The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-07-23

LAMENTAoLG TRAGEDY.
- lna,ss psr~sr sSes s.a Knlsa ~ NJ
eon-ln-Lsw. Whem Ne Wns Assaulelns
With = poeencogh-Ihe Tragedy the DAT
eeue efs vamily nomeslsy.
p1xckNEvvIlLr, In.. July I4.-A .
nentable tragedy occurred YESTERDAY
morning near Tamaroa, ten miles east 81
hers, In The killing o: John W. Corgans
an old and prominent citizen u the
county. BY bis son-in-law. Harry Miller.
Miller has been living on farm thrce
miles east Of Tamaroa, which he rented
from Corgan. About three months since
they had dificulty, which was CON-
promised 10 The courts here By Corgan
giving peace bond, and allowing Miller
% remain upon the farm until
the expiration Of his lease, October ,.
Since that time the parties have not been
friendly, and Miller moved on the place
last Monday. On Tuesday he went back
20 get his share Of an oat crop that had
been grown on the farm, taking four
wagons, with necessary hands. Below
u given synopsis Of the evidence OF w.
s. Jones, an eyewitness, before the
coroner's jury q Tamaroa yesterday
morning
s'My name IL W. s. Jones, age, thirty
six years; live three miles east Of Tama-
roa. Miller came 70 my house this m0rn-
Ing, and asked me 70 60 and help him
haul his share Of the Oat crop OF Cor.
gan's farm. went and took hand with
me. There were four wagons with two
men to each wagon. When we arrived
at the field two Of the party got out and
let the fence down, and Miller started TO
drive in. hallooed 10 him that he had
better tell Corgan he had come 70 divide
the oats. Just then he looked up and
said: sYonder they come, now-aIl 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 to
steal again. You get out, or Ill put you
Corgan, who had arrived at the wagon by
this time. Miller said: 4 am now ready
to divide those oats.' Corgan said; Il
I'm 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 at Miller
with the fork, trying to get In the wagon,
which he finally did.
About this time John Corgan, Jr.,
aged about eighteen years, came up, and
made at Miller with q fork. Corgan,
ST., was still in the wagon, and striking
at Miller with pitchfork, and Miller was
warIing on the blows with one hand and
holding his team with the other, and d:
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.
Miller then drew his pistol and shot.
Mr.. Corgan fell in his sons arms and e.
pired in few minutes. Miller turned to
Mr.. CorgaR'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 a. the Pyle place, three miles
east Of Tamaroa."
THE STORY coRRoBoRATED.
The above evidence was corroborated
IN ali the main facts BY most Of the wit
uesses. The pistol used was small So
caliber, rusty concern, that did not look
like Il would more than make 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, I'VE 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 or
going through the heart.
DR.. Ward probcd the wound, but
could not lnd the ball. The hemorrhage
was internal, escaping through the
mouth. Corgan lived in Tam aroa. and
with his two eons, John, Jr., and Frank
was out on The farm harvesting hay. n
was large, fine-looking man, and one
who was very positive In al his opinions,
very strong friend. but had no use for
bis enemies. He had been resident Of
this county for many years, and Was well
known and respected.
After the shooting Miller came 70
Tamaroa and gave himself up 70 Squire
Willoughby, who surned him over to
Constable Grain, and he was brought
mere and placed In jail. He Il man Of
ordinary appearance and intelligence,
comes Of highly respected family. aged
twenty -four years, and has been married
to Mr.. Corgan's daughter for three
years. He appears to feel
very badly about the matter
|, and regrets it very much. lie says that
| Il was 4 matter Of life and death with
him. Coroner Farmer selected . jury
| yesterday afternoon, and proceeded 70
| Investigate the matter. There were
eleven witnesses TO the tragedy, two Of
whom were brothers 70 Miller. and two
| sons Of the deceased. At the time Of his
! death Mr.. Corgan was engaged In mers
| chandixing 10 Tamaroa.