The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-13
lNDALUsIA's SHOOTING ARRAY.
The COroner's Inquest and Verdict in
the Killing Of Grant Bufram by
Harry BrOOkmsn.

Buffum, who was accidenuy Killed Dy
Harry Brookman Sunday night, as de-
tailed ia these columns yesterday. The
coroner's jury was composed of DR.. E.
H. Bowman, (foremsn). James Hill, Al
exander HAYES, F, W. Brusso. Perry NJ.
Ruby and Asa Parker.
TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES.
The first witness examined was Milton
Boney, farmer twenty years of age, re-
siding IN Andalusia. Witness had known
Grant Buffum all his life. Saw him Sun
day evening at Mr. Brookman's store. 10
Simmons and several others were there
bought cigar Harry Buffum was in
the north end of the store. Grant Buff
fun came up and said he would take a
cigar, too. Charley Wenks was at the
show case, and got his hand fast in the
broken glass. Grant Buffum had his hand
on Wenks' shoulder. The next | saw
there was report and flash, and Buffum
fell. Harry said, my God have shot
him." heard no hard words before. 1t
was comman place Of resort; got cigars
and generally had good, pleasant time
there The revolver was of the bull dog
pattern, thirty eight calibre.
Charles Householder. farmer of An>
dalusia township, aged twenty four, tess
titled that he went to BrookmaDs store
at 5 O'Clock. There was no one there
then but Harry Brookman and Grant
Buffum. Frank Seefeldt and entered
together. Charley Wenks and Irwin
Hayes came in afterward. We meet there
Sundays to pass the time; stores are not
generally open on Sunday. Buffum asked
il We had any cartridges about our
clothes. We had not been prac>
ticing with pistols, and said
we had no cartridges. Grant
had pistol and knew Of only two piss
tolls present Grants and Hsrry's. Grant
wanted.to know if there was anybody at
Parker's store. Charley Wenks, who Is
clerk there, said yes, Dad was in there
when | came down" Harry went out
and came back with two boxes of cart
ridges; handed one to Grant and kept the
other himself. Buffum's revolver was
empty. but Brookman's had five loads in
it, which he took out, but suppose he
put them back. Harry then went be-
hind the cOunter-had his hands down
under the counter Sounded as il he was
breaking open the box of cartridges.
Milt Boney stepped up and bought a
cigar. Grant Buffum and Charley Wenks
did also. and Grant said I'VE will take a
Black Hawk. Charley" and Wenks stuck
his hand down through broken place
in the show case; there was pastboard
there. Charley said, have got my hand
fast. Harry had been around TO
get change. He said. who knocked
that pasteboard off" Charley replied lit
was of" Harry took hold of Charley to
help him get clear. Harry turned the
butt end of his pistol to Charley, and
then the other end Grant said
FOR GODS SAKE DON'T SHOOT"
Then Harry turned the revolver on
Buffum and says, 'Buffum, the son of a
- did it." That moment there was a
flash and report of the revolver and
Grant fell There had been no quarrel
or anger and all had been quiet up to
that time. 1t was common to call one
another "son Of -" no harm being
meant
Joseph Simmons Il laborer, resident
of hndalusa, aged twenty-one, swore
that there were eight boys in the store at
the time of the accident besides Buffum.
Harry went around to get change for
Milt Boney; when he came back he said
to Wenks laughingly. Now take your
hand out of that show case, Charley.
Charley said he had it fast Grant was
leaning on Charley's shoulder with his
face to Charley's face. Harry was help,
ing Charley get his hand ont when |
turned to talk to Irwin Hayes and Frank
Buffum. Could hear the three boys
laughing and talking but WAS not atten
tive to what they were saying. Heard the
revolver report, and looking around saw
Grant laying on the floor. The revolver
was in Harry Brookman's hand, but did
not see him point it Harry came around
the counter screaming and saying
HAVE 1 KILLED HIM.
Harry handed the revolver to Charley
Wenks. There had been no quarrel
while was there Brookman and Baffum
carried revolvers, but the rest of us did
not
Frank Seefeldt aged twenty two, q
farmer, testified to seeing Brookman aim
the revolver directly at Buffum's head,
and with the exclamation. "Buffum, the
son Of b. did that" pull the trigger
and shot Buffum fell and never moved
again. They were on opposite sides of
the counter and the muzzle of the pistol
was not more than foot from Buffum's
face.
Charles Wenks, n clerk aged twenty
years, and Frank Buffum, aged twenty
five, brother to the deceased gave evil
dence in corroboration of the foregoing
and
THE VERDICT
Of the coroner's jury was as follows;
We, the undersigned jurors, sworn tC
inquire of the death of Grant Buffum, OF
Andalusia, Rock Island county, ILL.,, or
oath do find that he came to his death by
bullet through his brain from pistol in
the hand of Harry Brookman; that we dc
not find any evidence of criminal intent
but all the evidence goes to show that the