The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-05-24
CONSTABLE GEORGE WELDON
STABBED TO DEATH.
HE IS KILLED WHILE IN THE
DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY
AS AN OFFICER.
HE SHOOTS HIS ASSAlL Nj
THROUGH THE HEART AND
KILLS HIM.
BOTH MEN DIE WITHIN TEN
MIN UrES OF THE DC
CURRESCE.
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY


Occurred in this city last night. Two men
were sent to their eternal homes two wo-
men were made widows, and At least three
little children robbed of fathers care
and protection.
CONSTABLE GEORGE W. WELDON,
Was one Of the two men killed. He was
known TO almost every man, woman and
child in the city, for he had lived 10 Cairo
every since there was anything of Cairo
to live in. For many years he has been
an officer, either as member Of the police
force Of the city or as county constable,
and was always known as u good and
faithful officer. lie was married man
aud leaves wife and two children, who
we are told, will be thrown on their own,
resources for q livelihood in tho future.
ALEXANDER THOMAS,
The other man killed was negro. Or
him we know but little, and in the ex-
element that pre-, allied after the occur
renee of the terrible tragedy, could hnl
no one who could tell any more than we
already knew. However, he was mar
ried man. but whether he was the father
Of any children, we cannot say. lie WAS
an employe Of the barge line, and worked
under Mr.. Hill.
THE CAUSE THAT LEAD 70 THE TRAGEDY.
In the exciiIment aud tumult that fol-
lowed the double homicide, it was almost
impossible to find anyone who could be
induced to stand still long enough TO tel.
about the deed The crowd that Assem-.
bed about the dead men would not fall
short of a thousand people, and the ex.
citement was intense. The following are
the particulars AS near a. we could sscer
tain them;
some time during the day yesterday, an
old negro who is known in the city as
"Dg. DILLON
Had some difficulty with Thomas, and it
seems the latter said something hard
about the doctor" Dillon procured
WARRANT
placed in the hands of Constable Weldon
t, execute In the evening after Thomas
had gone homo from his work, Weldon
went to Thomas house to
MAKE THE ARREST.
He went into the house and
fund Thomas in bed. Well
4 L. l..as Il
told Thomas he must consider himself un-
DIR arrest and prepare to go with him
Thomas said he would go as soon as he got
on some dry clothing, and sent his wife
into an adjoining room for the clothes.
Jus, what took place be ween Weldon
and the negro after the latter's wife left
the room no one will ever know, for they
we're alone, and neither Of them lived
long enough to tell the story.
TIMOTHY o'cALLAHAS's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Timothy o Callahan, who keeps a
boarding house at the corner Of Fifteenth
street and Commercial avenue made the
following statement TO the local of The
BULLETIN: He was going along the
sidewalk II short distance from his house,
when bis attention was attracted by the
port ola pistol. In looking in the direc.
tion from which the report came he saw
Constable Weldon coming up on to tie
street from the direction of Munns wood
yard. Mr.. OCsllahan went toward We'll
don and noticing he was holding his
hand to his neck, asked him what
was the matter. Weldon said,
"a negro cut me and shot him. Mr..
o Callahan then asked him where the
negro was, when Weldon replied, she is
down there by the fence go down and
see if he 10 dead O'Callahan seeing the
cut in his neck, told Weldon that he
Weldon himself was a dead man, and
took him by the arm and led him up to
Commercial avenue, and placed him on a
bench in front OF his (OCallahan's
house leaving him there,
o Callahan started some one after a doc
tor, while he went to inform Weldon's
wife of the terrible affair The news had |
reached Mrs. Weldon before OCallahan |
got there, and he met her on the way GO
ing to where her husband was. They
went back together and when they got /.
there
WELDON WAS DEAD.
Coroner Gossmsn was notified, and was
soon on the ground. A jury was sun.
noncd and al
INQUEST HELD.
Before the jury the wife OF Thomas tes-
fed that the constable came to the house
Ild said he had warrant for Thomas
hat Thomas said he was all wet, and that
lie should wait until he got some dry
lothes. She went into the next room 10
Jet them, and when she came out her hus-
and and Weldon were lighting; that
Weldon shot him once in the house, and
hat her husband ran out OF the door,
then Weldon followed him and fired an
ther shot
A negro man who lives in the same house
here the negro resided, told our reporter
IA, he he ard tho constable enter ard say
} Thomas; "Get up and go along with
o." Ina very hort time after, he heard
10 sounds of n scutfle and the constable