The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-03-01
MATT. McCLURPs SUDDEN DEATH.
HOW HE DIED AT THE OGDEN HO USE NON
DAY MORNING


Great excitement prevailed In Canton last Mon.
DAY morning, caused by the sudden death of Mr.
Matthew Mcclure, formerly well known as olerk
at the ~ Cloud hotel, but for year past Govern.
ment store keeper at Solomon Mlller's distlllerv
IN Plaln township, The deceased and DIR Tobn
H. siddall, well known dentist whose rooms are
In Harter's block were among others who have
poaIueu III lhe ogden for some time past, and be.
tween 'he TWO there has been, Il is said, unkind
ieeilhBs existing for considerable time.
Last Monday morning they met in the Ogden
mouse ollice, when the affair occurred, which re-.
suited In the almost instant death of Mcclure
The particulars can be more clearly understood
Dy Following the testimony taken at the coroners
lnVesIgauoh, which our reporter secured in full.
~ was IN the neighborhood Of eight o'clock, a. m,,
"nen the unfortunate man breathed his last, and
hlue aiter ten o'clock, coroner Altekruse ar
rived from Massillon. On his arrival, the Ogden
was dolted with many eager and excited groups.
each anxious to be the first to learn new deyel
opmehS and spread the news. The coroner i'm.
paheied jury as soon as possible, and together
they went up stairs to the paror, where The de-
ceased lay, and viewed the body The iury then
ADJOURNED until one o'clock, D. M, when II Was
decided that Doctors L. M. Whiting, r. p. John.
son, e. o. Portman and 7. II. Phillips should hold
post mortem examination and report TO the
jury Az one O'clock the jury, comprising the
following well known citizens met In room num.
Der 10 at the Ogden; George B. Haas John Mel.
burne, Henry Cook, W. H. Wyant John Robbins
and M. Ruhman There were also present Cor.
oner Altekruse, Prosecuting attorney Shields, as
sisted by Hon. VIM. Mckinley, jr., and few
Others
THE TESTIMONY.
The witness first called was Thomas s. Bolton
who said:
II live in Canton; board at the Ogden house
saw the occurrence In the hotel Office this morn.
ing; came down from my room about 1880 o'clock
and saw Dr. slddall sitting near the stove; as
opened wash room door to come out into the of.
nee, saw Mcclure and Doc together and heard
the latter say, II want you to apologize or I'll
knock HI out Of YOU" Mac didn't answer and
siddall repeated that he must apologize. or he'd
lick him right there Mcclure replied, ~ haven't
anything to apologize for, and don't you touch
me- Siddall said the third time that Mac must
apologize, and the latter refusing to reply, Doc
struck him on the right side of the face near the
eye; Mac staggered and fell against the stair rail-
ing, and gathering himself started to run across
the office toward the billiard room, siddall run.
ming after; Mr.. Rothacker grabbed Siddall and
Siddall grabbed Mac, aud they fell together Mac
under, lying on his right side ran across and
caught Siddalls left side, and Lindsey, another
boarder caught hold also and pulled him back
70 ONCE desk, while Mac got up and walked the
other way, getting back Of the stove Siddall said
to Rothacker and me, Let me 60; If you hold me
and let me get whipped, I'll shoot you BOTH" with
this he drew revolver and Rothacker remon.
stratng he returned revolver to pocket; then Sid
dali said, LET me go, I'll promise not to hit him
again in here" meantime Mac stood back of
stove with hands on back of chair; when siddall
was freed, Mac came out from behind stove and
walked toward slddall and said doc, Won know
you ought not to have struck me- for YOU know
already have one foot in the grave" and siddall
replied, Yes d--n you, you'll have the other one
in before get through with you;" Mac answered,
"Thats all right know you're armed" ~ know
am armed" replied Siddall but not for you"
Next time meet you, I'll be prepared for YOU"
said Mcclure; I'm always prepared for YOU"
answered Siddall, land next time we meet, You'll
never live to get away" Mcclure then explained
that what he had said was not in reference to Sid
DALI and the latter responded that ut was lie
and he could prove 1t by George Horton" siddall
then went in to breakfast and Mcclure went in
wash room, and moment after followed Sid. |
dali into dining room; Slddall seemed much ex-
cited; eat but little breakfas and went out. short
ly after dining room girl came in and said Sid.
dali had shot McClure l then went out and
Mcclure was lying on a sofa back of Office desk
and judged him dead or just about dying"
Question by Mr.. Robbns WAS Mcclure irving
to get away from siddall during the scufleY
Ans, YES; Mac did not strike Siddall at all |
saw blood and marks on McClure's face after
they were separated"
A. L. Rothacker examined: Am pronrietor of |
the Ogden; came from breakfast about 7% O'Clock |
this morning; found Siddall sitting In Office as |
though waiting for some one, which is not his
custom, as he generally comes eats his meal and |
goes in quick succession; bid him good morn. |
ing; he seemed restrained; about that time Nc |
Clure came down to foot of stairs when Doe |
jumped off of chair and hastily walked to Nc. |
Clure and said YOU'RE the SIN of b-h I've |
been waiting for and want you to apologize.r
Mcclure said he had nothing to apologize for |
and siddall replied, "You have you called me |
a -" Mac said I've no apologies to make |
go way and let me alone;" Siddall repeated, "If |
you don't apologize I'll hit you" and did hit him
on left cheek, near eye; Mcclure staggered and |
ran toward saloon door, Siddal after; stood by |
counter and as they passed, grabbed Doc and |
he dragged me along till within five feet of saloon
door, when we all came down together, Mcclure |
under. The rest is simply corroborative, till we
come to Bottoms going into the dining room.
"Siddall had gone into dining room, and some one
remarked to Mcclure that he had blood on his
face, and he went in wash room, washed and
wiped his face, cOmbed his hair, and stepped in.
side of Office back of desk, and dropped down,
virtually dead; he was laid on lounge, and soon
Siddall came in and l said, doc, here's a lob
you're responsible for" and he sat down beside
ne, took McClure's wrist In his hand and said.
He isn't dead. is he ?' l replied "Yes, he is
iead;" Siddall leaned his head on his hand and
said "My God, has 1t come to this2" and in |
moment said he'd go and give himself up
Redirect: During all the trouble Mcclure
seemed anxious to get away from Doc and didn't
itrike at him once; when he told Sddal he
shouldn't strike a man with one foot in the
yrave," he looked deadly pale almost as pale as
ne looks now in the other room.
Eugene Lindsey (corroborative) said when Nc.
lure ndu nOlu VI CudlrI OdCk Vi SlOVe ana as
aothacker and Bolton were holding Siddall, Nc.
Jure tried to raise chair as in defense but his at.
empts were weak told him, For Gods sake,
Mac, keep quiet" knew he had heart disease and
wanted him to keep cool; looked around and
aw Siddall trying to break toward Mac and
and Bolton holding him back Mac
md Doc came together soon and Mac said, "You
,ughtn't to strike me, I'm not half man; you
Inow have one foot in the grave already"
Yes, replied siddall, "and I'll help you put the
,ther in" Siddall said further, (I was standing
light by them, almost between) I'm a thief, am
2" then putting his hand to Macs mouth, he
"That came out of your Cd d-n
lirty mouth" Mac said he didn't say what Sid
lall charged him with, and that he wasn't done
With Doc siddall yet" The rest is the same as
Ilresdy given.
Charles Heminger, porter, corroborated the
Lbove evidence. Presently the surgeons came in,
laving concluded the post mortem examination.
)r. Whiting read report stating that McClures
leart and lungs we're both diseased, and gave as
lis opinion, the shock of the blow and scuffle was