The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-04-11
THE BALL ROOM TRAGEDY!
TRIAL OF ELIAS KEENEY
For Mans1aughteri I'm Killing Vim.
Pelton i'm u Rail- Room at Har.
risburg. Jan. 3Ist, 1873.
A Fun Report oil the trial before the Cir
cult Court for Linn County, Begin
ming April 3rd, fs73--His Homer
Judge Bonhani, Presiding.

cult Court for Linn County, Begin
ming April 3rd, Is73--His Homer
Judge Bonhan,, Presiding.
This case, which has excited much
interest in Linn county since the CON-
mission of the deed, was brought up
for trial on last Thursday. Capt. n.
B. Humphrey, Prosecuting Attorney,
assisted by Geo. Il. Helm; aud
Messrs. Whitney &c Dryden, II. Will
liams and r.. S. Strahan for the de-
fense. The case was called at l
o'clock and the process ofempanneling
jury occupied most ofthe afternoon.
The full pannel was exhausted and a
number of tallismen called and re-
iected before the jury box was filled.
The jurors selected were G.. w. Crow
der, Jos. Moist, Ellis Knox, Jason
Wheeler, J. NJ. Churchill, Silas
Haight, Martin Luper, J. II. Smith,
Lewis Cox, Jacob Nye, S. Dawson,
and Jesse Archibald. The case was
presented to the jury by the respect
i've counsel, after which the evidence
for the prosecution was introduced
The first witness examined was
MART. TAYLOR,
who, being duly sworn, testified: -
Was in Harrisburg OH the 31st of last
January; saw defendant and VIM.
Pelton at an entertainment given by
me at that place at that time. Pelton
was musician employed by me to
furnish music for the occasion; was
to give him part OF the proceeds of
the entertainment.
PERRY HYDE,
being duly sworn, said: Was at Har-
risbur on the 3lst of January last and
saw the difficulty between keeney
and Pelton. The first | saw of the
affair was near the stage .where the
musicians sat. Heard some one say
some neck-ties were missing. Pelton
remarked that it was 4 dirty low
down trick. Keeney answered,
| took the neck-ties, Int / done il in
a joke. Pelton replied that he still
said it was a low down dirty trick
After some other remarks made in
loud and angry tone | heard Keeney
say to Pelton: You are a id son-of-
abb. a scuffie and fight imme-
diately ensued in which number of
parties, including Pelton, seemed
fighting keeney. The disturbance
was at length quieted and PROPOSE
ton was made to go to supper. Be
fore the party retired | saw keeney
again standing in front OF Pelton who
was sitting on stool on the stage,
with the other musicians, playing the
banjo. Saw Pelton get up and raise
stool and strike keeney from be-
hind. From two 10 five minutes
elapsed between the first row and the
time OF the shooting.
Cross k.cuntined-Am certain that
Keeney strnck first in first row. He
struck with fiddle, breaking the neck
of the instrument. Pelton sat on the
platform when second row began
Keeney stood in front of him near the
edge of the platform. Pelton struck
with a stool and keeney fell or
walked from the stage. Pelton struck
a second blow, and the report of pis-
tol rang out when / saw Pelton fall
backward toward the stage.
JOHN GORE
testified: Was at the entertainment
given by Mart. Taylor; saw Taylor
carrying the basket containing the
neck-ties up the hall; saw Keeney
take neck-ties from the basket; spoke
to Keeney about it. Heard Pelton
say it was a mean trick; Keeney said
he did it and called Pelton an ugly
name for saying it was mean trick.
Pelton strnck at Keeney, and Keeney
retreated to the door; next saw Kee-
ney on the stage looking over the
crowd. Saw PeIton raise stool and
strike; heard the report of pistol
and saw Pelton fall; also saw Pen
dleton act like striking at Keeney.
Cross Esanai,aed-After the first
row saw Keeney first on the stage
near Pelton. Stood with his side to
Pelton. When the blow was struck
with stool Keeney's face was towards
Peleon. Am positive Keeney was
looking direct at Pelton. Took part
in first row. Followed Keeney to
the door and struck at him. Took an
active part in the fight; caved round
pretty lively; mother tried to keep
me quiet. Went home with father
and mother; the doctor called at our
house because he heard was shot,
don't know how the report was start
ed that 1 had been shot; was not
badly frightened when the pistol was
fired; didn't find my clothes
soilded after the row. Didn't say /
was going in to whip Keeney; Pen
dleton took off his shoulder braces be-
fore we went in the house. Took
them off to be ready for row if one
occurred. Said / thought there would
be row that night. Didn't know
whether the row would be with OIL
Tompkins or Keeney. Had taken
one drink that evening; Pendleton
had also taken drink. I was right
behind Pendleton when he struck
Keeney.
Re-esanai'aed by States Attor7aey-
Don't know whether there was any
i'll will between Keeney and Pelton
before that night can't tell what the
relations were between Pendleton and