The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-02-07
TRAGEDY AT HARRIsBuRa.-our

TRAGEDY AT HARRIsBURG.-Our
neighboring city of Harrisburg was
last Friday evening shocked by a
tragedy which has few parallels in
this section of the country. AS had
previously been announced in these
columns. Mart. Taylor gave one of his
variety entertainments at that place,
at the close of which neck-tie .cotil-
ion party was inaugurated by each
gentleman proceeding to draw a tie to
correspond with the lady's dress whom
he should take for partner during the
evening. At the conclusion of the
drawing it was discovered that a young
,man named Elias Keeney had drawn
several neck-ties from the box, thereby
defrauding q like number of ladies
from securing partners. Wm. Pelton,
the musician and caller for the dances,
being informed of Keeney's conduct,
told him it was a ''mean trick,h when
high words were exchanged between
the two, and Keeney was by the as
sistance of several persons elected from
the room, and the dance went on. In
a short time, however, Keeney came
into the hall by the back door, aud ap-
preached Pelton with a revolver in his
hand, when Pelton raised and struck
him with the stool upon which he had
been sitting. Keeney Immediately
placed the muzzle OF the pistol against
Pelton's left breast and fired. Pelton
fell dead without groan, the ball
having cut the main artery of the
heart, producing instant death. As
might be expected the confusion here
became indescribable. Some of the
ladies were screaming with fright,
Others, being paralyZed by fear were
covering in the corners or seeking ref
uge with their male protectors, while
some of the men kicked out the rear
window of the hall, sash and all, and
enabled many of the ladies to escape
to the open air in this way. In the
meantime, when Pelton fell, several
men rushed at Keeney, threw him
down and attempted to wrest the pis-
tol from his grasp, but before this was
accomplished the desperate man fired
two more shots at his assailants, but
fortunately the bullets sped past with
out harming any one. At length a
vigorous kick from some cne sent the
pistol flying from his hand, but in the
utter confusion attendant upon the
row, Keeney managed to slip and
squirm through the hands and between
the legs of the pressing crowd, and
effected his escape from the front door.
Several persons followed in hot pur-
suit, but in the darkness and confusion
the fugitive succeeded in eluding his
pursuers and making good his escaps,
and up to this time Thursday, 9Th
inst.) is still at large.
The murdered man, PeIton, was
about 35 years old and was working at
the shoemaker trade in Harrisburg
He was formerly banjoist and min
strel performer with Mart. Taylor.
We have not learned where his rela-
IAhtS AGSIucf II lIt Iido any
Elias Keeney was raised in this coun-
ty, where he has many relatives. He
has recently been engaged in the liv-
cry business at Junction City, and is
regarded as a loose and reckless young
man. Sheriff Parker is in search of
him, and il is earnestly hoped that he
may be apprehended and brought to
justice.
A Coroners inquest was held over
the remains of Pelton, last Saturday,
and the verdict of the jury was in &C.
cordance with the facts detailed in the
foregoing account of the tragedy.
A young man whose name we have
forgotten was arrested on Saturday,
charged with being an accomplice with
keeney, by having loaned him the
deadly revolver, but after preliminary
examination before Justice Grimes of
Harrisburg Precinct, no testimony of
an accusing nature was elected, and
the accused was discharged from GUS
tody.
FARMER's CLUB No. 4.-Met Feb.
1st, at Trites school house, Linn coun-
ty, A. S. Marshall, presiding, and
proceeded to discuss the following
question: "ResoIUed, That the farmers
of Oregon should unite and build
warehouses of their OWE, in order to
do away with the class of middle men,
or grain spectators, who at present
control prices and reap the only prof
it." Speeches were made by John
Probst, Martin Miller, F. S. and III. C..
Powell, Solomon Crowder, l.. c.. Mar
shall, r. Conn and J. ]. Blair. The
gentlemen very ably discussed the
question and presented their views in
relation to their present embarrassed
condition in respect to the monopoly
which is SO strongly operating to their
disadvantage. This movement must
certainly result in great good to the
farming community, and do much to
relieve them of the expressions OF
which they so justly complain. We
are indebted to A. B. Norris, ESQ.,,
for the minutes of the foregoing meet
ing.
FIGHTING a MoNoPoLY.-Three
young men met by chance at the house
of an Albany lass few eveningssince,
to take her to church. Two of them
came away without the girl, and they
now think the lucky third fellow is a
.'soulless. grasping, grinding, monop-
oly," and they are going to organize
for the purpose of crushing him out.