Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-08
IEOOsaER TRAGEDY.
a TfppeeanOe County Farmer Mur-
dered by his son - Conflicting
Statements Made by thr lat
ter, and his Confession
or Guilt.
speclai to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Special to the Cincinnati EnquIrer.l
LAFAYETTE, IND, December 4. - The
ueighborh0od ten miles east of this city has
been startled by 4 tragedy which occurred
last night, and which, from the SUSPICIOUS
circumstances connected with 1t, caused much
excitement and general comment. The VIC
tim II the case Is one Patrick Murphy, Whos
with his son, moved from Illinois over year
ago and bought a farm Of sixty acres N Perry
township. thIs county. Iaey were the only
members Of the family and lived n a MS
cradle little shaaty OF two rooms, and CultI-
waited land and attended to the usual duties
on farm. The house IS a quarter Of 9 mile
from the nearest neighbors and about two
miles north OF Dayton village, eight miles east
of this city. Michael Murphy, the son Of the
deceased, IN his testimony before the coro-
ner's Jury, this afternoon, SAID that he hac
been sent to this city, yesterday, for gro
ceries; that Monday nlgat, at midnight, he
had been awakened by noise IN the house.
and saw 4 man going cut OF the door. he
and his father chased the burglar, but did net
catch him. 4 watch and twenty-tour dollars
| IN money were taken, AID he attsrWard found
the watch IN q fence corner. When he came
10 this city he borrowed 4 dollar, but lost At,
and went home without the groceries, where
I be arrived at seven O'Clock last night and
/ found his father In bed, and 10y a light IRON
| the fire N the stove, ate h.s supper. at niLe
| clock ne discovered that has father wa-s dead
I ana Tau ~ L4aAlzs q ~ "a A1-l-~-f-N-1
/ told them that his father had committed SUI
/ eide Mr. and Mrs. Ellis came to the
| house and fCu1d Murphy lyIcg Undressed n
/ bed. The boy pulled up the shIrt Of his
! father and, pointing b the wound IN the
! left side, said, Here Is where BE shot nm
I self" and picking up the pistol, q single
/ barreed toy pistol, and ttro wing II on the
! floor, said: TINS Il the damn tlIng that
! done It." He admitted that he had been
/ drinking while Ia the city yesterday. Inc
| coroner inquest resulted IN q verdict thlb
the deceased came to MS death by the ba1ds
OF his son Michael. He was placed under
arrest, and while being taken to 4 Justices
I office he confessed co Coroner 4Ouut and A
! W. Gregor5 that Es rad shot MS father, but
| that 1t was an ac5!Jtut. He further san
that he bought Che pistol Iuestay and
I took It home, ard f5u1d ms tatEec sitting on
a trunk. that he piaylu.'y pointed u n his
| father, supposlug that u was not loadess
and pulled the trigger; that the deceased n8G
| gone to bed after the shot was hced- On b.
ing arraigned before Justice LoWmau lie
plead guilty 70 the charge Of murder. be
was brought he-e tonight at ten O clock ana
placed IL jail. On the way to tins city
lie cnnVersed quite freely, and e5-
pressed what course he intended TO
Pursue In the management O. the
farm after bis fathers death. This would
seem to indicate that the murder was PIE
meditatsd. From lie best information, It
appears that they did cot 1--we tremendously.
They were frequently seen C1arreiIng and
fighting. Young Murphy Is about nineteen
years old, and Is said by his neighbOra to be
INDECENT and dishonest. he appears stupid,
and has low expression Of courtenance- dis
stories conhicted IN so many particulars that
the first statement, that the death vas oy
suicide, was at once discr5ditsd, and Eus-
piclon pointed to him as the guIlty party.
His admission Of guilt before the justice Of
the peace, and MS confession 20 the coroner
together with strong evidence, presents e
clear case, leaving little Or no doubt OF hli
[ cullt.