The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1890-06-06
SHOOTING AT BIG ELK.

+ On last Saturday Morning tile little
community ON upper Big Elk, in this
Ecounty, were thrown into u state of
excitement by the news that Morgan
Lillard, an old resident, had been shot
and mortally wounded by his son-in-
I law, R. L. Feagles, who lives in the
Same neighberhood. The news proved
to be true and Lillard died the follow
ing day about noon.
The particulars leading to this result,
as near as can be secured, are as fol-
lows: Some years ago Linlard quar-
relied, over some trifing matter, with
Feagles and from that time has not
been friendly towards him; had at diff
ferent times said he would be the death
of him, Feagles, and two Oh three
weeks ago assaulted him with knife
but was prevented from accomplishing
his murderous design by the mterfer-
ence of others who were present.
/ LIZARDS and Feagle's ranches being
contiguous to the same county road,
Lillard found occasion, over some fan
cied grievance, to continue his quarrel
with Feagles on this account. Accord
ingly, on Saturday morning, while
Feagles was working on his fence, Lii
lard came along the road and when
within about twenty yards of Feagles
pointed his revolver at him and said,
"Now, Cd ID you, I've got you!
D-n you, don't you pull and began
firing at Feagles, his second shot TAX
ing effect in Feagles' right wrist,
infictlng slight flesh woand Fea-
giles, being armed, drew his revolver
and both men exchanged shots until
their weapons were emptied.. Feagles'
third shot struck Lillard about one
and one-half inches above the navel.
Lillard dropped his pistol on the road
and returned to his rancho calling to
a passing neighbor to send assistance
to him as be was hurt.
Feagles also requested some passing
neighbors to call OH Lillard and see if
he was injured, telling them of the
fray. DR.. Logan, of Philomath, was
summoned but could not avert the
impending crisis and Sunday Morgan
Lillard died surrounded by his family
and regretted 10y few persons of his ac-
quaintance.
Both of the co,nbattants hal long
been widowers. Lew Feagles, as he
is usually called, is quiet man who
attends to his own business but who Is
creditabfy imbued with proper sense
of the truth of the old maxim "self
preservation is the first law of nature
and he seems to have simply followed
this rule in this instance as he availed
himself of the first opportunity of pl.c
ing himself within the clutches of the
law. But it is probable that it will be
only matter of form, for fhis seems to
be plain case of self protection.
Morgan Lillard was a quarrelsome
man and of late years was almost con-
stantly before the criminal courts, in.
the county, either as private prosecutor
or an offender against the peace and
dignity Of the state. And he was
looked upon as one who was not above
bullying weaker man. Probably this.
habit had grown on him until he
imagined that he was in a degree
omnipotent; for it is hard to believe
that he would court certain death or
murder neighbor in cold blood on SO
trifing provocation. He must have
given himself over to morbid brood
ings and it is charity to view his case
in this light. His tragic death should
stand as a warning to neighberbood
bullies.