The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-10-15
Shot Down by His Own Son, before the
Eyes Of the Wife and Mother.
A Death Struggle Between a Father
Aged So and a Son Aged 40.
The Murderer Totally Indifferent Re-
sardinS the Terrible Crime
Threats Of LynChing.
From the Detroit Free Press.

CORUNNA, OCTOBER IS -(Speclal.)
AT little past 6 O'Clock last even.
ing the people of Byron village were
thrown into great excitement by a
report that dreadful murder had
just been perpetrated at the farm OF
Abe MADDEN, two and one half miles
south. Deputy sheriff Dibble and
others started for the scene of blood
and arrived there half hour after
the murder was accomplished. An
interview with sheriff Dibbie and
Alex. Orr, near neighbor, develops
the following particulars: III Samuel
Hadden, the shooter, is son of
Abraham Hadden, the murdered man.
He is 40 years OF age. While serving
in the late war he received injuries in
his leg that made him a permanent,
cripple. He has been pensioner
for twenty years or more. During
this time he has been obliged to use
crutches. Without them he has been
helpless, and with them he has barely
been able to get around. For several
months he has been living a. his
fathers farm, south of the village.
The father Was aged 65 years, and is
said to have been man of violent
temper, which he freely INDUCED at
times, especially when under the in
fuence of liquor. For some days
there has been an i'll feeling between
Abe and his son, and the former or
dered the son 10 leave the house,
which order was not obeyed. Tues
day 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 10 get the papers or
without seeking any advice. The
son returned to the house, arriving
there at p. m. Upon going in
quarrel at once arose, in whichgthere
was abuse freely used. Samuels
statement is that bis father ordered
him out, and on not going he attacked
the son with a lighted lantern. Sam
uel knocked that out of the old mans
hand with his crutch. The father
then savagely attacked him with his
fists, blackening all eye and inaictiDg
other injuries. Samuel became great
-ly afraid and thought his life was in
danger. He hastily pulled out of his
pocket bull dog revolver, thirty.eight
caliber, and began fusilade on the
old man, who was not pace from
the point Of the revolver. The son
coolly fired five of the large balls in
the lungs and neck of his father.
Old Mrs. MADDEN was present and
saw the whole trouble. The quarrel
lasted but two or three minute, and
she was so terribly frightened she was
wholly unable TO make the least in
reference. The father, with wonder.
full endurance, with five wounds, each
one sufficient to kill man, turned,
left the house and walked out to the
barnyard, fifteen rods away. A young
err son, Henry MADDEN, had just re-
turned from the back of the farm
with the cows. He did not hear the
shooting. Seeing his father enter
the barn yard he called out: Father,
you have forgotten the milk pail"
The father then fell against the gate
and cried out: "My God, my God,
I'm killed. Henry called John Dun
ming from an adjoining field and
lifted the wounded man up and start.
ed 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
Samuel was sitting near his murdered
father looking at the corpse with the
utmost indifference. His excuse is
that he did the shooting in selfdefense.
1t is said that both we're under the
influence Of liquor. Samuel was ar
rested and taken before Esquire
Sleeth, of Byron. He was lodged in
the county Jail here at O'Clock this
morning. The Free Press cores
pendent visited the prison, but he
resolutely refused to make any state
ment of the affair until his hearing,
which will occur at Byron, next Sat-
urday. People in the vicinity of the
IIadden farm and at Byron were
greatly excited, and for awhile there
were symptoms of lynching bee.
The murdered man was hard work.
ing prosperous farmer who owned