The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-06
JERRY DOy0yAN's CRIME.
A Fatal Shooting ARRAY in which a
Man Named Smith is the victim...
Particulars.

About the middle OF january lntelii'
gence was received in this city of a muir.
der at North Platte, Neb, in which Jerry
Donovan, formerly of this city, was
conspicuous figure in the fatal
atfray. AT the time Marshal
Eckhart was acquainted with but a
meagre idea of the actual facts in the
case. Considerable interest was taken in
the matter, as Donovan was for many
years very well known in Rock Island,
and the ARGUS furnished all Information
that could be obtained at the time How
ever, complete statement has not been
obtainable until now. The North Platte
Tribune of Jan. 16 says:
A sad and fatal shooting atfray oc-
Cured on Jack Morrow flats last Satur,
day afternoon by which Ernest Smith lost
his life From evidence before the cor
oner's Jury il appears that Jerry Dono,
van. who Ii YES on the northwest quarter
section 1S,1229, en- Saturday afternoon,
accompanied by his brother. started with
team TO look for water at some of the
wa or holes on the flats, the pump in bis
well being broken. Finding the water
frozen solid, they returned by Ernest
Smiths house, where he and Joshua
were digging well, Howeth being down
in the well, The Donoyans stopped and
| talked some time-ten or fifteen minutes,
perhaps-but so far as Howeth could
hear there was no quarrel As the Dono-
vans were about to leave, Smith followed
them to the wagon, when Smith asked
| Donovan if he (Donovau) had said that a
certain woman was of bad character.
| Donovan acknowledged that he had said
so, when Smith told Donovan it was a
lie, as Howeth heard him, but in his dy-
ing statement Smith denied this Dono
van claims that Smith began to feel for
his hip pocket as he supposed to draw a
revolver, and he Immediately raised his
gun and fired, the charge entering Smith 5
right shoulder, ranging downward and
entering his lung aud back, Donovan be-
ing in the wagon. Smith reeled hut did
not fall, and Donovan fired the second
barrel, which missed the victim. Dono-
van then came to town and gave himself
into the hands of the authorities With
the aid of his wife Smith walked to Tx
house, after which Howcih was drawn
out of the well by horse. and went fol
assistance.
Dr. Kingston was called and found {
wound nearly an inch and half in diam
eteT and that death must speedily ensue
The patient was made as comfortable a
possible under the circumstances. AT
forwards Dr. Dullard was taken out ant
probed the wound with knitting needle
the patient dying a few moments after
ward.
Coroner Strcitz summoned jury ant
after carefully investigating the case, il
substance found the following verdict;
That said Ernest Smith cane TO hi
death from a shotgun wouGd, whiC
wound was produced by one Jerry Dono
van, who was aided and abetled by on
David Donovan, on the 9;h of January
1886, with shotgun in the hands 0
/, said Jerry Donovan, and that said KILN
was felonious."
On the strength Of this finding Dav
Donovan was arrested and placed in Jail
The preliminary hearing took place Fri
day before Judge Smelling, Jerry Dono
van being held for murder and Davi
discharged Human & Grimes, J
Nesbitt. A. II. Church and j W. Blk
Ter appeared for Donovan and j. s Hoal
land acted as prosecutor for the distric
2 attorney.
o Ernest Smith was born in Athcn
: county, Ohio, and was 81 years of age ,
the time of his death. In 1853. whe
only fifteen years old he ran away froT
, home and enlisted in Co f, l0th Yves
. Virginia infantry, in which he served Ut
til the end of the war. receiving an hon
orable discharge at Richmond in Jul,
1865. He located in this county on tn
place where the family now resides
4 Oct. 1884 coming from Parkersbnr!
, West Virginia, and by industry and har
work, was fast making comiortabl
home. He leaves wife and three chi
J dren, two of the latter being yet in Parb
? ersburg. but it had been the intention I
have them come out this summer. Aitt
lingering in agony until Monday evenin
about O'Clock, death relieved him frol
! his suffering. lie was buried in the Nor
= Platte cemetery on Wednesday.