Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-23
MIDNIGHT ASSASSINATION.
Details of the Murder of Thomas Nc Gehan,
the Hamilton Ohio Rough.

Details of the Murder of Thomas Nc Gehan,
the Hamilton (OhiO) Rough.
CINCINNATI, June IA violent man,
who has caused enough terror to the
citizens of Hamilton, O., to have earned
the name of a desperate, came TO a
most violent death about II o'clock last
night. The man is Thomas Mcclellan.
His life was one round of violence and
disturbance. He was bully, a bruiser,
convenient man in any private brawl,
or in political emergency. He was
| recognized as the great bully of the
town, and was feared, detested and
respected accordingly. On the
night of Christmas, 1870, in
a saloon, where many lead
ing men of the town were in the habit
of gathering to play cards and talk bus
mess and politics, a man named Thos.
Myers was, in the presence of six or
more parties, insulted.without provoca-
ton by party of roughs of whom Nc
Gehan was the chief, and was shot down
and killed. Mcclellan was universally
charged with the crime, and the feeling
against him was so high that change
Of venue was granted him, and he was
tried at Lebanon, in May, 1871.
It was held that G. T.. Vallandig-
ham, who was counsel for Mcclellan,
lost his life while attempting to show
how Myers might have shot himself by
drawing his own pistol from his pocket
Mcclellan was acquitted, and such a
storm of indignation arose in Hamilton
that for long time Mcclellan was un-
able to come back, and in spirit of
bravado published scurrilous book,
detailing the private life of many of his
supposed enemies. Since then he has
kept saloon, and has been constantly
apprehensive of assassination.
Last night, about midnight, his dead
body was found in his own saloon, hor-
ribly shot. Two constables heard the
shot, which, they thought, sounded in
the vicinity Of his saloon. They went
to the place, but found it closed and
went away, afterward met a man who
had also heard the shot, and the three
went back and opened the door.
They found Mcclellan lying on the
floor, dead. An examination show
ed that his head was riddled
with large buck-shot, there being no
less than eight penetrating wounds. one
cutting the jugular vein and another
severing the carotid artery. On his
face and breast lay his revolver with
five empty and two loaded chambers.
A window. at the side Of the bar was
found with the glass of the upper sash
blown into pieces. On the floor outside
the window stood a wagon in which the
man stood who fired the fatal shot.
From the shot in the counter and wall,
some II in all, it was certain that a
double barreled shotgun was used.
This forenoon more light was thrown
on the tragedy by the appearance of two
men who were in the saloon when Nc
Gehan was shot. One was S. s. DarI-
ing, printer, the other was Harry Fay,
a gentleman of leisure. Darling had
been with Mcclellan last night at the
saloon, and drank several glasses of
beer with him. They were on their way
home when they met Fay, and Niece
han proposed to treat, but as all
the saloons were closed, he proposed
to go to his own, which
was near by. They went, and he turn
ed up the gas and went behind the
counter to get the liquor. He had
stopped down to get something behind
o1O CO1A4vOA WACA OoAAAA& says AO OdW
q fash, and supposed Mcclellan WAS
| firing at him. He threw up his arm
and said "Don't shoot me, Tom, "
and turned and ran, supposing Mcclellan
| was after him. He ran to the hotel,
and was so frightened he could not tell
what had happened. Fay was similarly
/ frightened and ran several squares
away, not venturing back until O. clock
this morning.
Mcclellan, though mortally wounded
by the first shot, seems to have drawn
his revolver, and to have walked several
feet before he fell. There is some reason
to believe that he even fred enc shot
from his revolver. He was perfect
shape of physical vigor, and must have
had the instinct of self defense fully de-
veloped.
No suspicion of the murderer has
| been limited thus far. In the coroner's
inquest, which is not yet concluded,
public sentiment will not require very
rigid inquiry into the author OF this
tragedy.
! Silver Resumption.
DR.. I.inderman states that the Treas
ury has now about Sc, OOO,0 IN silver
coin on hand. It is estimated that dur
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