Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-10
HIS SISTER'SHONOR.
4 Terrible Fratricide Resultins
From Drunkard's Mistake.
Louisville courier-Journal.

n the piercing northwest wind SVEN,
the river front, chilling everyone 10
the marrow who crossed its path. Il ter
rble crime was committed at the
locality called The Point above the
city, which made the very blood eur.
die in the veins of those who witnessed
1t. 1t has been years since such il
frightful deed has been recountcd on
Sunday morning in the columns of the
Courier-JoUrndi The crime was
fratricidc, but there is III the bottom Of
1t evidence ofs diverted purpose, and
Jerry Williams, who plunged his knife
into his brother Charles heart, struck
the blow over the shoulder Of the man
who had been singled out for his vic
tim, and whose life was saved by 4
momentary flame of passion which
engaged the brother in tbs fatal en-
counter. The scene of the crime was
ut the foot of Preston street ON the
river front, and the history Of it is in
yOlved III some mystery
Living in the neighborhod is Il fami-
| ~ named Williams, consisting of Il
widow her two sons Jerry and Charlie.
i daughter named Laura, Ii years old
and a younger brother. Inquiry shows
that the family has been obscure. but
the members We're VERY Well thought of
by their neighbors.
The boys We're engaged in manual
labor for the support of the family.
They We're rough, but well-behaved
people, except when the two elder sons
drank, and then they were liable to
provoke trouble. Yesterday afternoon
John Watson, Charles Williams, and
several others were sitting in Mrs. Nc
Fmland's grocery and bar-room, one
door below Fulton street, when Jerry
Williams came in and called Watson
out. Jerry was perfectly sober, and as
the two disappeared what passed be-
tween them was unknown to the per-
sons IN the grocery. In q few minutes
Charles Williams, who had been drink
ing, and was not fully recovered. sent
Bill Mcqueen, one Of his comrades,
out with il piece Of smoked sausage to
tease his brother Jerry Mcqueen had
hardly reached Jerry and Watson out
side when Charles followed Watson
and Jerry were disprlting some point.
1t seems Jerry accused Watson of hay
lng said that his young sister Laura
was u prostitute. Watson denied it
and insisted upon knowing who had
told Jerry. The quarrel was proceed
ing thus, when, just us Charles Williams
staggered up to them, Jerry said, add
dressing Watson:
Il won't call any names, but heard
you said She was.
Az tbis nr;t;oal ,,,.,,,.,,t Il,,,,I,, WI
liams was near enough to hear, and
probably without knowing what was
under discussion, interfered with drunk
en- carelessness, and loudly said to Jerry
IN answer
al SNid she was, and if you don't go
home and shut your mouth III knock
hell ont Of you
Up to that no words had passed be-
tween the brothers, and it is not certain
that Jerry knew Charlie was drunk. |
1t was II terrible moment when the
laundering sot accused his own sister
of being prostitute. Jerry who had
come to Kill Watson if lie had de-
famed that sister, was thrown into a
trlghtful passion and started toward his |
brother. Watson jumped in between
them, and rs he did So Jerry pulled an
open knife ont Of his pocket and made |
an effort to strike Charlie. Watson
prevented the blow from reaching its
object, but received the knife in his
own breast. Fortunately the blade
closed partly and Watson was not in
jured.
Seeing the struggle, Charles Williams
pressed forward with drunken rage to
fight his brother. Watson was stag
gered by the blow he received and
Charles stepped past him and III front
Of Jerry. AT that instant the furious
brother lifted the knife again and
plunged it straight into Charles left
breast over the heart, saying:
There, take that, YOU - of b."
The stabbed man, sobcred in IN in
slant 10y the situation. turned to Wat |
son as Jerry turned and walked off to
his home, about half Il block away and
said:
Johnnie, I'm cut.
Watson had turned to enter the gro
Gerry, thinking the fight over and little
injury done, but III this he came back |
and said
w Clli CbHlC III tllt IbuSt 'tllu let |
see about it.
A short but rather steep phnkway
lead UP into the grocery door, and MS
Charles assembled it he began to reel, |
and on reaching the threshold ne pitch !
ed forward against Watson and fell to
the floor. Those who had remained in
the grocery gathered around him and
saw by the pallor that overspread his
countenanee that he WAS seriously in
jurcd. He never spoke, but lay some
minutSe where he fell, while those
around him we're discussing the pro-
priety OF taking him home Just Ne
they We're preparing IL pick him up
Jerry rushed in harcheaded and broke
forth in paroNysm Of grief, saying
III have Killed my brother, ! have
killed my brotherr' He then walked
out on the street, and going TO Preston
street, he turcnd toward Main. shouting
rs he went Il have killed hy brother.
He then proceeded to Jefferson
street, attracting the attention oil
every one along the way ~