Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-22
THE STATE.
A TERRIBLE MURDER.
Abraham Hadden, Prosperous Farmer OF
Byron, Shot Down Before the Eyes
of the Wife and Mother.

A terrible murder was committed in the
village of Byron, Shiawassee county on
the 18th inst, when Abraham Hadden, "A
well-known, prosperous farmer of Byron
was killed by his own son. An interview
with Sheriff Dibble and Alex. Orr, near
neighbor. develops the following particu-
lars: Samuel Hadden, the shooter, is a
son OF Abraham Haddcn the murdered
man. He is 40 years of age. While serv-
ing in the late war he received injuries in
his leg that made him permanent cripple.
He has been a pensioner for twenty years
or more. During this time he has been
obliged 10 use crutches. Without them he
has been helpless, and with them he has
barely been able to get around. For
some months he has been living at his
fathers farm, south of the village Tho
father was aged Is years, and Is sand To
have been a man of violent temper, which
he freely INDUCED at times, especially
when under the influence of liquor For
some days there has been an i'll feeling be
tween Abe and his son, and the former
ordered the son TO leave the house. which
order was not obeyed. Tuesday afternoon
Abe went To the village for the avowed
purpose OF getting out papers compelling
the BUSTING of his son. The son also went
to town. For some unknown reason the
old man went home without having made
any attempt TO get out the papers or with
out seeking any advice. The son returned
Co the house, arriving there at p. III.
Upon going in quarrel at once arose, III
which there was abuse freely used.
Samuel's statement is that his father
ordered him out, and on not going he at
tackled the son with n lighted lantern.
Samuel knocked that out of the old mans
hand with his crutch. The father then
sayagely attacked him with his fists
blackening an eye and intlicting
other injuries. Samuel became great
ly afraid and thought his life
was in danger. He hastily pulled out
of his pocket bulldog revolver. thirty
eight caliber, and began fusilade on the
old man, who was not n pace form the
point of the revolver. The son coolly fired
five of the large balls in the lungs and neck
of his father. Old Mrs. Hadden was
present and saw the whole trouble The
quarrel lasted but two or three minutes,
and she was so terribly frightened she was
wholly unable TO make the least interfer
encC The father, with wonderful endur
ance, with five wounds, each one sufficient
to kill man, turned, left the house and
walked out To the barnyard, fifteen rods
away. \ younger son, Henry MADDEN, had
Just returned from the back of the farm
with the COWS. He did not hear the shoot
ing Seeing his father enter the barnyard
he called out: Father, you have for
gotten tho milk pail The father then fell
against the gate and cried out: My God,
my God I'm killed" Henry called John
Dunning from an adjoining field and lifted
the wounded man up and started for the
house, but he died in Dun
ning's arms ere they had gone
dozen PAGES. The body was left on
the ground and an alarm was sent To the
village. On the arrival of the officer Sam
uel was sitting near his murdered father
looking at the corpse with the utmost in
difference. His excuse is that he did the
shooting in self defense. 1t il said that
both were under the influence Of liquor.
Samuel was arrested and lodged in the
county Jail People in the vicinity
of the MADDEN farm and at Byron were
greatly excited, and for while there
were symptoms of "a lynchinE bee, The
murdered man was Il hard working, pros
porous farmer, who owned 100 acres Of
valuable land Himself and wife formerly
had trouble, and although living in the
same house. they had nothing in common.
sleeping apart and seldom speaking TO
each other. The prisoner is a man Of
prodigious size. being powerfully built
and six feet four inches in hight. While
crippled in his lower limbs IL seems as if
he must have been able 10 protect himself
without rc,orting to the murderoUs re-
volver. The plea will be sclt-defense