Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-05
DEVELOPS INTO A MURDER
James Mcclure Dies from What Was
Thought Trifing Wound.
WAS THE RESULT OF A POLITICAL QUARREL
Victim Supposed to he Suffering
Chiefly from IntoNicntion when
Taken to the stntion-As-
snilunt Under Arrest.


and is -puncher in the employ of Lob
man & Rothschilds at the Union Stock
yards, South Omaha. In company with Fos-
ter Lewis, another colored man, porter
at the Millard. Campbell became entangied
in political wrangle with three young
men at the corner Of Twelfth and Douglas
streets Tuesday night, and striking one Of
them across the face with a small bellows
to which was attached couple OF tin
horns. he killed him.
The murdered man was James Mcclure,
an employe of the Union Pacific shops, and
is years OF age. He resided with his par
ents at Twenty-ffth and Blonde streets
With Mcclure at the time were two other
youths, Siefred Wadum and Henry Castle
ton
All the parties implicated tell the same
story.
The three boys we're walking down Doug
las street. shouting for Bryan, and at the
corner of Twelfth they were approached
by Campbell and Lewis. The latter walked
up to MCGUIRE and asked him what he meant
by shouting at him Mcclure said he was
attending to his own business. Lewis
then said II he repeated the names he had
applied to him he'd take a slash at him. at
the same time drawing a knife. Mcclure
told him IL he would put the knife in his
pocket he would punch his head Lewis
said he meant exactly what he said. IL Nc
CURE shouted at him again he'd use his
knife. Mcclure reiterated that he had been
shouting for Bryan and nobody else, and
that IL Lewis would put up his knife he
would take fall cut Of him.
WAS WILLING TO FIGHT.
At this juncture Campbell stepped up and
said, Maybe you can whip me. too"
Mcclure said he could. and Campbell
I'm hy hp 6
him across the right temple with the bel
lows.
The blow was not a particularly hard one,
but IT knocked Mcclure down. He fell
head foremost into the gutter and Campbell
and Lewis turned and walked leisurely on
down Douglas street, neither man dreaming
that fatal blow had been struck
Wadum and Castleton attempted to pull
Mcclure TO his feet. but noticing that he
was unconscious, steadied him back against
the curbstone and into sitting position. A
policeman happened by at this time, and
thinking Mcclure was drunk. called the
wagon and had him taken to the station.
He was not thought to Re badly hurt. but
alarming symptoms developed after O'Clock
yesterday morning, and an hour later he
died.
Foster Lewis was the man who was first
suspected of committing the homicide, and
was arrested at o'clock yesterday morn
ing. when he told his story, and
officers were dispatched TO South
Omaha to locate Campbell. They found him
at work at the stock yards, little dreaming
OF the plight he had gotten himself into.
When told that Mcclure was dead he was
greatly shocked, and was at a loss to know
how II could be. He at once admitted that
he struck Mcclure. lie said the blow was a
light one and the weapon he used
was a mere toy. He said the mat
ter occasioned no worry, in fact
he did not think of 1t again.
and he continued on down to 1914 Chicago
street where he went TO bed. Yesterday morn
ing. after breakfast, he went to South
Omaha and TO work, never thinking
for a moment Of the serious situation in
which he was soon to be placed. He ex-
pressed deep regret that his thoughtless
action had caused the boys death. and said
that 1t could not have been the blow, but
the fall, that killed him. In talking with
Campbell at the station yesterday morning
Wadum said that he had never been in
trouble before. save once, when Officer Hud-
son arrested him on a charge OF stealing a
COW.
The remains Of James Mcclure were re-
moved to the morgue early yesterday morn
ing and Coroner Burket and DR.. Towne
both made an examination OF the wound in
the head which caused his death. The blow
with the bellows was delivered directly above
the ear, and was evidently inflicted with the
edge Of the apparatus. The scalp was cut
II
erable blood flowed at the time Mcclure ar
rived at the station. 1t was found that the
skull had been fractured.
HOW THE BOY FELL.
II was thought by the police at first that
McGuire's death was more largely due 10
the fall upon the hard pavement after he had
been struck than to the blow itself This
theory, however, is disproved by the state
ments of Harry Castleton, who declares that
Mcclure fell TO the sidewalk on his knees
and then rolled into the gutter. Castleton
and Wadum both say that Mcguire had been
drinking heavily during the night, but was
able to walk without assistance. Mcclure
was once arrested for being implicated In a
highway robbery which occurred on North
Twentyfourth street, but was discharged
after trial.
Campbell still maintains his innocence OF
an attempt to commit murder, and says
he only intended TO smash Mcclure for
trying to get gay" When asked what he
had done with the bellows Campbell said he
had taken them TO the house at 1914 Chicago
street, and as they were badly battered the
Swan woman burned them in the kitchen
stove Campbell and Lewis We're transferred
to the county jail at noon yesterday, and
later. upon suggestion of Chief Sigwart
Campbell was taken by Jailer Shand to Lin
coin for safe keeping. Lewis will be re-
tanned as a witness, as IL was shown by the
testimony of Castleton and Wadum that he
had done nothing more than shove Mcclure
against bill board and make a knife play.
The body OF Mcclure was taken from the
morgue shortly after o'clock last night to
the residence OF his parents 2009 North
Twenty-ffth street An inquest will be held
this morning at 10 o'clock by Coroner Bur-
ket. and the funeral will take place from
Holy Family church Friday morning. In
terment will be at St. Mary's cemetery,
South Omaha.
Incorporate n Railroad.