The Springfield herald., 1897-08-20

Verry's charge of buckshot, may sur
y.ve his injuries. The shot tore away
n section of his shoulder blade and
made desperate wound.
Guards have been hired by heasah
or his friends to watch his house nish'
and day, it being feared that Very OF
one Of his sons may attempt to hnish
the work attempted by the desperate
father. II has been discovered that
iteagan had gotten an inkling OF YER
ry's intentions to attack him, and had
preparations partially made TO eet
away. He was engaged to teach inc
district school the coming year, bu'
nevertheless had mortgaged the crops
on tract of land he was farming and
was to have received the money. 1t Is
believed that If he had not been wound
cd by Very, he would have been seek
ing safety in flight before this.
The most affecting feature in con-
nection with the tragedy is its cause,
the alleged betrayal of the young and
beautiful daughter Of Mr.. Very hy
Reagan, who was formerly her teacher
in the country school in the Very dis
trict. Lillian Very is now aged 16 and
has Just budded into womanhood. She
lis very beautiful and accomplished
girl, who has had every advantage that
wealth and the love of fond parents
could give her. For some time past the
neighborhood gossipers have been
talking OF the attentions paid to Lillian
by Reagan. The latter is aged about
100. He has wife and three children
Lnd lives not far from the Very home
stead. He was a successful teacher and
had the esteem OF the people and the
affection of his pupils. Mr.. Very had
been receiving reports that clandes-
tine meetings OF Reagan and his
daughter were of frequent occurrence.
1T was said that they frequently met
In lonely part of the timber and re-
NAMED together a long time. 1t was
known that Reagan and the girl had
met in Pekin, where n teachers insti
ltute was held and that their actions
there had been exceedingly indiscreet,
and that similar occurrence took
place on the occasion of a teachers
Institute at MineI.
Mr.. Very and his wife did not. it
seems, objoc. to their daughters going
with Reagan on these and other occcc-
ions. Tney trusted him implicitly, be-
!ieving that he entertained for his for
mer pupil only the most honorable
feelings. According to information
from friend OF the family. the school
teacher had been writing letters of an
improper character to the girl, and
some of them fell into the hands of
both families. The letters had been left
in log in the timber. where she called
for them. and had been found and
their contents made known to the
Verrys and to Mrs. Reagan.
From these letters and other infor-
nation Mr.. Very became satisfied that
Reagan was scoundrel, and he re-
solved to be avenged. Such resolution
does not comport with Mr.. Verry's past
life and conduct. for he has always
been man of peaceable ways and gen.
lie manners. This determination was
the result of the overwhelming indig-
nation that overcame him when he
learned the awful truth as to his
daughter and the villainy OF the
teacher. The evening of the tragedy
Lillian told her parents she was going
10 the woods to pick wild blac.iberries
Her father suspecting her object in 60
ing to the timber. followed her. He
look with him the old army musket
that he had carried in the union army
during the war. He secreted himself
and watched the meeting of his daugh-
ter and her betrayer He waited until
the girl and Reagan separated. Reagan
had mounted his horse and was riding
away from the scene. when Very
stepped from behind tree and blazed
away.
His aim was good and the big bullet
hit Reagan in the left shoulder. The