Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-07-20
The Murder Of Burns.

The fatal shooting of Constable James
Burns, by John b. Leighman near Fair
burn on Thursday of last week, the
| details of which failed 70 reach this
place in time for publication in our last
issue, are given in the subjoined state
ment taken from the Buffalo Gap Globe
| of the 18th inst:
Leghman and neighboring farmer S
son, named Anthony Furman, had been
having trouble about some government
land which Leighman had fenced, and
| thus had shut Furman's cattle from
grazing on the same. This led to i'll
| feeling between the two men and threats
| of killing on the part of Leighman.
Furman had Leighman arrested two or
| three weeks ago on charge of assault
and attempt to kill. Lelghman was
bound over, but bailed out. His bonds
were found to be insufficient and he
returned home and swore that he would
kill the next man that attempted To ar
rest him. Juctice Sanderson, Of Fair
| burn precinct, recommitted him and
| placed the warrant for his arrest in the
| hands Of Constable Burns Burns went
| TO Leighman's place yesterday afternoon
and took along John Scibert TO help
arrest him. When within a few rods OF
| leighman'S place he met them with Il
Spencer rifle in his hands and told them
| TO come no closer. Burns raised up in
the wagon and commanded Leighman to
surrender. Instead of doing SO he raised
his gun to his shoulder Sclbert jumped
out Of the wagon and called to Burns to
jump also. The unfortunate officer
was not quick enough, rs Leighman
shot, the ball striking Burns about six
inches below the left arm, passing clear
through his body. Burns fell back over
the seat, exclaiming, He's got me
Scibert keeping the team between him
self and Leighman, led them some
distance and then got in and drove TO
Fnrman's where Burns died at ] 1870 last
night. In the mean time these facts
were reported to Justice SaLderhon who
appointed John Barnes constable and
ordered him to bring in Leighman
dead or alive" Barnes, with posse
of men, went to Leighman.s ranch last
night and surrounded it until tins morn
ing. Early this morning Barnes discov-
cred Leighman leaving the cabin and
ordered him To throw Up his hands. In
stead he threw up his gun and fired.
DdTUeS UEtu dL Lllc same llIDt, DuI DOtIl
shots were wild. Barnes stepped back
and stumbled into creek, and Leigh
| man fired at him again. He hit him in
the same place he did the first time. BY
this time the balance of the posse com
menced firing, burning up lots Of powder
but doing no good. After exchanging
| compliments with the posse for some
| time Leighman struck for the hills.
The posse pursued him for a short
| distance and then returned to Fairburn,
where the chase was renewed by Sheriff
Wood, who had been wired, and posse
are now securing the foot bills for Leigh
| man. 1t is not probable that he will be
| captured alive, as he is desperate.
| LeigIIman was an unmarried man,
about 45 years old, and came to this
country from Knox Co. Iowa in 'Si He
has been twice examined for insanity,
but each time got clear
Leighman is still at large, no clue to
hIs whereabouts having been obtained
as We 60 to press.