The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-06-18
Midnight Assassination at Hamilton,
OhiO,-Tragic Death Of the Motor
iOus Tom Mcclellan.

Tom Mcclellan, notorious despera-
do, was assassinated in his saloon at
Hamilton, Ohio, on last Sunday night,
by some unknown person. 1t was Nc
Gehan whom the late c. L. Vallandig-
ham was defending at the time the lat |
ter met his death. Tom was despera-
ate character, with a record of bloody
deeds, and was generally feared by all
wh0 knew him. The manner of his
death is thus given by the Cincinnati
Commercial:
1t appears, from the testimony taken
before the Coroner's jury, yesterday af-
ternoon, that, about 11:30 Sunday night,
McGehhan met Sam Darling, the fore
man Of the Democrat Office, and Harry
Hay, on the corner of Third and Basin
streets, and invited them down to his
saloon to take a drink, which invitation
they accepted. They went to the saloon,
about half square east, on the north
side of Basin street, near the Cincinnati,
Hamilton and Dayton Railroad. McGe-
han unlocked the door, turned mp the
gas, (which was burning low, went be-
hind the counter and set out the glasses
for the two guests, who were standing
up to the counter, ready to partake.
While STOPPING down to reach for the
whisky bottle or the water, Tom receiv-
ed his quietus in the shape of load of
buck-shot, through the loop-hole of an
outside window shutter, which had been
closed. The assassin had planned his
work with great deliberation. He had
carefully calculated when Mcclellan
would return to his saloon, and to effect
his purpose had back up wagon against
the side of the saloon in the alley on the
west, near the window which overlook
ed the bar. He had doubtless been ly-
ing in wait for Mcclellan = return, which
signal was the turning up of the gas. He
then got into the wagon so az to COM
nand range of his victim, and get
chance at him from the loop-hole of the
shutter, which was at least eight feet
from the ground. From his elevated
position he could easily draw a bead on
his man, and take him off at single dis
charge, with no possibility of being dis
covered or shot at by his victim.
The shot was delivered fair and square
and the report was heard squares away.
Mcclellan received the entire charge in
the right side of the neck and face, and
his death must have ensued very shortly
afterward, although in the excitement
Hay and Darling fed for their dear
lives, and did not stop to look behind
them to see what was the result, and on :
ly intent upon saving their own preciou
bodies from mutilation, being afraid lest
Mcclellan in his excitement might shoot
them upon suspicion of having conspir-
ed to murder him.
Judging from the indications and the
appearance of the interior of the saloon
when it was first opened after the shoot
ing, Mcclellan must have made a terri
BILE struggle to "brace up" after the re.
ception of the fatal shot. It appears
that after being shot he staggered around
to the end of the counter on his left
and getting weaker and weaker as he
groped his way out to the front of the
bar, he reclined against table, or
which he leaned while the life blood wa,
sbbing away in torrents. His hat fell
on the table as he leaned over, and be
scrsped against the wall as he fell to the