The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-23
A ROMANTIC STORY OF CRIME
Pat Mcclure Brought to Prison Through
a Brothers Startling Adventure.
The Mysterious Death of Michael Kahn, and
the Singular Circumstances Leading to
the Arrest of His Alleged Murderer.
Cincinnati commercial Gazette, yesterday.

the Arrest of His Alleged Murderer.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. yesterday.
About Aug. B. mysterious murder occurred
in farming district of Indiana, about thirteen
miles from Rochester and eighteen miles from
Logansport The dead body of a man was
picked up in lane, and ascertained TO be that of
a farmer living in the vicinity by the name of
Michael Kahn.
Suspicion at once fastened upon Pat Mcclure.
whose farm was adjoining that of the murdered
man. But Mcclure was not to be found. He
and Kahn had been enemies for a long time and
their animosities grew when the latter had
Mcclure and his wife arrested trivial
charge. The case first came up before country
magistrate when Mrs Mcclure was condemned
to fine. But Kahn was not satisfied, and
brought the case before the court at Rochester.
Here Mrs. Mcclure was again fined, but her
husband declared that he would not pay the fine,
as it was exorbitant. Hereupon a constable
arrested Mrs. MCGUIRE and she was confined in
the Rochester Jail. During her confinement
there the tragedy occurred The unfortunate
Kahn was found on the roadside beaten to death.
He had very unsavory reputation among his
neghbors, and was of quarrelsome, vndictive
disposition He was also accused of having
made use of the most obscene language in regard
to the wife of Mcclure.
Matt Mcclure, the wellknown steamboat
agent and NJ A MCGUIRE the trunk manufact
urer, are brothers of Pat Mcclure, accused of
the murder. and the former. learning of the
predicament of his sister n-law, went to Roch
ester and had her released from jail, AT the
same time he endeavored to ascertain all the par
ticnlars concerning the tragedy which was then
agtating the minds of the people of the county
He learned that there had been no witnesses to
the murder, and that the only circumstantal
evidence pointing to his brother as the perpe-
traitor of the deed was the continued relation of
bitter feud that had for long time existed be-
tween him and the murdered man Kahn. He
also cleaned from all the neighboring
farmers that Kahn bad borne an unenvi-
able reputation, that he had been a sore
in the eyes of the community, but that, if his
brother had committed the deed. the proof of
which was wanting, he had an overwhelming
provocaton to do it, almost justi6able before the
law. He learned that the wife of his brother
had deeply suffered and that if murder had been
committed it was done in defense of the most
sacred laws of marriage and family.
Meanwhile the authorities were on the search
of the missing Mcclure. The matter was put in
the hands of detective of Logansport Ind, by
the name of NJ. j. Gallagher. Two sons of Pat
Mcclure were held in Jail for short time in
order to elicit from them confession as to what
learned from them they were released. Some
three or four weeks ago the wife of the man under
suspicion for the crime, betook herself and fam
lily of six or seven children to Cincinnati, and
this occurrence was carefully noted by the de-
tective.
1t will be remembered that M. A. Mcclure
the trunk manufacturer, was recently reported
as having been drowned in the Tennessee river
near Coultersvie, about forty miles from Chat
tanooga in the heroic attempt of saving two
Ham lU thQ nnrtx wa diofaA md
the hero. the like of whom the world to day
claims not many, returned to the bosom of his
family. Matt Mcclure left for Coultersville AS
soon as he learned of the reported drowning of
his brother. The detective was awake to the
situation, and surmised that the missing brother
might be somewhere in the mountain Businesses
of Tennessee. He guessed Alright On last Thurs
day letter was received by the authorities at
Coulterville Tenn, from Detective Gallagher,
stating that Pat MCGUIRE brother of Captain
MCGUIRE of Cincinnati, was wanted there for
the murder of a man named Kahn, in Indiana,
last August. and offering $500 reward for his ar
rest. At the same time he gave a minute de-
scrption of the man. Accordingly a man was
arrested on the following day, and placed under
guard. A clew had been obtained by man
who went with Matt Mcclure the day they
were hunting for the supposed drowned man,
who noted the queer actions of stranger on the
mountain, upon whom they called by McGuire's
request. Upon being arrested he gave his name
as John Moore
Last night commercial Gazette reporter
called upon Matt. Mcclure at his residence, 100
Sycamore street. He acknowledged that the
facts, as above related, were true, and that the
man arrested at Coulterville was his brother
Patrick, who was wanted at Logansport on the
charge of murder. He had been concealed in
Tennessee for some time, and his brother, M. A.
MCGUIRE occasion of his late hunting trip.
had found him and conversed with him. He
also said: There is no evidence against nv
brother, save the circumstantial one that ne had
feuG with Kahn the murdered man. l nave to
say that if he did commit the deed it was as
justiiable as such deed could be. Kahn had
outraged his wifes honor, and, after he was
dead, the neighbours did not express single word
of regret. Those who talked to me seemed to be
glad of it,"
The Commercial Gazette reporter next called
upon the wife OF the man held for the crime of
murder, who lives on Clark street She seemed
completely Frustrated by the news that her hus-
band had been arrested. With tears in her eyes
she gave the following story:
THAT man Kahn a vicious, bad fellow.
You may judge so when tell you that when he
was dead the priest refused to give his remains
Christian burial. He used in my presence the
smuttiest language, and made proposals which /
dare not mention. He injured us in every pos
sible way. He killed our stock and tore down
our fences. And my husband bore it all in
patience Finally he had me and my husband
arrested on a trivial charge, and when my
husband refused to pay the fine imposed, / adj
vlSed MIN 10 leave Tor CINCINNATI, where he
might find employment and live in peace After
my husband had gone was taken to Rochester
and confined in Jail. / have not seen nv hus-
band SINCE and do not know whether he killed
Kahn or not Nor have l learned anything about
him since until today, when l was informed
that he had been arrested in Tennessee He
was quiet man. and for many years was a
teamster in this city," The wife broke down
completely, and cried bitterly
M. A. Mcclure, since his return from Tennes-
see, has hardly been able to attend to business,
and the day before yesterday he tainted in his
store. and was obliged to go home He suffers
greatly from nervous prostration.
WILKES BOOTH AGAIN.