Omaha daily bee., 1890-08-16
prntt'a Crime

PrAtt'S Crime.
The details Of the crime referred to above
Were ascertancd from a gentlemen who left
Blair yesterday morning, arriving IN tnis
city in the afternoon.
The crime was COmmttCdat an early hour
and as soonas it bc,am koIvnto the peO-
pie, feeling ran sohigh thatit was soon
matter Of doubt whether the cowarGly mm-
derer should be permitted to live to expiate
hiscr1me according to the Law.
It seems that about three years agOa man
named Henry Pratt became attentiveto to the
daughter Of N. II, I own, Al farmer residing
at kcnnard,a place about four and "A half
miles southwest and eleven miles
west of Blair on the Fremont, Elzhom
& Missouri VALLEY road. The acquaintance
has contiE ucd under varying crcu instances
upto the present, and it was thought that
both Pratt and the girl contemplated maui-
mOuy.
Yesterday morning Pratt went toTown's
house after having left b lair. TWAS noticed
by people whom lie had passed on the road
that hc seemed to be in trouble because he
passcdthcm without exchanging the saluta-
tons customary among the resdcn Is in that
section Of the country.
When he reached the Town homcsteadhc
called for the young lady She went and
tlllcdto him at the door and remained with
him for some time.
FINALLY a quarrel arose between them
High words passed and these attracted the
attention Of Farmer Tow, who went i'm
mediatcly to the doorto ascertain what had
OccasiOncd the dispute.
Themoment the old man made his appear
nce, Pratt drew revolver and aiming It 1t
HIM fired and killed him instantly the bull
let passing straight through the heart.
Affnghted the girl started torun when she
| was also shot, the bullet entering at tine back
| and dcfying the efforts of the surgeons to To-
| cate it,
| The shots aroused the neig hbors even for q
| distance. Somt of the liter al ded the sor
| and widow of the dead man to bear hima ano
the girl in the house, while one of the boys
started on horseback in pursuit of the mur
| derer.
The latter had had agood start and di
rected his steps across the fields tOavoid de
| lection.
On the wav young Towr met yOun
friend with Il loaded musket. This he Dor
rowed and finally overtaking the scoudre
commanded him to surrender. Tb be mulderel
| 80" ? Hii ctaV ~ was wv lNbt- IL
was compelled to drop it because o1
the musket in young Towns hands
Pratt was Immediately surrounded by
neighbors and officers and nCtyvithstandIn
that threats of lvnching Were made, wa
landed safely in Jail lat Blair.
y. Il. Town was we'll known by many O
the old residents of this city. He came Il
Omaha in 1860, built and for number O
years resided in the frame house just west O
the old Herald building on Haruey st rect, a
the same time running 4 restaurant nea
Ninth and Hamey. In 1873 he sold some o
his Omaha property and removed to Blalr
a few years later he bought the fine farm Oh
which he was killed.
Town was about ifty years of age QuitC
wealthy and highly respected by all wht
knew him.
The daughter. Miss Hattie who was shO
by Pratt, was twenty years of age, a beanti
ful and accomplished girl, and was wei
known in this city During the past year shC
attended school at Colorado Sprng rs, & OIL.
and had already commenced preparat ions Io
returning to that place. Her Young lady
friends IN tins city, who KIN ow hermit imatcly
state that they never heard her speak o.
Pratt, and are 81 ltisied that if he was asulto,
for her hand his attentions We're not re
turned.