The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-22
LAMENTABLE TRAGEDY.


An Illinois Farmer shot and Killed by nus
Son-in-Law, Whom He Was Assaulting
with n PitchfOrk-The Tragedy the Out
come of a Family Difficulty.
PINCKNEYvIILB, H., July IA Ia
mentable tragedy occurred yesterday
morning near Tamaroa, ten miles east OF
here, in the killing o: John w. COrgan,
an old and prominent citizen of the
county, by his son-in-law, Harry Miller
Miller has been living on farm three:
miles east of Tamaroa, which he rented
from Corsan. About three months since
/ they had a difficulty, which was COM
promised in the courts here by Corgani
giving peace bond, and allowing Miller
to remain upon the farm untiE
! the expiration of his lease, October l.
Since that time the parties have not BEEN
! friendly, and Miller moved of the place
last Monday. On Tuesday he went back
| 10 get his share of an oat crop that had
| Deen grown on the farm, taking four
wagons, With necessary hands. Below
is givena synopsis of the evidence of W.
:. Jones, an eyewitness, before the,
cOrOner's jury at TaIHaroa yesterday
morning
'My name is ". s. Jones; age, thirty
! six years; live three miles east of Tama--
/ roa. Miller came to my bonse this morn
! ing, and asked me to go and help him
/ haul his share of the Oat crop off Cor
CAMS farm. l went and took i hand with.
me. There were four wagons with two,
men to each wagon. When we arrived
| ut the field two of the party got out and
| lot tbo Il nd Sfs nH 70
| drive in. hallOOed TO him that he had
| better tell Corgan he had come to divide.
| the oats. Just then he looked up and
said: 'YOnGer they come, now-all OF
| them with pitchfOrks!' By this time
! COrgan had got within about one hun
| dred yards of Miller, and said: Get out.
of here, you thief. You come here &c
steal again. You get out, or I'll put you.
OUT Miller had, rs yet, ) aid nothing to
! COrgan, who had arrived at the wagon by.
| this time. Miller said: 81 am now ready
/ 10 divide those OATS COrgan said: Il
am not ready to divide them, and won't
divide them At this time he was near
the horses heads, and came around to.
! the side of the wagon and made ut Miller
with the fork, trying to get in the wagon,
which lie finally did.
| About this time John COrgan, Jr.,.
aged about eighteen years, came up, ans
made at Miller with a fork. COrgan,
| ST., was still in the wagon, and striking.
/ at Miller with I pitchfOrk, and Miller was
warding off the blows with one hand and
! holding his team with the other, and IL
nally hit COrgan, knocking him out of the
wagon. Corgan rose and grabbed the
fork and started for him, trying to stick
| him with the fork.
] fba, 4 ;c4c hNf
Mr.. Corgan fell in his sons arms and ex--
/ pired in few minutes. Miller turned to
MIR. COrgan's sons, two of whom were
! present, and said: Boys, you see what
! | have had TO do He then turned his.
! team and drove out of the field and to,
town, accompanied by his brother, VIM.
! Miller. The shooting occurred on the
farm known as the Pyle place, three miles
| asst OF Tamaroa."
! THE STORY CORROBORATED.
| The above evidence was corrOborated-
| in all the main facts by most of the wit
nesses. The pistol used was small 81
| caliber, rusty concern, that did not look
| like it would more than make Il noise.
! The ball entered the body between the
! first and second ribs of the right side,
four inches from the center OF the ster--
mum, five inches above the right nipple
| and two inches below the collar bone.
passed in an Oblique direction to the left
| side, cutting either the main artery OF
| going through the heart.
DIR. Ward prObed the wound, but
could not find the ball. The hemorrhage
was internal, escaping through the
mouth. COroan lived in Tam area, anda
with his two sons. John, Jr., and Frank,
was out on the farm harvesting hay. He
was large, tine-lookin@ man, and one,
who was very positive in all his opinions,
very strong friend. but had no use for
his enemies. He had been a resident OF
this county for many years, and was well
known and respected.
After the shooting Miller came to-
Tamaroa and gave himself up to Squire
WillOugh5y, who ,urned him over to-
Constable Grain, and he was brought
mere and placed in Jail lie is man OF
ordinary appearance and intelligence,
comes of highly respected family. aged
tWenty-fOur years, and has been married
to MIR. Corgan's daughter for three
years. He appears to feel
very badly about the matter
and regrets it very much. lie says that
it was Il matter of life and death with
him. Coroner Farmer selected i jury
yesterday afternoon, and proceeded 10.
Investigate the matter. There were
eleven witnesses to the tragedy, two of
whom were broth, vs. to Miller and two.
sons of the deceased. At the time of his
death Mr.. Corgan was engaged in mer--
chandizing in Tamaroa.