Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-25
A son KILLS his FATHER
An Unfortunate Shooting near this
City Yesterday.

A very unfortunate and fatal ARRAY occurr.s
yesterday about o CLOCK. y. IN between Levi
Sires. an old man. about 81 years of age. and his
son, James A. Sires, aged about 20 wears Roth
father and son We're tenants Of Young Hickl,n
living about three miles east of this civ po,b
the SIres were considered nraceshl. bo,.s,
people. and with the exception of an occa.,orsI
spree on the part of the old man, were r.-nec,ed
and liked by their neighbors. Il, appears from
the statements OF the young man that the f.,ber
had been drinking more or less Tor about two
weeks. and had driven his wife from home some
ten days ago, she living In tue meantime first
with one neighbor and then another. in order TO
keep out Of The old mans way until he should
SOBER up anu settle down again. But ia the
fore part Of the present week the old man threat.
ened to take the youngest child. "A girl come
twelve years of age, and 70 where non. of the
other members of the family should ever hear
of them again. Alarmed Ut this threat IN. old
lady managed to get the child away las,
"Wednesday, since which time her father has
been furious, accusing the son with copcealiuy
The girl, and threatening dire vengeance upon all
should She not be forthcoming. Yesterday the
old nun was III town. and was considerably |
under the influence OF liquor, and UPON his
return drove by his sons residence. Upou
Nh'' hhU iou6C, gun III nIni. |
he was warned by the son u desist, the door
being locked To keep him out. The old man still |
persisted in his attempt to force an entrance, |
using the seat board Of his wagon to fore. the |
door. the son and his family in the meantime
retreatinS to the second story of the house. and
still telling the father to 20 away and not trouble !
them, that the girl, OF whom he was in search, |
Was not and had not been there. After failing
10 force AN entrance with his seat board he hunt
cd around for something better suited to his
purpose, anu coming across q maui, used for
sp'i'tihg rails. took 1t aud mashed IN the door,
ana started to 80 up stairs where the son and
his family We're. still retaining his gun in his
hands. Before placing his foot upon the stairs.
the son again warned him not to come up. but
with curses he said he would come up, wltbaut
regard to consequences. The son then Hired upon
bin as he says with the intention of hitting his
father in the legs. but unfortunately the charge
took elect Just below the left nipple. The old
man turned. and with the exclamation ''On,
God You have killed met" staggered down the
Steps ana Tell IN the doorway, living but a min
ute or TWO from the time the shot was Hired. A
young man named Mcdowell, who had ridden
out of tow witt, the Old man, and who had
witnessed the whole affair, immediately
took one of the horses out OF the wagon,
and proceeded to alarm the neighborhood,
aud to inform the authorities in thi. city OF
what had occurred. Sheriff Mounijoy, ac-
companied by Constable Mckee, immediately
started for the scene of the ARRAY but met young
sirss just in the edge Of town. awaiting their
coming, saying that he would have com. to the
jail, but WAS fearful that he might Miss the sher-
III in the streets should he come further. The
young man expresses great sorrow al what has
but states that 1t WIS forced upon him
In self defense. and that his greatest regret is
that the shot was fatal instead or wounding hi,
father IS he had intended. The son has a wife
and tW children. He was lodged in jail, where
he now is. The Coroner will hold an .uaues;
upon the body this morning.