Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-06-11
ImhdeIitx and Murder.

A correspondent of the Times, writing
from Cairo, Illinois, dated June 4, gives
the following details of the inidelity of
a wife and a subsequent desperate con-
hict and murder:
I hasten to transmit to you the par
t~iculars of one of the most terrible
events our community has ever wit
messed. A man named John Gallagher
has been living here for some two
months, boarding in one of the fat-boat
taverns which still infest our levee. He
is represented to be a hard working,
peaceable man. Some time ago he sent
for his wife, whom he left in our city,
and it appears shat on her trip down,
she made the acquaintance of the watch
man of the steamer, and consented to
run away with him to St. Louis, when
he should get ready to take her. Yes
terday morning Gallagher heard of this,
and at first could not believe it, as he
had never suspected the fidelity of his
wife. He was soon convinced of its
truth, however, and Immediately applied
to Judge Cochran for advice.
The Judge told him he had better
take his child, and let his unworthy
woman go, without making a fuss about
it. This Gallagher concluded to do.
His wife heard of it, and she called a
man named Enoch Mcpherson, who is
from Covington, KY, and who, having
a raft of lumber beside the floating
boarding house, had made her acquaint-
ance, to assist her in retaining her child.
Gallagher took away his baggage, and
returned last evening to get his child.
He had picked the little one up, and
was leaving with it, when Mcpherson
said cd d-n you, let that child be
or l will cut you all to pieces" Gal
lagher paid no attention to him, and
was still moving off, when Mcpherson
plunged a knife into him, but a short
distance above his heart. Mcpherson,
having committed this bloody deed ran,
Gallagher pulled out a revolver and
fired. He shot Mcpherson three times,
once in the arm and twice in the back.
Mcpherson, finding it impossible to es-
cape, wheeled, and approaching Gal
laghcr, gave him a blow which knocked
him into the river. Gallagher swan to
J the raft, a distance of twenty feet, came
out, and both parties drawing their
knives, went at each other. They
fought full ten minutes, decorating each
other d%readfully. A number of by
ISLANDERS looked on, and were so terrified
that none darc Interfere. Among the
observers was Mrs. Gallagher, who
'oo%cd coolly upon the whole ~ransac-
action without evincing the least emo
ton. The bloody contest was at last
ended. Gallagher succeeded in plung-
ing the knife clear through McPher-
sons heart, and he fell at his feet a dead
man, without even uttering a groan.
Gallagher was taken into custody.
He is cut and hacked dreadfully, and
this morning his recovery is considered
doubtful. The coroner held an inquest
last night over the body of Mcpherson,
and the jury returned a verdict impli-
eating Gallagher in the charge of muir
der. This proceeding is said to have
been a complete ~burlesque. Gallagher
has consequently been removed to the
Jail. AS soon as he has his cxamina-
ton, 1 VIII furnish you with t e de-
tails and the result. The affair has
caused a gloom here, so dreadful arc the
details of this tragedy.