Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-06

ing under the supply wagon about thirty
feet away fell to the ground on his face.
McRea then came out of the wagon with
Winchester in his hand and said, 1t is too
late. He's dead McRea then came up
to where Gordon was on the ground and
turned him over and that was about all that
happened at that time
This is the case that the state has against
McRea.
M'REA'S OWN STORY.
McRea's statement of the case before the
coroner's jury was as follows: 1t was be-
tween and O'Clock on Sunday morning
that Mr.. Gordon came into camp. after trip
to the drop band, and seated himself at the
table for breakfast. That he, the witness
said, had been sick for three or four days
and was still ailing; that he arose from
his slumbers and had spoken a few words
to Gordon, and was again dozing; that he
heard the report OF a gun and heard Gordon
cry out; that 1t startled him and he jumped
up and saw Gordon run to the door OF the
camp wagon and jump out crying: I'm
shot, I'm shot I'm shot" that he, the wit
ness. jumped from the bed and out just
as Gordon fell, face downward between the
camp wagon and the supply wagon that
when he ran and turned Gordon over he
gasped but once and expired.
McRea testified that Gordon came from
Scotland in July last and had been in his
employ ever since; that he was a steady
herder saving Of his money, of good
habits, used no profanity, and was a man
he never had a word with; that trouble
of any kind had ever existed between them.
He stated that when they were talking
Gordon was seated at the table by the left
side OF the bed in the rear of the wagon and
his right side was to the door at the front;
that his, the witness, feet were on the side
that Gordon was seated and that on the
bed on top Of his feet were coats and clothing
and on top Of all a shotgun and a 1910 Win
chester, the one DISCHARGED
MADE A SINGULAR WOUND.
From the description by the witness Cor
don would have received the bullet in the
lett side had he remained seated, but "A post
mortem examination revealed that the bull
let entered the right side and made its exit
on the left side. passing through the heart.
DR.. Leeper first made an examination, Drs.
Garner and Dean being called later. Their
findings, however. were the same. The pub
lie here seems to be slow to think that Nc
Rea is guilty, but the majority are inclined
to think that it is one of those unexplaina-
BILE accidents that happen In country where
firearms are in such common use.
At the post mortem examination the heart
OF Gordon was removed by the physicians
who made the examination. The ball struck
rib and fattened, and when it reached the
heart 1t absolutely slit 1t in two, and the
heart has all the appearance OF having been
pounded with hammer Both the stories
told seem incredible. What other evidence
the officials have can only be surmised, but
Ed Norton said to The Bee reporter that the
state had a good case and that the matter
would be thoroughly investigated. The cor
oners inquest was adjourned over from to-
day until Monday
McRea's friends claim that Pete has it
in for McRea, and that he is going to
cause him all the trouble possible. He Is a
sheep herder in the employ of McRea.
McRea seems to take the matter in a cool
manner. He was present at the post NOR
tenn and gave vent to no expression or
tion that betrayed guilty conscience. Dur
ing the last few days he has transacted his
business here in Casper and gone about his
business just though nothing had ever
happened,