The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-12-22

blows were threatened, and on Monday
morning they met on Fourth street,
near Mrs. Phillips school, where, af,
ter some angry words, Mc4leer assault
ed Murphy, when Murphy struck him
with cane, and then drew o pistol.
The parties then separated, McAleer
going almost immediately to a hard
ware store and purchasing a pistol.
During the day both parties made
threats of violence. In the. evening,
about 5 o'clock, as Murphy was going
home, he met McAleer, near the spot
where the difficulty occurred in the
morning, and almost Immediately upon
meeting shots were heard, and Murphy
was seen to stagger and fall, and Me-
Aleer walk up and shoot at him while
down. and thon turn and walk away
about half square, when he fell and
expired almost instantly. Murphy
was dead when reached by the parties
who witnessed the shooting. 1t is not
known who fred the first shot. Mar-
ply received four shots out Of. five fired
by McAleer-three in the body and
one in the face-at least two of which
were fatal. McAleer received but one
shot, which penetrated his breast just
below the left nipple, severing an arr
terry. The pistol used by McAleer
was five shooter purchased the morn
ing of the shooting That used by
Murphy was large sized Derringer,
with which his father was shot and
killed nearly twenty years ago.
Both men were well known In the
city and community-Murphy having
lived in Davies county all his life,
while McAleer has been engaged in diff
ferent kinds of traffic in the city and
county for the last three or four years.
Murphy was considered a peaceable,
quiet man. McAleer was an Irish-
man, about fifty years fage, andserv-
ed in the British army during the Cri.
mean war. Murphy was about forty,
five years of age, was respectfully con-
nected, and was, at one time, a man Of
considerable means, and stood high in
the commercial circles of this county.
This difficulty did not originate from
a card published against Murphy in
the Shield, by McAleer, as has been
stated, but was caused by McAlee,
chasing Murphy UP the public street
on the Sabbath day, while he was on
bis way for medicine for a sick child
which died the same day, and by inso'
lent language used by McAleer to.
wards Murphy, on several occasions,
on the publicstreets. After McAleer'i
disgraceful conduct on the occasion
referred to, he was arrested by the city
authorities and fined twenty dollars
This he failed to pay, and was forced
to work on the streets to work out hi
fine. This exasperated him to such
an extent that he repeatedly threatened
to kill Murphy. Murphy hearing o.
these threats prepared himself. HI
was waylaid and attacked by McAleel
while on his way home to his supper,
but fortunately lived long enough II
send his antagonist to his long home
| We have very serious doubts as t.
Mr.. Murphy's Indebtedness to OLD
McAleer. We have only his wore
for it, and if he would lie in regard to
the Indebtedness of one gentleman b
would lie in regard to another. II.
stated that we were indebted to him
which was an infamous lie, and b,
might have done the same thing in
the case of Murphy. He was a motto
riously bad and dangerous man, ant
would stoop to anything TO gain hi
point. He was Of no earthly bene6
to the community, and his. sudden ia
king off was more Of blessing thai
otherwise. As an evidence of tn
standing of the two men in the com
munity in which they lived. we vii
only cite to their funerals, both o
which took place on the same day
Murphy's remains were escorted :
Elmwood Cemetery by a large con
course of our best citisens,in carriages
. buggies, and on horseback, while Nc
Aleer was conveyed to his last resting
place in spring wagon, accompanies
t by another of the same sort, which con
; tanned his wife and one or two NOR
! persons.
Murphy leaves a wife and two inter
e esting children to mourn his untimel