Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-08-22
FRATRICIDE!
Clay Sparks Kills his Brother, Emmett,
Instantly-TrOuble at Game Of
Cards led to the Bloody Deed.

Like shock from an electric battery
came the news last Saturday, that
Clay Sparks had shot and killed his
brother, Emmett, at go that morning.
DIR. Fl. G. Gould, coroner, was dispatch.
ed for, who in company with Deputy
Sheriff Matthews, Marshal Gano, and
a number of our citizens, left imme-
dIately for the scene of tragedy which
was on the Sparks ranch Two miles
north of Elm Mills, to hold an inquest
and arrest the murderer. The verdict
of the coroner's jury was that Emmett
Sparks came to his death by a gun
shot in the side fired by Clay Sparks.
The prisoner was brought to town and
lodged in Jail early Sunday morning.
The body of the murdered man was
laid 10 rest at Sawyer. The deceased
leaves wife and child about three
weeks old, to mourn his unnatural
death. The prisoner is about 10 years
of age. Both boys are the sons of
Thomas l.. Sparks who owns a large
ranch near Elm Mills, but resides most
of the time, in Missouri; he is we'll
known by the old settlers of the county.
1t appears that the boys had been
q uarreling for number of years past
which finally was brought TO focus at
game of poker at 2::20 Saturday morn
ing. the final trouble arising over lack
pot" ola very small amount. They had
been playing all night and had had sew
eral controversies. Several times Mrs.
Sparks. wife of Emmett, arose and qui.
eted them and prevented shooting.
During the game each had a revolver
laying on the table which goes To show
that trouble was anticipated. The lie
was passed and hight ensued, after
which Clay endeayored to procure one
of the reviewers but was prevented by
Emmett. He then ran out of the house
where a shot gun was procured ready
loaded with No. shot. Emmett fol-
lowed and was shot in the side under
the arm by Clay who was a short dis.
lance away, having deadly effect. EN-
met remained laying where he fell un-
til Coroner Gould held the inquest
late Saturday afternoon. The only
witness to the murder Is Clara Sparks,
wife of the deceased. The informa-
ton was filed against the prisoner Mon.
day, and the preliminary trial set to
take place at l o'lock this afternoon.
The prisoner was committed to Jail,
not being admitted to bail. He is re-
markably cool and composed and SEEM
lngly does not realize the consequence
of the terrible crime. He laughs and
jokes frequently and it is eaily seen
that his mind is not burdened in the
least.
The shock of this unusual event falls
most heavily on the wife and mother
OF the murdered man, the latter being
in Missouri. After the shooting only
three struggles were made by the vic
tim before life had fled. He spoke a
few words to his wife who carressed
him to the last; he lived three minutes
after the fatal shot. The case promis-
es to be a complicated one as consider
able evidence IN the way of threats and
former actions of Emmett Sparks will
be introduced. Sample and Martin
are the attorneys for the defense. The
county attorney will probably have
assistance also.
This is a happening the likeness of
which rarely occurs and only goes to
show what the direfLl consequences of
gambling are. No one is safe when
under It's prenlcious influences. 1t Is
by far worse THAI any case that has
ever happened in the county and
shows an extreme case of almost total
depravity. Gambling in any form is
bad enough, but when two brothers
will sit down to the table with guns in
hand, we are at loss to find language
forcible enough to condemn it. The
grief stricken wife certainly deserves
the sympathy of the community.