Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-08-14
KILLED HIS MAN.
The Shooting Which Occurred at Null
ems Saw Mill Sunday.

The Shooting Which u at Null
ems Saw Mill Sunday.
There was a time in the history Of our
country, a time happily long since past,
when serious alterations ana shooting
scraps were Of frequent occurrence, but
it has been many years since we have
been called upon TO chronicle a happen
ing so sad and r~egretable as the one
which occurred at Mullen's saw mill on
Sunday last.
Two young men, both about 20 years
of age. who were working at the mill,
got into a quarrel over so small an affair
as a curry comb and brush, and kept il
up for many days, each nursing his
wrath to keep it hot, until it ended in
the death Of one, and the incarceration
/ Of the other in an iron cage. Here he
sits with head bowed down, refecting
upon an act which must sadden all his
after life, be it long or short, with bitter
recollections of the past. The name oil
the man who was shot and killed was
j. L. Metcalf, Jr. He had but recently
arrived in the Hills, and was a nephew
of o. l.. Metcalf, who lives on his ranch
four miles west from Custer.
In conversation with the prisoner We
learned that his name was George
Jackson, that he had no home and his
father and mother were dead. He is
small, weighing $50 pounds, dark com
plexion, and has the reputation of being
a quiet and industrious boy. He does
not seem much inclined to talk, but to
others he has said he felt justified i2
doing what he did, because Metcalf was
always bullying him, that he carried a
razor and had threatened to cut his
heart out, and as Metcalf was a big
fellow, and knowing he could not fight
him with any show, he got q pistol to
defend himself. We deem it premature
to so in TO all the particulars, which for
the most part is but street talk, and in
asmuch as a trial will follow, we do not
wish to forestall justice, or to say any,
thing at this time that might create n
prejudice, or bias the public mind for or
against the prisoner. The ball took
effect, entering just above and a little to
the left Of the heart, and death was al
most instantaneous.
We understand that Jackson made
10 attempt to escape, but gave himself
up. First into the hands of Mr.. Nell
Handy, who turned him over to the
sheriff, whom he met about half way
out to the mill. The scene of the shoot
ing took place at a saw mill owned by
Mr.. I. 7. Mullen, situated on Lightning
creek, about eight miles west of Custer
City. The shooting took place on Sun
day. and we understand there are a
good many witnesses who were on the
ground at the time of the unfortunate
occurrance, who will testify in the case.
There was a corone inquest held on
the ground who returned a verdict that
the deceased, John U. Metcalf, cane to
his death by a shot from a gun in the
hands of George Jackson. The charge
on behalf of the state was murder and
after 4 preliminary before Justice Hen
derson the prisoner was committed TO
Jail without bail, to await the action of
grand jury which convenes at this place
the first Tuesday in September.
The remains Of the deceased were
brought to the city and were shipped on
the Monday evening train to Omaha for
burial.