, 1865-09-12
TRAGEDY IN COLES COUNTY, HL.
A Returned Soldier Shot by Ills Com.
ratle for successdul Rivalry In Love-
The Murderer. Captured In a Pond.

ratie for Successful Rivalry In Love-
The Murderer. Captured In a Pond.
From The Charleston, M, Courier, cth.l.i
Sunday afternoon, Clifford Brown and
Joseph March, both Of this county, met at a
singing school held at Prairie Chapel near
Kansas, when the latter Invited the former TO
take walk with him. The Invitation was
accepted and the two left the crowd and
vert around into the rear of a corn-aeld,
about a quarter OF mile from the mecting
bouse. Soon after The discharge Of q pistol
was heard In that direction, and March came
running in very excited manner towards the
meeting house, mounted hts horse and dashed
Of. The bystanders rushed in the directiuuo of
where they heard the report Of the pistol, TO
sec what had happened. On arriving at the
spot they found the lifeless body Of Brown w.
iar yc1tering In his own blood.
Aecntleman VIII happened to be riding up in
full view OF the two, but who was unpercelTcd
ly them, states that at the time Of the tragic
occurrence Brown Was standing with his knife
ont whiting on . fence mil, when March de-
libcrGtc1y drew bis pistol and discharged It,
the bnll taking effect behind the left ear, and
causing instant death. This statement WAS
cotroboratcd by the fact that the knife was
found lying open as 1t fell from the hnnl OF
tho dead man; fresh notch was also observed
In rail-
This scene ut once. accounted for March's
cxci!cd manner and rapid flight. Pursuit. was
Immediately giyen- Tho fugitive was chased
about q hall mile, when he. was pushed SO
closely that he left his horse and took to q
coEn6eld. This was surrounded md then the
Interior explored. The fngitlve was soon
found concealed IN pond about the center
of the field, Ills head and shoulders only pro-
truding from the water ,Hc told his pursucrs
ifthoy would not shoot he wonld give himself
up. and accordingly did 60, and was ulaced
udder guard. Justice Bond held An inquest
over TIC dead body ofthc murdered man.
Both parties had been soldiers. Brown was
formerly member Of the 10th Illinois regi-
mcnt, but WAS discharged and returned home
some time since. March had but recently re-
turned. It Is said he had been ensagcd to
marry girl who resides IN the ncighborhood
Of tho tragic occurrence, who On the return of
brown plighted her affections to him.
March rode up 10 the object Of his passion
Sunday afternoon, Just as she WIS coming out
Of the gntc leading to her fathcr's residence,
md asked her If be could accompany her to
church. She told him that be could, but
that her company was engaged for the re-
turn. He asked ier ''by whom, Brown?''
and on receiving an Affirmative answer, and
having previously learned that the parties
to kill him before snndownl'' stung to tho
quick By the reply, with the grccn-eycd mon
stcr, jealousy, ranking In his bosom, be
dashed o., 9lly thinking Of revenge, swift,
The young lady intended to communicate
the threat to her lover, but unfortunately no
opportunity offered, and the exasperated and
defeated aspi1ant to her hand, seized upon
the first opportunity to execute his deadly
threat In the summary manner above narrated.
The examination Of the prisoner before
Justices Court was not concluded till Tues-
day afternoon, when he was brought in under
a guard of four men on the six O'Clock train,
and committed to jail to await hts trial be-
fore the next term Of the Circuit Court.