Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-03-09
MILLERsTGWN HOMICIDE.
Arrest of VI hiie.


tween the hours of eleven and twelve,
Chas. Eagan, man well known in
this vicinity and who for some years
has been in the employ Of the Western
Union Telegraph Co, as repairmaD,
received his death wound from knife
in the hands of William White, a
boiler maker by trade, and who for
some years carried on business at Mil
lerstown.
The affray happened in drinking
saloon or bottling house in Millers-
town, and seems to have been the cul-
mination of an old feud between the
two men, who had quarreled and come
to blows before.
On the evening in question, both
men bad been drinking. and it appears
from the evidence given at the inquest
that Eagan attacked White, pushed
him against a wall and was pounding
him with his fists, when White who
seems to have been expecting an at
tack and bad armed himself with a
penknife with long, sharp blade, cut
hiri several times in the right arm and
side, without in0icting fatal wound.
The two men were then separated
by the others in the room, but Eagan
again attacked White, who again cut
him, this time in the left groin, sever
ing large artery and causing his death
in a few minutes. White fingered
about the town for several hours after
the affray and, strange TO say, was not
arrested.
He then disappeared, and no clue to
his whereabouts was known till Sun
day morning when an unsigned note
was put in the hands of the two police
men of East Brady, giving them to
understand that he could be found in
an oil well shanty on the Barnhart
farm, mile west of Millerstown.
That afternoon, the two men drove
over to Millerstown, where they se-
cured the services Of some persons ac-
quainted with the premises, went to
the farm and searched the shanties on
it without finding bin, and were about
to leave, when hearing that there was
still another shanty on The farm, they
y,
time was cooking some coffee. Seeing
the men coming be jumped through
window and ran, followed clio sely by
the men, VINO fired their revolvers. and
called to him to stop. This he did.
when he was brought to Butler and
lodged in Jail, arriving here about
eleven O'Clock that night.
Our County Commissioners had Of
fered reward of 5000 for the arrest of
White, day or two after the affair,
and this on Saturday was. at the sug-
geston CT Judge Bredin, increased to
$500, and we understand that there
were also some private rewards offered
which will increase the whole amount
to about $500 The East Brady men
are said to belong to the Pinkerton
Agency, and this will be quite nice
baul for them.
The body of Eagan was taken to
Columbus, Ohio, for interment. He
was large muscular man, weighing
over two hundred pounds, while White
is rather small man. Both men were
married and had families living in
Miilerstown.
The case may be brought before the
Grand Jury this week, hut it ia not at
all probable that it will be tried next
The following is the most important
Of the evidence given at the inquest,
held by Coroner Campbell, in Millers-
town last Wednesday and the verdict
OF the Jury
VIM. MorrSey, sworn: ! reside in Mil!ers-
town; was present at the time OF the cutting;
saw the quarrel from TIE beginning Eagan
commenced the quarrel White was standing
against the wall, aud Eagan was sitting at the
table Eagan went over to where White was
don't know what they said, but heard White
say 81 am going to protect myself then
Eagan made a rush at White; | saw the knife
in Whites hand after they met second time
saw White strike at Eagan Eagan threatened
he would break Whites "G-d id back" or
something like lhati they came together sec
oud time after while EGgan Immediately sank;
both seemed to be under the influence Of drink;
White was not to blame in my opinion never
heard White threaten Eagan searched Whites
two coat pockets before they met the second
time but could find no knife am not positive
which hand White had the knife in; there
were present, myself, VIM: Frederick, Plum
mer Holland. Jas. Crowley, Vim. Perry, Wm
j. Brennan, think were there just happen
ed in and cannot tell who else was there /
parted White and Eagan when they first met
and told them there must not be eny cutting
there this occurred between / and II O'Clock
at night, on March LIST, 1891, at the Ocean
saloon. conducted | think by Mr.. Delamater.
James Crowley, sworn; reside in Millers-
town; am a boiler maker. have been In the
employ of w. ii. White; was present when
the cutting took place; VIXEN | came home
-,rL- OF ui MO in 4 tha
was in the Central Hotel billiard room he
was there sober; he told me at that time that
Eagan and man named Hill were going to
knock he'll out Of him after supper asked him
how he knew this he said that he overheard
Eagan and Hill say so; he (White) sked Della
mater if Lear about Eagan's intentions Dela-
mater replied, YES, anl you had bfitsr lpok
out for yoHr5elii' p.al named 0'Brien, |
think also iuld White of the coming trouble |
told White that he had better avoid Eagan and
Hill, and have nothing TO do with them; Whita
said he would do so, but if these men would at
tack him, he would cut them he took out
knife and ] saw it; the knife when open would
measure about six inches White and left the
Central Hotel together and went to the Ocean
White looked in the window and saw Ea3an
he said if he went in there chat man will pitch
into me :" so we went from there to the Schrci-
Der House we stopped in there aud had some
drinks together; about half past Il we lea
there and went back doTp to the Ocean, White
went in the back door of the 03ean, and went
in the front door; | was about half minute
behind White getting in; when went in
White and Eagan were standing At the bar
White was taking glass Of beer, but don't
know whether Eagan was drinking at the time
or not took glass of beer with the party at
the time; ] set down the glass the bar and
held it by the handle; Eagan was talking to
White at the time and reached over and took
hold of my glass; the conversation between
White and Eagan was warlike; pulled the
gless from him; then Eagan said to White,
"Billy, did you come in here 9Th the inien.
ton of licking ?" Wits said, :I'did not"
Ea3ah t.r d6nt want 10 have anything to do
with you J" then White backed over against
TIE wall Eagan went over after him and grab
bed him by the shoulders with both hands and
showed him against the wall | think Eagan
struck White twice with bis RIGHT haId about