The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-09
Life i'm Minnesota.

WATCHING FOR HORsE-THIErEs ANDssHo0TING
j; -. ,.l..., 4 NEIGaBoR. 1, s,,,,.ss g.s..
II. ,,.,....,. From the Rochester Post.l s.i.,t
| I On Friday Of last week Coroner Nichols
held an inquest over the dead, body of the
| late John A. Howard at the residence OF
the deceased, in the town Of Marion. ..,r.
John Mayhem, the young man who shot
MIR. Howard, was the first witness sworn.
He confessed he shot the deceased at the
time and place named by US last week. He
further stated that while on bis way to Ro-
chester the evening previous, he was hailed
by couple OF men who sprang from the
bush at the roadside, and told him to stop,
rs they wished to talk with him. He did
not stop, but came on to the, city, the two
men following him as far as the bali
grounds. He thought they meditated some
crime. When he returned home he took
another route. Arriving at Mr.. Towards,
he called Arlington, q son Of the deceased,
and requested him to go with him to
his (witness's) fathers barn, and stay
with him that night, as he was
afraid their horses would be stolen. Ar
lington went with witness to Mr.. Mayhew's,
and went into the house. They saw stran-
gers there. Witness advised his father not
to let the strangers stay over night, as he
thought they intended to commit some
theft. Witness and Arlington then went to
AR. Mayhew's barn, witness being armed
with Spencer rifle. They intended to stay
in the barn over night to watch for horse
thieves. After being there 8 short time
Arlington suggested that they remove the
horses to his fathers barn, and that they
both go there and stay, rs there was more
room and greater convenience for them
than in Mr.. Nlayhew's barn. Accordingly the
! boys took Mr.. Mayhew's two horses to Mr..
Towards barn, and then prepared them
selves q place to sleep on some straw
near tho horses. They closed the door
and sat a neck-yoke against II to keep it
shut, the boys lying down on some straw
within few feet of the door. About II
O'Clock, the boys being about half asleep,
the ncck-yoke was pushed away and the
door opened. Witness saw no person nor
heard any one speak, but supposed that
horse-thieYes were coming into the barn.
Witness then was much excited, and, rails
ing to his knee, pointed his gun toward the
place where the door opened and fired.
Mr.. Howard's feet were just within the
4 door, and % he was shot he fell outward.
As soon as he had fired, witness put his
head out OF the door and called as loud as
he could for Mr.. Howard. When Airing
), ton came out Of the door he SAID, 1t Is
iather!' Immediately after witness called
for Mr.. Howard, the latter said, g hat die
you shoot me for'" Mr.. Howard lay
where he fell until the doctor came, which
was about two hours. The wound inflicted
on Mr.. Howard by the shot fired by witness
caused his death. =,
Young MAYHEM, the witness, further
: stated that he and DR.. Howard had llvec
neighbors six or seven years, and that they
we're always good friends. No msunder
: standing or difficulty had ever arisen be
! tween them, neither had they ever had any
unkind words with each other.
, Arlington Howard, a son OF the deceased
and who was with Mayhem in the barn, was
: sworn, and his testimony corroborated tht
statements of the previous witness 50 far ?:
they were within Ills knowledge
J Mrs. MelYina L. Howard, widow OF tht
; deceased, being sworn, corroborated tht
testimony Of John Mayhem 50 far us thu
facts were within her own knowledge, ant
!: further said that her husband did not blame
John Mayhew for anything that he hat
done excepting that he did not tell him thai
he was gong to put his horses in his (Ar
Howard's) barn, and he blamed his own sor
as much as he did John. Young Mayhem
, manifested the greatest grief and agony fol
what had occurred, and the witness, Mrs.
Howard, believed he was innocent OF any
intention to iDiurc her husband. She hao
been acquainted with John Mayhem for six
or seven years, and during that time he had
sustained good character.
The testimony being given to the jury
that body rendered their verdict in accord
/ ance therewith-the verdict closing as fol-
4 lows:
4 "That said John E. Mayhem, on hearing
and seeing the door opened, supposlnS that
some persons were about TO steal sald
horses, and without seeing any person OF
hearing any voice, instantly fired his Spen'
Ger rifle ut the place wherethe door opened,
4 by which the Shot took effect in the right
4 side OF the neck OF said deceased, coming
i out at the left shoulder, by which he in.
flcted mortal wound; and that the said
wound was not given feloniousiy or with
malice aforethought, or with culpable care
tlessness, but was accidental" 60
Thus closes the scene OF this terrible
tragedy. A strong man, in the maturity OF
! manhood, has been suddenly stricken down
a loving household deprived OF the COM
panionship, protection, and guidance OF an
endearcd husband and father; and the COM
munity sllstains the loss OF an upright and
estimable citizen, while the rash and
thouglltless perpetrator OF the terrible deed,
though not adiudged guilty before the law,
must carry with him for all time the heart
crushing memories, of his misguided deed.
We only add that il this sad event shall tend
to diminish the too common and careless
. use OF firearms the sacrifice, though fraught
with so deep and bitter sorrow, will not
J H. 10, ,yxr,,y