Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1894-09-07
M u RIDER + AND
SUICIDE.
Myron Hamilton Bru-
tally Murdered by
Jas. Barnard.
Suicide of the Murderer at His
Home While Pursued
by q Posse.


One Of the most strocious crimes evel
committed In the state was the killinf
Of Myron Hamilton by Jas. Barnard al
Condor on Monday last about II 30 o
m. Our quiet little town was thrown
into the widest excitement by hearing
five pistol shots in rapid succession, fol-
lowed by the immediate exclamation
by half-dozen or more who saw the
tragedy that "Jim Barnard has killed
Myron Halniltonp Within minute
almost our entire population had gather.
ed at the scene, which was In the street
In front Of Sheriff Wilcox's residence.
The sight that met their eyes was hor-
rible In the extreme. Upon the side
walk at the gate laid the PROSTATE body
Of Myron Hamilton with his brains ooz.
ing from three ghastly bullet holes
through his head and one through his
body close TO the heart.
Thatthe reader may understand the
circumstances leading up to the killing
We will make brief explanation: At
the April term OF circuit court for this
county JAS. Barnard, Clarence Zachary
and EbeI Clarno were indicted for the
larceny Of number Of cattle in the Fos-
sll country, the particulars Of which are
yet fresh In the minds Of our readers.
In order to obtain a conviction, Epel
Clarno was persuaded TO turn states
evidence against the other two--Jas.
Barnard and Clarence Zachary. The
trial Of the two together resulted in
Barnard being found guilty and Zachary
acquitted. Barnard was sentenced TO
two years in the penitentiary and after
short confinement his attorneys OBJ
tanned stay Of execution until argu-
ment could be heard on appeal In the
supreme court for new trial. Barnard
therefore was liberated and was under
$4,000 bonds. The same grand jury In
dicted Jas. Barnard, Coe Barnard, Geo.
Zachary and Myron Hamilton on a
charge Of stealing and killing steer be-
longing TO VIM. Keys. Myron Hamil-
ton turned states evidence In this case,
and was the only important witness for
the state, there being no prospect for q
conviction without his testimony. This
case was continued, and would come up
for trial at the coming term Of court this
month, all Of the parties being ont on
bonds, except Geo. Zachary, who skip
ped the country last spring. As early
~ four or Ave months ago Jas. Barnard
was reported as making threats that
Myron Hamilton never would testify
against him or his brother. Those be
had turned states evidence against tried
10 persuade Hamilton 10 leave the coun-
try, and az his life was in danger it was
deemed best to place him In the custody
Of the sheriff. Since that time he had
been in the sherifTs care at Condor.
Jas. Barnard also repeatedly threatened
the lives Of number OF witnesses who
testified In the trial in which he was
convicted, among them being Harrison
Huntley, Ebel Clarno, Benton Mires,
Charley Prindle and Billy Keys.
Barnard left bis home on Butte creek,
two miles below Fossil, Monday morning
and rode TO Condor, having two large
44-calibre revolvers. He talked with q
half-dozen or more persons on the way.
AT Mayville he saw Capt. Withers, who
told him that II he would wait few
minutes he would 60 with him to Con-
don. Jim told him he could not wait,
that he had little business TO attend
TO at Condor and was coming back right
away, or words to that effect. Just out
side Of Condor Barnard met Charley
Perrin, who was on his way to Antelope.
He talked few words with him and
asked II Wilcox and Myron Hamilton
were In town and was told they we're.
He rode to Rinehart's livery stable and
let his horse stand without tying, took
off his spurs and walked direct to Sher-
iff Wilcox's residence. Before reaching
the house he saw his victim, Hamilton,
coming out Of the cellar and go into the
kitchen by the back way. Barnard
walked in without knocking and went
into the kitchen, speaking to Mrs. viii
cox, Miss Marker and Hamilton in a
friendly way. After minute or so he
told Hamilton to step outside with him,
as he wanted to talk TO him, and they
went out in the yard in front Of the
house where they talked perhaps a
couple Of minutes and then walked out
into the street about 25 yards from the
house and stopped. According to Bar
nard's own statement this conversation
was about as follows:
Barnard said: "Myron, / want you
to 60 with me before Sheriff Wilcox and
you may select any man you want, and
make statement telling me who is put
ting you up to this and urging you to
prosecute me as you have started In to
do" Barnard said the answer was
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