The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-11-24
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN PORTER
COUNTY, INDIANA.
Horrible Murder Of Charles @. J0hn-
The Murderer kllAs himself.
From the indianapolis Journal.

The Murderer Kills himself.
From the indianapolis Journal.
IN VALPARAISO, IND, Nov. IA.
A terrible tragedy was committed last Sat
urday evening, about five miles from this city,
at the farm house of Mr.. Charles st. John, an
old and respected resident of this county, who
was shst through the head, and almost
instantly killed, by "a rifle bullet fired through
the window by . young man named George
Lopher. The circumstances connected with
the murder are substantially follows: Some
time in April last young Lopher took job
of cleaning piece Of land for Mr.. St. John,
and continued to work for his employer till
about two weeks since, when settlement of
their accounts was had, which appears to
have been unsatisfactory 10 young Lopher,
who remarked, soon afterward, ''that he had
a good mind to split the old fellows head
OPEN"
On Friday last the young man went to the
house of his uncle, Mr.. Rosencranz, living 4
few miles south of Valparaiso, with whom
he has q Younger brother and sister living,
and borrowed his uncle's rifle, saying he was
going hunting. He remained over night
with the family, and in the morning came
with them to this city. He was seen on the
streets several times during the day, and ap-
peared to be perfectly sober. Before leaving
town he bought quantity of strychnine at
Bryant & POmeroy's drug store, and secur-
ing passage in the wagon of neighbor,
reached the farm of St. John in the early
dusk of the evening, having first left his gun
at the house of a Mr.. Mandolin, about eighty
rods distant He inquired for Mr.. St. John,
and was told that he was at the barn doing
chores. Young Lopher went out to find him,
and they both soon afterward returned in
company. The young man seemed to be out
of humor, but sat down with the family and
took supper. At the conclusion of the meal
Lopher inquired of Mr.. St. John if he had
read the account of the child lately born with
two heads. Mr.. St. John replied that he
had not. The young man then took out .
paper, and throwing it on the table, said
gruffly, you'll find it in there" Mr.. St.
John drew the lamp to him, opened the pa
per and began to read. A little daughter yet
beside him anxious to hear something of the
strange child which George had spoken of,
Lopher then stepped out of the house, and
running up to Mandlin's said, hurriedly, he
wanted his gun. He was told where he
WOulu IHu H. AS SOOi - uC uou S1Aucu
possession of his rifle he started out and
n few moments afterward the neighbors
residing in the vicinity were startled with the
report of the gun, followed soon afterward
with the screams of Mrs. st. John and the
family. 1t appears that the assassin had shot
the man through the window, the ball enter
ing the left temple, carrying away both eyes,
and mangling him in most horrible man.
ner. The alarm was speedily given, and a
number started in pursuit Of the murderer.
His pursuers gained upon him SO rapidly
that Lopher felt that escape was hopeless,
and so, hastily reloading his rifle, he laid
down, and placing the muzzle to his right
temple, grasped the end of the barrel tightly
with his left hand, with his right touched
the trigger, and in an instant sent himself
into eternity, cheating the gallows Of vic
tim.
The murdered man was about 60 years
old, and a highly respected citizen of this
county. Lopher was not vet 81, and
though somewhat wild and reckless, was
never considered capable of committing 20
terrible crime-almoet as atrOciOus in mag
nitnde as the celebrated Page murder, COM
mitted in this county in 1868. No sufficient
reasons have yet been assigned for the muir
der We anxiously await further develop
ments. SKYROCKET.
s. S. CONVENTION The Kansas State
Sunday School Convention will meet 1t
Al. MI. l. e