Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-08-08
Mellen and Barry slept. Witness then

ol4toU ais V16lL I'd tho nome OF GeOEko
Weir on the afternoon of Christmas Day,
vhere with three or four neighbors he
listed until eight o'clock in the evening.
Continuing to detail the events of the
lays preceding the tragedy witness
stated that he was at home the next
shree days looking after the chores
while he sent Mellem out west to the
farm of his brother Tom after load Of
seed wheat. He recalled the fact that
he had twelve horses, 8 COWS and 6 calves
to look after which kept him busy most
Of the time. Mellem returned about
noon Saturday, witness leaving shortly |
for Milton on business.
Mellem reached home shortly after
noon witness meeting him in the yard.
He asked Nellem why he hadn't brought |
the wheat aud was told that he wasn't
at Toms at all. Nothing further was
said. When he drove of Mellem was
eating his dinner. Barry explained.the
reason Of bis trip to Milton that day was
to get the returns on a car OF barley he
had shipped two weeks before. While
in Milton he saw John Mccartney who
wanted to borrow 800. He did not have
it at that time. A deal was partly made
but fell through by which the man was
to get the amount from Mellem. While
in town that afternoon drank some with
those he met, but knew of occasions
on which he had been more under the
influence OF liquor. II was night when
he got homo. Driving up into the yard
q light through one of the windows
showed what seemed to him his sister
and Mellem scuffling. He put his team
into tn barn, not stoppin to unharness
them and rushed into the house, but
before he got in they broke loose. He
said "you have been scpfflinR here"
Mellem denied it and said it was his
Imagination. He also said to witness,
"you have been watching me pretty
close lately" to which he replied, II think
that have right to-" Mellem finally
made the remark that he believed that
witness would be in jamestown before
very long. The only remark made by
his sister was that witness onght to
know her better than that. Nothing
more was said that night in reference
to the matter.
The events of the next day, Sunday,
WAS the opening of one of the saddest
acts that formed part of the tragedy.
Mellem was the first to get up that
morning and later Barry's sister Mary
Ann who got breakfast and afterwards
MIXED the six COWS. Mellem also
went to the barn. Three quarters of an
hour afterwards Barry stated that his
sister came running to the house, She
was crying and Mellem wasn't far behind
her. She said "would croton oil kill ms?"
saying that Andrew wanted to give her
some. Barry vas some time before be
could recover himself and said my God
I thought you would have to tell me at
last" Asking her it she was ia the
family way che replied yes. Mellem
and her were both standing inside the
door. For some time nothing moro
was said all cried for nearly an hour.
Asking them how it had happened bis
sister said it was while she was at her
brother Toms place back west between
two and three years ago aud that she
wasn't to blame the first time.. Mellsm
admitted the wrong he had done the girl
and would make 1t right. He was
willing to marry her but Mary Ann
wouldn't, tating that she knew Mellem
wouldn't let the child be brought up in
the Catholic church. Mellem told him
he didn't care for any church but felt
his people wouldn't like it that way.
Talking it over it was decided at last
that Barry should go to Olga for a
priest the next morning as sonnet hing
had to be done right away. His sister
Mary Ann took no part in the talk, was
crying and when the arrangement was
pressed that she and Mellem should
marry vehemently refused, saying that
she would rather die at the door first
None OF them felt like eating anything,
dinner was gotten for them by his
sister and was the last meal that she
prepared.
Along through the afternoon and
evening he and Mellem talked the situa-
ton over and he finally decided to sell
out as he wouldn't have the neighbors
look down on him nor have the folks
back in Canada know about it as they
{would blame him. Witness said Mellem
made remark about the neighbors he
wouldn't care to repeat. They were up
until after midnight figuring up the
stock and personal property which was
estimated at about SO, 400 and conclud-
ed to advertise it the next week.
The events OF Monday was described
next. On getting up they found no
breakfast ready. His sister was walk
ing about the house wringing herhands.