Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-09-17
A ooNpuoroR KILLnp.
The Sad Ending OF a Quarrel
Tom Ferrier the Victim.


Last Sunday evening between sun
down and dark Tom Farrier, a freight
conductor on the Frisco, WAS shot and
instantly killed while the train WAS
running between the fair grounds and
Little Cabin The man who Killed him
was William Miller, who is employed
by Winfield Scott upon cattle ranch
near Catoosa. The train consisted Of
twelve cars Of Scott's cattle which
we're in charge Of Miller At Catoosa
man named Simmons, Seott's
brother-in-law, got on the train and
wished the conductor to slow down so
he could get of at Chelsea. This the
conductor, Farrier, refused to do and so
while the train was waiting at Bushy-
head for the one from the east either
Simmons or Miller went forward and
gave the engineer fifty cents to "slow
down" so the man could jump of.
which he did. This caused the diff
Guilty which eliminated in the shoot
ing. The story Of Miller and his
friends is that the conductor told him
that If he had him in the states, or
when be got him in the state, he would
beat him. He also. by threats, tried
to keep him from going on with the
cattle. At Vinita the train crew went
TO the restaurant for supper and Miller
came over town and got revolver.
Ii is reported that while they were at
Ninita one OF the brakemen went to
Miller and advised him not to try aud
go on, as the conductor meant to give
HIM trouble. When they got back to
the ear TIE trouble was renewed and
probably continued until Ferrier was
killed. The shooting occurred while |
the men were close together as shown |
by their clothes being powder burned. |
1t took place In the front end of the |
caboose and probably was not distinct /
ly seen, if at all, by the brak eman,
Willard, in The cupulo, who got out and
wen. forward. In the struggle Miller
shot hole in the tieshy part of his
thigh and says it was done while he /
was upon his back on the floor of the
car, kicking at his Antagonist Four
shots were fred from a 3S-calibre
Smith 4 Wesson pistol. One took effect
in or very close TO the heart, so that
death must have been instantaneous.
The brakeman went forward and told
Engineer Swingler what had happened
and he ran to Alton in the quickest
possible time. On arriving there Mil.
Ter employed J.. p Thompson to take
the cattle on to st. Louis and then
hunted up a doctor and sent for the
town marshal and gave himself up
rhe train was detained an hour or
more at Alton until an inquest could
be held and then proceeded with the
lead man to Monett. Miller was
brought to this town, arriving between
Twelve and one o'clock in the morning,
md turned over to officers here.
Tom Ferrier makes his home at
springfield with his mother Some
years ago he used to run out this way
-egularly but of late has only been
coming here on extras. The railroad
'olks speak Of him as very pleasant
nan. Miller comes OF a good family
living at Colorado City, Texas, aud
Iohn Merchant and others who know
him say be is not at all quarrelsome
md in no sense "hard man"
1t is said Brakeman Willard swears
hat tie first shot was fired while the
conductor was in the cupulo. There
seems to have been another man in
he caboose who sat still and saw all
hat happened and he is now with the
abroad folks. There are also two
eports as to where Miller got the
'istol, some insisting that he had it
II his yalise.