The Van Buren press., 1866-09-21

PREMIDITATED MURDER.-Our citizens
were startled on Thursday afternoon last
bv the announcement that MACK HARRAL
had been killed, in a difficulty, by young
nan named Jas. O'Bryant, at Log Town
All the circumstances go to implicate the
father Of O'Brvant in the atfray, and GER
tainly has every appearance ola premed-
itated attack.
We were not at the examination before
Justice Woods, but have been furnished
With synopsis of the testimony on the
part Of the State. A writ was issued
against Arnold OBryant the father as
well as the son. But the Justice did not
deem the evidence sufficient to hold the
father for trial. The son was held under
bond of $4,000 to appear atsthe Circuit
Court in November next. Below we
give extracts from the testimony in the
case:
The witnesses on the part of the State, to-
wit Chas. Bodine. JnO. Kilgore, VIM. Miller,
and - Divleblsss, testified in substance as
follows: That they were at Dvlebliss & Co.'s
Store, In Log Town, Oh the 18th of Septem-
ber; that Harrell, the deceased, was there;
that he took one OF the witnesses aside, and
asked him If he had heard C'Bryant making
threats against him; that he expected when
they met that O'Bryant would attack him;
asked witness to be his friend. About two
hours before the difficulty, Arnold O'Bryant
father Of James O'Bryant. came to the store
and asked one of the witnesses If the boys,
Jimmy and Mack. had had any difficulty;
witness answered that Jimmy had not been
there; Arnold O'Bryant said that he expect
ted difficulty when the boys meet; he re-
mained at the store until young O'Bryant
came When James OBryant and young
Warden rode up, Harrell was standing in the
door; he stepped in the house, got chair and
came out and sat down OH the porch, smoking
his pipe. O'Bryant rode up, got down; did
not hitch his horse; came up to Harrell, slip
ping his pistol around on his belt; AS he did
so he said to iIarrcll, Mack Harrell what have
you been telling your God damned lies on Inc
for? HarreA as he got up replied in like
on me for? As Harrell arose u Bry ant reach
ed for his pistol; Harrel then reached for his,
got it out. fired first; Harrells being knocked
up by Divellbliss. missed. OBryant fired in
an instant as he did so, Harrell slapped his
hand to his breast and walked in the house to
the back room, and fell at the back door and
died in few minutes O'Bryant cooked his
pistol and started to follow aim in, but was
StOpped went to the fence and looked over
where Harrell had fallen; came away; as he
did So some one asked, is he ndrt. or who is
hurt ? (witness was not certain which,
OBryant replied Il have Killed the damned
rebel son of a b." AS Harrell went in the
house, after being shot, Arnold O'Bryant be-
ing in the house, drew his pistol rs Harrell
passed in the back room. Witness saw O'Bry-
ant have his pistol pointed IN that direction.
Some one halloed do not shoot Mack any more.
lie put up his pistol and came out of the door
and said to his son "do not shoot any more,
the rascal. or son of a b. witness is not
certain which, has got enough One wit
ness saw James o. Bry ant in Y an Buren, before
the difficulty; he sale to witness that Harrell
had been telling lies on him, and that when
they met he intended TO have a settlement
asked witness to 60 out with him. One wit
ness says that O'Bryant said that he would
slap Harrall's jaws when he saw him. and III
he resented it it would be worse or something
to that effect.