The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-26
FATAL SHOOTING AFFRAY NEAR
COALTOwN.
"rree" West, Noted Bully, Killed by
Hank" Morton.

On Saturday night fatal shooting affair
occurred at George Weaver's, near Coal
town, in Moline township. resulting in the
death of Free " est. a coal miner, at the
hands of one Henry Morton. The facts as
far as ascertained are as follows:
A party or dance was in progress at Mr..
Wsaver's house and among those in at
tendance was Free West and Henry Nor
ton, or as he is called by the miners
Hank These two, just before the
shooting, were sitting on table in the
kitchen talking together, when one or the
other of them said, Its lie" at this
Free West knocked Morton off the table
and before he could recover picked him
up and threw him across the room. Mrs.
Weaver at this point interfered and tried
to quiet the row but West knocked her
down with an open hand blow and started
tor Morton, who, in the meantime, had
drawn his revolver, and as West advanced
| shot at him, wounding him slightly near
the eye. West, who was a powerful man,
then grabbed Morton, who was only boy,
so to speak, about % years old, and laid
him across a red hot stove and was cEok
ing him. when he (Mortonl fired three
tines at West. the shots taking effect in
the abdomen, about two inches apart.
Strange to relate, West maintained hi,
hold on Morton even after this and was
finally dragged off by others, who, unit
this time, seemed afraid to interfere, As
soon as it was known that West was shot
the crowd, or some o. them, cried out
shoot The s-n of b-h," meaning Nor,
ton, aud a rush was made for him, bu
| NJ trsa IL ND oil
lowed him to escape. As soon as possible
word Was sent to Marshal Wells, aud DIR
j. b. Dawson was summoned tn attend
the wounded man. As soon as the doctor
arrived be did all he could to relieve tb,
sufferings of West. bur without effect a
he was aortally wounded. After linger
ing until 3 30 o'clock Sunday morning b,
died In great agony.
Word was sent to Coroner Vermillion
but, from some cause or other, he did 10
arrive until nearly clock Monday after
noon. and before jury could be empan
elied aud had arrived at the scene OF tht
/ tragedy it was nearly dark. Capt D. D
r Reid was appointed as foreman. Afte
e listening to the evidence of several wit
nesses the Jury returned verdict tha
the deceased, Free West, came to hi
death on Saturday night, Dec. Esd, 1876
+ at about 1890 o'cIock, from pistol wound
; received at the hands of one Henry Nor
ton.
Morton it was supposed, would sur
| render himself to the authorities, but VI
' 10 this writing has not done so, nor Ca
trace of him be found He is a short
: heavy set man about feet ! inches i
. hight, smooth face, and abort 20 year
Q old.
West, the man killed. was a terror t
the rest Of the miners and was acknow
= edged the champion 10 a fight OF an
= kind. He was large, powerful fellJ'
- and has figured IN the police courts In se'
~ eral cases aud sustained.a hard name |
sthe early part of the evening he wa
ii abusive to everybody in the house an
& walked up to the musicians and withou
or cause or provocation knocked down th
Of fiddler. In fact be was bully and roug
TO of the worst description.
70 Morton has also figured in the polio
ID court, and about year ago was one of a part
of coal miners who stopped team loade
+ with young ladies and gents forming
re surprise party on the way to Profess
lie Wendelfs. At that time he was roughl
o handled by Magistrate Swander and h;
1T been less CONSPICUOUS in public since.
le the present case he was. from the eV
es dence at hand, fully justified in shootir
West and it does not help his case by r
mainiug away from the officers of the lav
n. There are parties in Moline who d
m not attend the coroners inquest who
in testimony will be valuable when tie ca
r. comes up for trial