The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-06-10
SHOOTING Az.
FAIR.


a A a
While the crowd at the tobacco ware.
house were waiting for the signsl FOR
dinner to-day, the report OF . pistol was
heard In an adjoining building. With a
portion of the crowd we FASTENED to the
spot, and to, our surprise and horror
found a young man lying prostate on the
floor, shot through The heart and gasp
Ing his last breath.
Extending inquiries We learned the
following facts: The body was that Of
Sam NJ. Eaton, q painter from Hinck-
leyyille, KY, A few minutes before one,
James Smith, of Cairo, provoked fight
with a man by the name Of Clark, In the
saloon Of the st. Charles. During the
progress Of this fight Eaton appeared up
on the scene and ordered Smith to de-
sist, or he would shoot. him. The
fight continued and Eaton drew his pis-
tol, cooked it and leveled II atSniith's
body. just at this jupcture Mike Berry,
who had d moment before carried a
chunk OF ice into the hotel, appeared with
the Ice hooks IN his hands, and approach
ing Eaton, conraanded him not to
shoot-adding that IL was no time for a
fuss. Some say that Berry raised the Ice
hooks IN n threatening attitude; while
Others they were merely resting on
his shoulders. Be. that as II may, how
every, the pistol OF Eaton was diverted
from Smith to Berry, and brought within
. foot or Two of his right breast. In this
position the pistol was fired and Berry
fell, pierced through the lungs.
Eaton then started toward the tobacco
warehouse, when the cry was raised to
"stop him, he has killed man" Eaton
continued on bis way, and reaching the
warehouse, was met by oflcer Cum.
nings. who exhibited his badge of o6ics
aud demanded q surrender. Eaton again
drew his pistol, pointed Il at ofllcsr Cum.
miugs and actually pulled the trigger
Off,cer Cummings, seeing that II was )
matter Of life or death, then drew his re-
volver and shot Eaton dead In his tracks,
his ball taking erect In the left breast,
shout three inches above the nipple
Eaton fell forward, pistol still in hand,
upon his face. When We assisted In
turning him upon his back, n half min
ute afterwards, life, had departed.
The affair In one that Is deeply regret-
ted on all sides; but the universal yer.
dict Is that ofYicer Cummings was fully
justified In killing Eaton. He was not
only In deadly peril himself but In the
discharge Of his duty. Eaton was here
merely rs a looker-on, the pistol he car.
RED being one that he had borrowed o,
q neighbor. for the trip. He was single
man, given TO occasional dissipation, bu
was not spoken Of as either desperate
or dangerous man. Young Berry VA
raised In Cairo, was quiet, inofYensiv,
young man, and the sole support OF ~
aged mother who HIVES In the uppel
part 70 our city. Whatever b,
may 90 have done, In the open
ing fracas, all agree was done
In the interest Of peace. At half past
two o'clock he was, stiIl breathing, but
before this paDsr comes 10 the hands ol
our city readers, he will have followed
| his slayer to the unknown world.
The occurrence necessarily cast gloon
over the feelings Of all; and theregrets
over tn occurrence Are some what intsn
sified by the reflection that such an afisil
should disturb the hundreds Of visitors
called here by the opening Of our tobac
co market. .siss hns aaos