The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-07-25
SHOCKING CASUALTY,
Milton Roberts Shot Dead in His Own
Barn

Our citizens were startled Thurs
day morning by the news that Milton
Roberts, an old and well known resi-
: dent, had been shot in his barn in rear
of his residence on Market street,
near 9th. Many people fastened TO the
spot, where a shocking spectacle met
their view. The barn Is large and well
built Extended straight aud stiff on
the clean floor, lay the dead body OF
Mr.. Roberts, face upwards, deafhly
pale, and his open blue eyes staring at
the rafters as IL in terrible surprise.
His coat was off, his arms stretched
along by his sides, and resting in mill
tary style on his left arm and shoulder,
was his gun, the barrel clasped i'm his
left hand, and wiping stick alongside.
His shirt and rest was saturated
with the crimson Hood that
had run from the CHASTITY wounds
made by the heavy bucksllot, and lay
In CORY pools under and about his head
end body to his waist, and reached
and redeemed his shirtsleeYes. A
ragged wound had been plowed from
the center of his abdomen upward,
tearing his shirt and body open for
eight or more inches, the shot then
passing through his chest and coming
out of his neck and back of his head,
seyering some large arteries, causing
great flow of blood from all the
wounds, and finally piercing che raft
ers above, where the fatal weapon had
been kept hanging. A patch of blood
on the LETT knee of his light col
ored pantloons, and severe scorch
for several inches below the waist
band showed where the muzzle of
the gun had touched as it was dis
charged. A step ladder stood at his
right, near his feet, and he had evident
ly assembled it for several steps to reach
the gun. This and the evidence made
It plain that as Mr.. Roberts was step
ping to the floor, gun in hand, one of
the barrels was discharged in some
way, and he had fallen stiff and stark
without a struggle.
DIR. Trueworthy empaneled the fol-
lowing coroner's jury: Frank Schmidt
ling, George w. Frederick, Rev. w. E.
Copeland, Rev. a. NJ. Averill, Henry
Kemper and S. j. Smith. The jury
at once proceeded to make a thorough
investigation. 1t appears that Mr..
Roberts had decided to go that morn |
ing to Texas, and had engaged a young
man named j. S. Klock, who lives |
corner of Exchange and Tenth, to |
drive him to the depot, in return for |
which Klock could use his (Roberts') |
horse and wagon during the day. They |
had got into the wagon, by the barn,
having Mr.. Roberts coat and valIse,
when a dog appea red in the open space
south and Roberts remarked he want
ed that dog shot, and told Klock to
cramp the wheel, while he went in the
barn and took down his gun for Klock
to shoot the dog, in he got chance,
during Mr.. Roberts absence.
Mr.. Roberts then got out, went into
the barn, and in minute or two Klock
heard the gun explode, He got out
and going to the barn door looked and
saw the body of Mr.. ROBBERS as it was
found by those whom he ut once alarm
ed. DIR. Lawrence was sent for and
arrived in about II minutes, but only
In time to see Roberts gasp slightly
and expire.
No money or railroad tickets were
found on Mr.. Roberts body. He had
the previous day taken out a $4,000
policy, good against any accident, in
the Railway Passenger Accident In
surance Company, of Hartford, CT,
and had also a 1000 paid up policy in
the Connecticut Mutual. 1t is report
ed that he was heavily involved in
Texas, and that parties there threat
ened to kill him the first chance they
had. The jury after careful delibera-
ton, rendered the following verdict:
State of Kansas, Lyon county. An
inquisition holden in the town of EN-
poria, Lyon county, on the oath day of
July, 1873, before me, j. w. Truewor-
thy, Coroner of said county, on the
body of Milton Roberts, here lying
ucaus ny INC JURORS WHOSE names are
hereunto subscribed.
The said jurors upon their Oaths do
say that the deceased, Milton Roberts.
came to his death by an accidental dis
charge of shot gun in his own hands.
In testimony whereof the SAID jurors
have hereunto set their hands the day
and year aforesaid.
w. ELLERY COPELAND,
G.. w. FREDERICK,
A. NJ. AvERILL,
L. SCHMIDLINC,
s. j. SMITH.
Attest j. w. TRUEwoRTHY,
Coroner Lyon County, Kansas.
The funeral took place from the res
idence yesterday afternoon at five
O'Clock. The deceased leaves a wife
and one child, a daughter about eight |
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