Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-10-25
and that his pistol had killed

froze and that his pistol had killed
one man in California. AS soon as
released from the calaboose at Lad
donna he returned to Miller's."
Ehi told many other things which
are not important enough to pub.
lish.
Albert Martin, who works at
Chris. Marburg's, and who was
present when Miller struck Criswell,
testified in full as follows: 81 work
for C.. Marburg. | only knew
Criswell when l saw him. / saw
John Miller strike him last Friday
night about 10 O'Clock with a piece
of flooring board about 3la feet
long, used as a slat in the gate. He
struck him on the left side of the
head. Criswell was about s feet
from the front porch when struck.
Criswell was trying the doors and
windows of the house when Miller
and | came in from the road. John
walked in and told him he'd better
go home, to which he replied he
would when he got ready. Girls
we'll then put his hand in his hip
pocket. John Miller said to him
Take your hand out of there. You
have threatened to blow out my
light once before Then John
struck him with the board. John
then called out his mother and told
her to bring out a pan of water.
John washed off his head where he
had struck him and let him lie
there a few minutes. Criswell
turned over on his side. John again
told him to get up and go home.
Criswell answered that he would
after he had slept awhile. We saw
he wouldn't do it and we helped
him on his feet and John held him
and walked him out of the yard.
We put him in his buggy, united
his team from the fence, put the
lines in his hands and told him to
drive home. He again said 'let me
Sleep We took hold of the horses,
bits, led them up and Criswell yell
ed 'wo.' John then went to the
barn and woke the hired hand up
and told him to take Criswell home,
and Eli said be didn't know where
he lived. We then turned the team
into the fence and tied them. The
conversation then took place as Ehl
stated and the team was there next
morning, l was informed. John
Miller and | went home then, to
Chris. Marburg's. | saw Criswell
again next morning"
The inquest was then adjourned at
$50 O'Clock till 8 o'clock that even.
ing, when they met in Farber at
Squire Jenkins office.
At Farber the Inquest was contin.
ued from s o'clock that evening till
mid night, when the jury came to
the following verdict, finding Mil
Ter to have been justifiable in the
killing. He was at once discharged.
THE CORONER'S VERDICT.
We, the jury, having been duly
sworn by A. E. Jenkins, J. P, acting
Coroner of Audrain county, Missouri,
diligently to inquire and true present
ment make in what manner and by
whom John A. Criswell, whose dead
body was found at his home in Au-
drain county. Missouri, on the 22nd
day of October, 1894, came to his death,
after hearing the evidence, and upon
full inquiry concerning the facts and
careful examination of the said body,
do find that the deceased came to his
death by q violent blow from a piece
of pine board in the hands of John
Miller, from the effects ofwhich caused
his death, and we, the jury, further
believe from the evidence that the
said John Miller was justifiable in the
act. j. J.. ALEXANDER, Foreman.
SMITH SANDERS.
NJ. A. SHERMAN.
SIMEON Ross.
A. M. BUNTLEY.
r. E. RoBY.
A. E. Jenkins, j. P, Acting Coroner.