Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-09-17
A ooNpuoroR K1LLnp.
The Sad Ending of a Quarrel
Tom Ferrier the Victim.


Last Sunday evening between sun
down and dark, Tom Farrier, 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 Mile who Is employed
by Winfield Scott upon cattle ranch
near Catbosa. The train consisted Of
twelve cars Of scotps cattle which
were in charge Ct Miller. At Catoosa
man named Simmons, Scotts
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 10 do and so
while the train was waiting az Bushy-
head for the one from the east either
Simmons or Miller went forward and
gave the engineer ffty cents to "slow
down" so the man could jump OIL.
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 he got him in the state, he would
beat him. lie also. by threats, tried
TO keep him iro.c ,oing on with the
cattle. At Vin.ta the train crew went
to the restaurant for supper and Miller
came over town and got a revolver.
II is reported that while they were at
Vinita one OF the brakemen went to
Miller and advised him not to try aad
90 on, as the conductor meant to give
him trouble. When they got back to
the car the trouble was renewed and
probably continued until Ferrier was
killed. The shooting occurred while
the men were close together as shown
by thel- 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 brakeman,
Willard, in the cupulo, who got out and
went forward. In the struggle Miller
shot hole in the fleshy 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 IS calibre
Smith x Wesson pistol One took effect
in or very close TO the heart, so that
death must have been instantaneous.
The brakeman went ie,ward aud 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 81. Louis and then
shunted up a doctor and sent for the
town marshal aud gave himself up.
The train was detained an hour or
more at Alton until an inquest could
be held aud then proceeded with the
dead man to Monett. Miller was
brought to this town, arriving between
twelve and one o'clock in the morning,
and TUNED over to officers here.
Tom Ferrier makes his home at
Springfield with his mother Some
years ago he used to run out this way
regularly but of late has only been
coming here on extras. The railroad
folks speak OF him as very pleasani
man. Miller comes of good family
living at Colorado City, Texas, ant
John Merchant aud others who know
him say he is not at all quarrelsom,
and in no sense "hard man"
1t is said Brakeman Willard swearl
that tho hrst shot was fred while th'
conductor was in the cupulo. Ther'
seems to have been another man il
the caboose who sat still and saw al
that happened and he is now with th'
railroad folks. There are also TIVE
reports as TO where Miller got thu
pistol, some insisting that no bad /
| i'm his YaIise.