Doty, the father dodged to the left and fired three successive shots thru the man's body, each one piercing the chest within a few inches from each other. A fourth shot was fired which passed thru his left thigh. The man fell against the fence to the walk, Both father and son went for help. Marshall Johnson reached the spot within three minutes after the shooting. The man had in the meantime crawled off the sidewalk on to the street and was lying on his face. Johnson took off the mask and only noticed the lips move but no words was heard from the dying man. He died in the marshall's arms. Drs. Butt and Sink were called but could not render any assistance. Many of the neighbors who heard the shooting arrived at the scene armed with all kinds of weapons. The body was taken to Humphreys and Son's undertaking establishment where he was identified by Luther Sommer of Pandora. Lightner had his face blackned to conceal identity and had a red bandanna handkerchief tied over the lower part of his face. He wore an overcoat which he had received, it is claimed, from Thut of Bluffton who was a pal of his. He carried an automatic revolver which was loaded, with safety cock released and ready for action. No shot had been fired from his weapon. The parents of the slain boy Mr. and Mrs. William Lightner of Bluffton were immediately notified of the tragedy and were prostrate over the terrible news. The body remained her until early Sunday morning when it was taken to Bluffton by Comb's hearse. Oliver Lightner was a senior in the Bluffton high school and about 19 years of age. Whether he had ever attempted any such deeds prvious to this one is not known. He comes from a very respectable family and only his outside environment could have produced such a character. It is suspected that a number of other young men in the neighorhood of Bluffton were implicated in the hold up and a very thoro effort is being made to catch those who may have been connected with Lightner. A machine was seen running back and forth immediately after the tragedy but no one could ascertain as to who the occupants were. Mr. Doty acted in self defense and the witnesses of the tragedy can testify as to his actions, thus exonerating him from blame or penalty. The funeral services were held at the parents home in Bluffton and burial took place in Maple Grove cemetery.