The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
A DEAD SHOT.
The Fatal Quarrel Between Rival
DEMONSTRATING the Murderer
The Tell-Tale Letter that Led to
the Arrest.


James Duckworth, a member of the
St. Louis detective force, arrived in this
city yesterday from Oregon, having in
charge John w. Purdon, a fugitive from
justice, who was accused of numbering
Benjamin Scott, near the town Of Ripley,
Butler county, Mo-, about six months
ago. During the war Purdon was
strong Southerner, and was noted among
his fellow graybacks as a wonderfully
good shot. He fought through the war
unharmed, and at the close settled at
Ripley. He was proud of the reputa-
tion he enjoyed of being the best shot
in that part of the country, and practis-
ed constantly with rife and pistol to inn
prove his workmanship. He became
wonderfully expert, and had a cores
ponding pride in his accomplishment.
In the course of time Purdon became
enamored of the daughter of a neigh
Dor. Benjamin Scott, his victim, was
also deeply in love with the young lady.
The latter appeared to favor both suit
ors in turn and neither long, and by her
course drove both the young men to the
verge of distraction. A fierce rivalry
sprang up between them, giving rise to
deep jealousy and intense hatred. Pur-
don, who was of a jealous nature, kept
a sedulous watch upon Scott, and, more
over, attributed to him rumors that were
current, rejecting upon the fair fame of
the object of their mutual love, while
Scott, on his side, declared that Purdon
used underhand means to supplant him,
by traducing his character and doing all
he could to blacken it in the eyes of the
young lady.
Time only famed the flames of hate
and jealousy that burned in each love-
er's heart, and the feelings of the young
men toward each other become matter
of common notoriety in the section In
which they resided. On the 5th of last
July, Purdon was riding, accompanied
by friend, when they met young Scott,
also on horseback. The rivals drew
rein and eyed each other for some sec
onds without speaking, when Purdon
said:
"You are the cowardly villain who
ISLANDERS an innocent girl. Since you
cannot get her yourself you would try
and keep her from Others"
"You lie," answered Scott. "but that
is nothing uncommon, for since you
habitually lie about me, I suppose you
have forgotten how to speak truth.
For some time the two continued their
acrimonious discussion, stirring each
other up to madness by the bitterness of
their taunts.
Purdon's horse, a spirited animal, be-
came restive, and shied away at a threat
ening gesture made by Scott, when the
latter sneeringly said:
"You take good care to keep out of
arms reach"
Stung to the quick, Purdon drew a
pistol, and with an aim as unerring as it
was rapid, shot his rival through the
| HCdEl OCObh WdS hAAACu ana
fell forward on his horses neck dead.
''Good God, Jackp' said Purdon's COM
panion, "what have you doneT' A la
borer who had witnessed the whole
transaction from field close by, ran up
and caught the murdered mans horse.
Purdon sat in his saddle eyeing the 9TH
er two without saying word, and keep
ing his pistol in his hand. After some
minutes he whirled his horse and moved
slowly off, but keeping his head turned
so as not to loose sight of the others nm
til out of shot, when he clapped in the
spurs and galloped off at top speed.
He rode to his mothers house in
Saline, Illinois, and, taking the cars,
started westward. The local police,
finding, themselves unable to accom-
plish his arrest, turned the case over to
the St. Louis detectives. They soon as
certained that he had gone to the Pacif-
ic coast, and although he frequently
wrote to his mother and others at home,
he changed his residence so often and re-
moved to places so widely apart that
they were unable to apprehend him. He
finally settled in Yamhill county, Ore
gon, assuming the name of Hopkins.
Here he would probably have lived
without detection, had he not, with de-
gree of carelessness engendered by his
long success in euding the officers OF
the law, corresponded regularly with his
friends at home. As it was, his discov-
cry was accidental.
A man named Hopkins, living near
where Purdon had settled, opened one oi
the 1atter's letters, thinking it was for
him. He became aware Of the true
character Of his pretended namesake by
some illusions in the letter, and gave
the information he had acquired to the
police authorities. Early last month q
warrant was forwarded by the Governor
of Missouri to the authorities in Ore
gon, and the arrest of Purdon by Depu'
ty Sheriff Belcher quickly followed
Mr.. Duckworth was sent across to take
Purdon, who is quiet and Intelligent
young man, prepossessing in appearance
He admits the killing Of Scott, bu
urges that it was justifable under th'
/ circumstances. He is now on his wa!
: to his home, to be placed on trial for hi
: life, and the young lady, who was tn
: indirect cause of the death of one love
and the deep disgace of the other, bro
8 ken hearted awaits the last act of tn
E tragedy.
A prisoner in the Missouri penitentia
ry too weak to work, andwho had run o
A. ,..-J ono da.v asLad the Warden