The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-07-15
Murderous ARRAY at Leland.

MurderOus ARRAY at Leland.
The air was full Of rumors in the beginning of
the week of a fearful tragedy at Leland, in this
county, on Saturday last, and finally, ON We'd.
nesday, the parties were brought before Esqr.
Leavens in this city for preliminary examina-
ton, when substantially the following facts were
revealed:
Fifteen years ago there came to Leland fam.
lily named Blair, consisting of father, mother,
three daughters and three sons. A few years
later the father. taken with the Pixies Peak gold
fever left for that region, leaving his family at
Leland. In two years he died in Colorado. Some
years later, after one of the daughters of Blair
had been married to A. D. Shepard, the widow
OF Blair desired to migrate to Colorado, and
Shepard advanced the money for her to do SO,
taking quit claim deed, or some sort of convey
ance Of the small house and lot in Leland which
had been the property Of the elder Blair, and
after the widow had left Shepard moved into the
house, regarding it ever afterwards as his own,
the Blair family thereupon becoming scattered
About year ago, the widow, who in Colorado
had been married to man named Brewer and
had again become q widow, returned to Leland
aud claimed her former property. Her sons
William and Laban Blair, now grown to mans
estate, espoused her cause. A law suit was com.
mencsd tor the eJeotment of Shepard, but the
Blair brothers seem not to have had patience to
await the laws delay, and ON Saturday came to
Leland determined to eject Shepard BY force
Proceeding to the house, they found at home
only Shepards father and mother. who we're liv.
ing with him, after hesping some abuse upon
whom they left to hunt up A. d. Shepard. The
latter, .pprised Of their arrival in town, and
their purpose, had armed himself with shot.
gun and revolver, to meet them. They met on
Main street, and after some psrley, Shepard
kseping them 1t q distance With his gun, the
elder of the boys, Lsban. approaching him, and
the younger, William. following behind his
brother With drawn revolver. About this time
the brother in the lead applied very insulting
epithet to Shepard, spoa which he snapped hi,
gun at him, and then lsvelling tho Other barrel
ct William fred, the shot taking effect in bis
left breast and inaiosing wound OF which he
died . few minutes Afterwards, but before dying,
raised himself on his left elbow and fred three
shots from bis revolver at Shepard, one shot tax.
ing effect in tho calf of his lex. Lsban there.
upon was taken in charge BY tho citizens who
had gathered to witness the ARRAY, and Shepard
went homo. A ooroner's jury assembled on the
body Of William Blair returned for verdict, that
civilian Blair came to his death by gun.hot
fred BY A. D. Shepard, in self defence"
Shepard was subsequently arrested on tho
charge of murder, and brought to Ottawa, before
Esq. Lesvens, as intimsted above, for prelimns.
~ examination. The result Of the examina ton
which occupied three days, was the discharge of
Shepard, the evidence clearly showing that no
had acted In self.defence.
1t is due to say, that the character of Shepard
was shown by the evidence to be that of peace.
able, orderly man, enjoying the esteem and con.
fidence of all his neighbors; while that Of the
Blairs was bad in tho extreme. Both of them
had been in repeated trays before, one of them
(Willism) having stabbed q man at Somouauk
four years ago. while the other had served term
in the penitentiary for horse stealing.