Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-12-21
FELLED FROM BEHIND.
Peter PrOughS Last Spree.
A DECANTER FOR A CLUB.

Last Saturday night, about ten O'Clock
Peter Prough, standing outside of Downs
saloon, was approached by two friends, who
shook hands with him and passed the usual
| salutations, after which Prough, who was
under the influence of liquor, asked them to
come inside and take a drink with him. The
three went into the saloon, but one of them
Jerome Newberry, not desiring to drink,
slipped away and hid in the crowd of people
in the room. Prough started in search OF
him, swearing that he must drink, whether
or no, when Downs son George, a boy aged
about 16 years, stepped in Prough's way,
asking, "Who are you looking for-for me"'
TO this Prough returned some sighting an
swer, when George slapped hi N in the face
and then struck him. Prough squared him.
self, pushing the boy backward and then
stepping back a pace himself, in regular
boxing style, with his fists in position.
rhereupon c. A. Downs, the owner of the
saloon, came from behind the counter,
stepped UP behind Prough and struck him
on the head over the right ear, with heavy
cut glass decanter half filled with liquor.
The blow broke the bottle into u thousand
pieces, and feiled Prough to the floor, from
which he never rose again, except when lift
ed by his friends. He was raised from the
floor and placed in . chair for a few min
utes, and then taken out into the open air.
As he did not recover he was carried over to
Bishops hardware store, where light was
procured and an examination made Of the
wound. DIR. Patton was sent for and the
senseless man taken to Mrs. Wright's res
taurant where he was put to bed. When
DIR. Patton came and looked at the wound,
he pronounced it a bad one, although the
skull was not fractured. just how bad, IT
was then impossible to determine, as the
victim was greatly under the influence OF
liquor. All night long PrOugh lay as II
asleep, breathing regularly. About eleven
O'Clock next morning he died without u
struggle.
Downs was taken into custody at once. 4
Coroner's Jury was summoned, who viewed
the body, after which Drs. Goulding and
Patton made a pOst-mOrtem examination OF
of the BODY. The skull was found to be not
fractured, but underneath the spot where
the blow had fallen, Il clot of blood three
inches in diameter and five-eighths of an
inch thick was found, showing that death
resulted from compression of the brain.
The Coroner's jury concluded its investi
CATION on Monday evening and brought in a
verdict i'm accordance with the facts rs above
stated. The jury was composed Of the fol-
wing persons: VIM. Hills, w. L. Gay, w.
Ii. Newman, \. Begley and Z. ID. AXE.
After the pOst-mortem, the body was
turned over to the friends of the deceased,
who had been informed of the terrible event,
and it was placed in coffin and taken to the
home of the deceased, and given burial the
next day.
Prouch leaves a wife and two children,
beside numerous other relatives, to mourn,
his untimely taking off. He was about 81
wears old, and noted as rather fractious
character when drinking.
Downs is in Jail, awaiting the result OF
preliminary examination, which will proba-
bly be held within a day or two.
Hariag resumed their studies, the mem :
bers of the Clionian again send greeting to
distant friends The next meetings will be
held OF Dec. 2sth and Jan. I'd, but after that
on MeRday evening of each week, Mt the res
ideRrs Of Mrs. ID. 4. Greason- Though the
number was small, last meeting WAS very
pleasant and Instructive. A careful review
| conducted on the Chautauquan plan, proved
that last winters studies we're well remem'
bered. After Il few general remarks on the
| brilliant reign % Henry V, the subjects f"'
| the evening were taken up. Mrs. Markham
gave a very excellent account Of the first part
! of Henry WIS reign, which Mrs. Greasor
| continued.
| Miss E. s. Delano gave the thrilling hisfor,
of the "Maid of Orleans" a topic of absorb
ing interest. Mrs. Moser related an account
| of the martyrdom of John Huss and jerome
| of Prague; which was the occasion OF lit.
| tie discussion as to the causes which led tt
the Reformation, topic which will be treat
ed hy Rev. J. Marlatt in future meeting.
| The beginning Of the War of the Roses
! and the prominent characters in Henry VIA
| reign, will lee discussed next evening.
| S. G. +.
IRONToN, No, Dec IS, 1882.
To DR., 7. r., GOuldik8-