Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-10-03
VOL. 7.---NO. 6.

of the Coroner's inqucst--It was held at John
Cathcart's house, in Knox township, on the
9th August. this year-heard Thomas b. Tenn
pleton's testimony there and here in Court
the facts he stated, believe, are about the
same at both places. In court the points were
further drawn out and more minute than be-
fore the jury of inquest. Thomas Cathcart
was witness before the inquest-there were
points of difference in his testimony there and
here-tbe inquest requested him 20 place him.
self in the position the parties were at the
time of the shooting. He placed one person,
to represent John Cathcart, in the door way,
close inside. He then placed another 10
represent Martha Cathcart, to the right of the
door. lie then placed himself between the
Two, but to the left about two feet out of range.
He said that was the position Of the parties
when the gun went off-he said the ball struck
him on the back it passed in its course to
Martha. There was cut on his back-it run
nearly up and down his back-below that was
a bruise. After his back was examined, 1 told
him we must the shirt. He said the back
was all torn out and we couldn't see anything
about it if we had it. The long wound must
have been made with something sharp-the
skin was fairly cut. He stated that the parties
were standing at the time the gun went off. A
bullet to have struck him and her, would have
have had to glance at a half angle, and would
have struck her in the right side-the wound
was on the left side. He said he had gone to
the yard or lane to get the pig dirt. 1 believe
he said that when John saw what he had done
he drew the gun and struck it on the floor.
His wife, Nancy, was witness before the in
qucst-she said Thomas had gone to Johns
and that she was going over to see what had
detained him-she said he wanted her to get
her work done and assist him TO saw some
shngle stnff. | think she did not state before
the inquest what Martha should have said to
her after she got to the house. If remem-
Der right, she stated that Martha had said, dear
John, come and kiss me.
George Erhard, re e-caled.-Was a member
of the inquest-heard Thos. Cathcart's testi-
mony. When he was called up, he was asked
how this thing happened. He said that John
got his gun down with the intention of going
to the deer lick that he went to the door and
snapped the gun twice; that he returned into
the opening of the room-door |; that when John
was in the room-door the gun went off that
Martha jumped to her chilcren. l asked him
what she said and he replied that she said Moth
ing. He was then requested to place persons
in the position of the parties at the time. He
represented Martha as being near the centre
of the room and himself with his back towards
her. He said John was standing in the open
ing of the door. He said he was himself hit
with the ball-showed the mark. 1t ran from
the left shoulder across downwards; it was a
scratch. Below it on the right side, was an
other-something between scratch and
bruiSe. told him that mark was never made
by ball. 1 showed him then the position
the ball would have struck her after hitting
him. Her right side would have been towards
him. He said, how did get hurt then2 /
told him he knew that best himself The in
quest wanted to see his shirt that he had on
when this mark was made. The reply he
made was that the back was torn out and he
could see nothing ii the shirt was there. /
think he was asked the question if Martha bad
said anything after she was shot. He replied,
if mistake not she said, dear John, come and
kiss me, I'm dying. This is his testimony as
far as remember. Nancy Cathcart in her tes-
stated that Thomas had left home
that day. that he had spoken to her about the
shingie timber that when she came TO the
house and Martha was shot, she denied
knowing anything about the transaction, or
anything that happened about 1T. In reply to
a question, she stated that Martha had said,
dear John, come and kiss me, and think ad-
ded, am dying. This was all she had heard
Martha say.
George Miles, e-called.-Know the gun
1t belonged to my father at one time-the main
spring was good--I never knew it to miss
breaking cap the first trial-It was a double
trigger. The gun had been broken, but was
firmly mended.
d. Paulhamus, sw.-Saw Thomas Cathcart
when he came to Glen Hope-I considered him
very drunk-swung from one side to the other.
think | never saw man as drunk as he ap-
peared to be, stick on horse. He asked me
to hand him drink L told him was not
bar-keeper-I don't krow that he saw Mr..
Haines.
At u O'Clock Court adjourned till II.
Half past 0ne-Court met.
George Erhard, re-called.-Went to the
Jail with Cathcart in company with VIM. Nc
Cracken, Israel Test, VIM S. Brady, George
Rheem, and others, the same evening he was
brought to town. Mr.. McCracken asked him
how this thing happened. He replied that he
had been away all week from Thursday to
Saturday at Samuel Hegerty's. He said when
he came home on Saturday his wife was going
out with team to haul some rye; he called
to her and told her the rye not dry; that
they then went to the house; after he was at
the house he told her he had notion to go
out to the deer lick; he got his gun and went
to the door and snapped it as has been here
stated that he went back to the room door
with the gun; that it went off ir his hands,
and shot Martha He said Thomas was in the
kitchen. then asked him, John, did you not
hear what Thomas said on his oath yesterday 2
He said, he dld that he was not in the room
but that he was in the kitchen. said don't
see how this could be. He said that be didn't
believe Thomas was in the room-I think he
and Martha was sitting on the bed when she
was shot.
X.-He said he had the gun on his arm-am
not positive whether he said he was reaching
for something ernot.
lydia Raw, recalled. old Mrs. Gath
cart came to my house to tell us that Martha
was shot. she had a lump over her right eye,
about as large as hickory nut; it was blue
When she went to go home, my daughter got
under one arm and under the other the 9TH
er, and in that way we led her home and put
her in her own bed-=She appeared weak. At
ter this went up to see Martha. t2H ssE