Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-01

In last evenings INDEPENDENT
special gave out tie information that
John Swoyerland an OLD resident six
miles north of Bourbon rad been killed.
Quite ripple of excitement was caused
by the announcement, as the deceased
had numerous acquaintance and
friends III Plymouth and the surround
ing section of country.
The INDEPENDENT has made dill
gent inquiry into the unfortunate affair
and CLEANED the following:
The trouble that led up to the shoot
ing affair of yesterday, occurred some
two years ago al turkey shooting
some live miles north of Bourbon,
where in rough and tumble tight
samuel Stewart got the worst of it. 1t
Is stated that young stewart asserted
that the matter wasn't settled and that
they would meet again. The hard feel
ingsbetween the participants continued.
About month ago Merideth Swover-
| land, who lives but short distance
! from his father, had some clothes stolen
! from his house and accused d Gus Sick
miller of committing the theft. Tn
! fortunately for all parties concerned,
this Slckmlller was chum of Samuel
Stewart, and of course in the war of
words that followed, Stewart defended
4 - N,..l., In, III
previous occasions, the elder Swover
land took matters in hand and defended
his boys.
Some four or five weeks ago the two
parties met in Bourbon, and war of
words ensued. At this time the elder,
Swoverland went to hardware store
and purchased 32 caliber revolver
with this declaration.
"Ile had but few years to live
and that he would kill Stewart before
he died" At the same time he is quot
eel as saying: al any one had any
trouble with his boys he would take it
up for them.
Matters stood in this strained cOndi
tion when they met at public sale yes
terday at Charles Elcesner's which end
ed in d bloody tragedy. The place
where the affair occurred was only u
land, and all the parties were there.
Before anything of an antagonistic
character arose the Elder Swoverland
returned home.
Shortly after this a discussion was
entered into between MerIdeth and
Stewart Merldeth then sent his young
er brother to tell his father to come
back. When the boy arrived at home
on his fatal errand Mart Swoverland
tried to persuade his father not to go
back. But L. seems the old gentleman
had made up his mind To settle the
, trouble for good as his subsequent
actions proved, when he arrived at the
sale lie stopped in the middle of the
road and called to Stewart, saying:
"Come out and take your medicine.
have got something for you and yor
have got to take II,
Stewart started toward the middle ol
the road, and when within about twelve
, feet from Swoverland, the latter drew
his revolver from his over coat poke
and fired. The bullet, Stewart says jus
missed his head At this junct,lr'
Stewart pulled his gun, "A 3S calibre, an,
fired twice, both shots taking effect IL
Mr.. Swoverland's head. At the secont
shot the old man fell, and ere the horri
fled witnesses could move to intercep
stewart he fired third shot into TIN
PROSTATE mans stomach. Meridetl
then jumped on Stewart with dirk
cutting him twice-once on the lef
|, arm and again on two of his fingers. Ii
the meantime Stewart snapped his re
volver several times at his Antagonist
and finding it was empty, turned it an,
beat young Swoverland over the hea
with the butt end until he knocked hin
down. A constable on the ground
from Bremen was called upon to arres
Stewart, but not being armed was un
. able to make the arrest.
by this time those present seemed I
recover from the shock. John Carte
ran up 10 the old man and at.empte
to raise him up. Swoverland looked u
- and told him To let him lay where h
was as he could rest easier. n bugg
} was brought Immediately and the dyin
man placed in it, but he never spOk
again and expired before the short hal
mile between the place of the TRACED
and his home had been traversed.
Stewart went To Bourbon where h
received medical care for his wound
}. then placed himself into the hands {