The Nevada Democrat., 1857-12-09
Tire McKibben and Craig Shooting Anal

A correspondent Of the New York Tribune
writing from Chambersburg, Pa, under date Of
Oct. 29th, gives the following particulars of the
shooting affair between the McKibben brothers,
and their brether-in law, Isaac Craig, together
with the cause of the difficulty. The affair hap
yened on the 9th Of October.
Some years ago Mr.. Isaac Craig Of Pittsburg
son Of Neville b. Craig, and editor Of the Pitts
burgh Gazette, married daughter OF Chambers
Mcklbben, Esq, the proprietor of the Exchange
Hotel of that place. Both families occupied
prominent social positions, and were wealthy
and highly respected. Chambers McKibben
subsequently removed to Philadelphia, where
he still resides as the proprietor Of the Mer-
chants Hetel, and Naval Officer under Mr..
Buchanan. Two years ago he purchased a
beautiful farm a little distance from cur town,
where he spends portion of his time, and
where part of his family reside all the time.
One of Mr.. MeKbben's daughters, Mary, is
both deaf and dumb. Every effort that wealth
and kind parental care could give was lavished
to atone for the loss Of the faculties denied her
by nature. She was educated thoroughly, aud
her naturally sprightly, cheerful and affection
ate disposition made her the loved one of the
family. As might be expected, she had little
or no intercourse with any one outside of her
own family circle, and she had reached perhaps
twenty summers as gulleless as innocent, and
as c0nfding as child. About three years ago
she went to Pittsburgh to visit her sister, the
wife of Mr.. Isaac Craig. and remained some
weeks her guest. During that visit il is alleged,
and the allegation is supported by the affidavit
of the victim herself, (she even passed the cross
examination Of David Paul Brown, that her
own brother-in-law, Mr. Isaac Craig, seduced
her. She returned home to Philadelphia, and
fer months seemed to be entirely ignorant that
any wrong had been done her; but in due time
she gave unmistakabIe Indications that she
would soon become mother, and not until
then did her family expect anything of the kind,
nor did she seem, when the truth had forced
itself upon her heart-broken friends, to realize
that she had suffered any wreng Not until
she understood that she had thrown a sad sha-
dow over her parents and brothers and sisters,
did she appreciate the villainy of her seduCer
When questioned in relation to the author of
her misfortune, she promptly charged it upon
her brother-in-law, Mr.. Craig and followed it
with an affidavit detailing the circumstances of
her seduction. Mr.. McKibben and his family, not
doubling the guilt Of Mr.. Craig, proceeded to
prosecute him, and took Mrs. Craig and her
children (four in number,) home again. She
has remained with her children separated from
her husband ever since, and has resided in the
past, with her blighted sister as her companion.
The suit is still pending in the Allegheny court
having gone ever from term to term until now.
Soon after the seduction Of Mary Jane Ne
kibben, one OF her brothers fired once or twice
ct Craig in Pittsburg, but without effect Since
then no violence has been attempted upon Mr.
Craig until Tuesday last though do not know
that any Of the young McKlbben's have met
him in the mean time.
Some time last summer, two of Mrs Craig's
children (the oldest boy and grD were playinr
in one Of the rooms Of the house, where loaded
gun was standing, and the boy by some acci-
dent fired the gun and lodged the contents in
the brain Of his sister. She was of course killed
instantly. She was beautiful aud intelligent
girl of ten summers, and il was a terrible blow
to the already worse than widowed neither
Mr.. Craig was advised of the death of his child
and came on to Chambersburg with his father
to take the body to Pittsburgh for interment
he asked, through his father for permission to
see his wife and children, but be was forbidden
by Mr.. McKibben and his sons to come to the
house at the peril of his life though they al
lowed his three remaining children to be taken
to neighboring house to spend an hour with
him. 1t was truly sad time, for his youngest
two had never heard his name since they were
old enough to know what it is to leve and be
loved, and they parted with him without know.
ing that they had been with their father. AS
great fears were entertained that the sons of
Mr. McKibben would take Mr.. Craig's life,
should they meet at the depot where the body
OF the child was put upon the cars Mr.. Craig
took private conveyance to Shippensburg the
evening before, and there teek the cars and
met his father, who had the body in charge.
The little boy who had accidentally killed
bis sister was permitted to accompany his grand
father and father with the body of his sister to
Pittsburgh. under the solemn promise of the
grandfather that he should not be detained be-
vond given time. According to premise, the
10Y was brought back to this place by his faith
r on Tuesday last. The boy went out to his
1other, and the other children were sent into
'rsig's hotel. and permitted to stay with him
ntil he should leave In the rsturn train for