Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-01-21
INTER-OCEAN
SHOT DEAD.
Thos. A, Hillerman Kills Neal
MoKeague,
Blowing the Top Of His Head
Off with a Shotgun.
A Coroner's Jury Say 1t was
in SelfDefense.
Preliminary Examination Now
Being Made.

Last Saturday evening Neal Mckcague
was shot and killed by Thos. IIillerman
at Churchs Ferry. uillcrman gave HIM
self up and was permitted to have his
liberty in charge Of all officer. A coro-
ner's jury being summoned a verdict
was returned to the effect that Me-
Keague came to his death ut the hands
OF 4. n. Hillerman, who acted in solf-
defense.
The history of the shooting is reported
to be about as follows: McKeague had
been on q drunk for two or three days,
and was making considerable trouble
and noise in the town. Flo took otfense
ut IIillerman while in the lattor's saloon
on Friday. Leaving the saloon he
threatened vengeance, and during Satur-
day boosted Of his ability and determine
alton to 'do IIillerman up" Hillerman
unprecedented trouble, as McKeaguc was
known to be u desperate man. Nc
Kcaguc had threatened to various per-
sons that he would dcmolish Hillerman's
bar. About $3.50 p. m. he went 10 the
Oriental saloon, took off his ovcrroat,
put it behind the bar, and picked up u
45-callbcr S-inch barrolcd revolver and
put it In his hip pocket. He repeated
his threat to edo up Hillerman, and
offered to bet $40 that he could go in and
tear down the bar. Some one told him
the revolver he had was not loaded, and
I1N tnoi- ~ h:- tim p,,rrln ,,,, -
around, and said, ut will work AS we'll
this way He then wentovcrto Hitler
mans. stood by the stove u minute, and
then approached the bar. calling several
~bvstanders to talso n drink with him.
Instead Of drinking he took hold Of the
bar and tried to pull it over. The bar
keepcr'tried to stop him, and McNeague
reached for tho pistol. Whom he made
the motion liillcrlnan grabbed Il shot
gun which stood near by, and dwelling it
at McKeaguo's head pulled tho trigger.
Tho muzzio Of the gun was not ovcr four
feet from HcKeague's face. Tho charge
took OBJECT in tho forehead, tearing the
entire top of his head off just above the
eyebrows. Mckcaguo had triod to bring
his revolver to bear upon Hillcrman, but
was not quick enough. Tho pistol
dropped at his feet, and he fell back at
full length upon the floor II corpse. AS
before stated, IIillermau gavo himself
up Immediately. McKeague's body was
brought to this city Tuesday and was
buried hore Wednesday. lie was mar
ried less than 4 year ago TO Lena Nelson.
It is said he had $4,000 insurance on his
life.
IIiLLERMAN IN CUSTODY.
a warrant for Hillerman,s arrest was
sworn out by Mrs. McKcaguo on
Wednesday, and Sheriff Wagness went
up to the Ferry to serve it. Hillorman
was brought here Thursday and taken
before Justice McClorv. IT. w. Dickin-
son Of Cando and J. T.. O'l,rien Of this
city appeared as his counsel, aud Dis
trict Attorney Morgan and w. w. Wis
liart appeared for theter.i.ory. 4 change
OF venue was asked - counsel for de-
Tense from Justice McClory's court
to that Of County Justice Brooke. Mr..
Brooke being in aoart stated that he
would bc disln'!i,ielto hear tho case b.
reason of the fat that he had expressed.
an opinion. The motion was then
amended asking Tor q change to Justice
'ranton Of Grand Harbor. This motion
was granted.
Justice Tanton came down from tho
Harbor yesterday morning and tho pre-
liminary examination was commenced
at District Attorney Morgan's Office.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.
At the opening Of the case counsel for
llillerman objected to tho jurisdiction of
the Justice, merely to preserve the force
Of his exceptions. The motion was
oyorruled and an exception was taken.
Mr.. O'Brien then moved that all wit
nosscs, except the one being examined,
bo excluded from the court. District
Attorney Morgan objected and asked the
court to override the motion. Mr.. Wis.,
hart denied the power of the court to-
grant the motion, and read from tho
statutes. Mr.. O'Bricn argued that the
court ha! power to say what the amer
OF the examination should be. The
court granted the motion.
Mr.. Morgan them moved that tho de-
fendant's witnesses be excluded. This
motion was also granted.
John Mcnamara was called by the ter
ritory. Witness WAS a deputy sheriff
IL resided ut Churchs Ferry. Was sent
to Hillcrman's saloon By Hilierman;
saw the body Of Noel Mckeaguc on the
floor, the top Of his head blown off; or
dered all parties away except Frank Fay,
and closed the saloon; turned tho prem
ises oyer to tho coroner McKcague lay
about tenSfeet from tho door; had MOTH
ing in his hands; his feet were about
three feet from the bar; saw a shotgun in
b room and turned that over to the cor
oner; one barrel was loaded and tho other
contained an empty shell; revolver lay
on tho floor; it was empty.
Z Cross-examined-I looked tho body
over, but did not handle 1t. The pistol
was a large Colt. and lay near the base
Of the bar, near tho dead mans feet;
found another shotgun; did not remove
the guns Or revolver until the coroner
came; the empty shell was drawn by the
coroner; tho coroner arrived about 9
o'clock the night of the shooting. Ras-
mus Hayrevold, Fay and myself were
there when tho coroner came.
Redircct-The second shotgun found
was not loadei; the body lay in a north
Of. east position not in a due northeast