The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-12
TRAGEDY THAT
STIRRED UP
OKLAHOMA
Alleged Cause of the Killing of
Eugene Mclaughlin.
DETAILS OF SHOOTING
Peoples Attack Entirely Unex-
pec'ed by All Rystanders.

Guthrie, o. T, Jan. 0.-Accordlng 70
the ONlahoman, the tragedy in which
Eugene Mclaughlin, the drug clerk, lost
his life at the hands of William Peoples.
prominent citizen. was caused because
Peoples believed that Mclaughlin had in
suited Mrs. Peoples.
The Oklahoman says: There seems to
be no doubt as TO the cause OF the killing.
Mclaughlin had been lately very persist
ent in his attentions 10 the wife Of Peo-
pies. In the last two weeks he had been
frequently down to Peoples house. and
the night before the killing he had been
at the house trying 10 get in He tried
repeatedly each door. and Peoples had
seen him. although Peoples was not at
home, and his wife believed that he had
left town Mclaughlin went 10 the house
repeatedly and tried to get in at the front
and at the rear doors. The house is sit
uated on the southwest corner OF Third
and Harvey streets. There is a street
light at this corner, and anyone walking
around the house could be plainly seen.
~ reporter for the Oklahoman called
upon Harry Clarke and asked him what
time Mac came into his room last night
Mr.. Clarke stated that Mac came 10 his
room about i o'clock, and that after
that he and Mac sat up and smoked and
talked until nearly O'Clock. The re-
porter called on DR.. Haley and asked him
what time Mac had left the drug store.
DR. Haley stated that he had gone TO the
show and that the show was late in let
ting out, and that Mac was still at the
store when the show let out. That he
and Mac closed up the store and started
home They walked together TO Second
street. when Mac turned north TO go 10
Dr. Mungers, where he roomed. There
fore, according 10 Harry Clarke's story
and DR.. Haleys story. Mac could not
have been near the Peoples home the
night before the killing If he was down
there he must have been there between
the hours of ? and o'clock in the morn
ing. during the time that Harry Clarke
was asleep.
The friends of the murdered boy say
that he was not in the habit OF paying
undue attentions to ladies. and although
Mrs Peoples frequently came into the
drug store and brought her little girl
with her, that Mac paid more attention
to the child than he did to the woman, as
he always made fuss over little chill
,dren, being very fond Of them.
The killing took place in HaIeys drug
store. In the morning Peoples. who Is
a prominent cotton buyer here. walked in
to the store in company with his friend,
F1oyf Phillips. who has been out of the
city for some time attending TO business
in the Indian territory. Mr.. Phillips walk
ed towards the stove near the rear of
the room and shook hands with Dr. Haley
and engaged in conversation with him.
Mr. Peoples walked around the room
leisurely, and asked for Mac" as Nc
Laughlin was Familiarity known to every
body. and waited for him to come from
the basement. He then went up TO Mac
and it is reported that he said TO hirn.
why didn't you break IN last night -
Those present in the room did not hear
Mac make any reply, but they saw
Peoples strike him on the neck with a
gun. Mac knocked the gun up. and i'm
mediately Peoples shot him in the
breast. Mac whirled around with his
back 20 Peoples. who again fred. shoot
ing him through the body in almost the
same place where the ball passed that hit
him in the breast. Mac fell and without
uttering a word died. He fell behind the
counter on the east side OF the room
near where he kept his candy for sale
Dr. Haley and Mr.. Phillips both started
for Peoples as soon as the shooting be-
gan. Dr.. Haley grabbed the gun and
Mr.. Phillips took Peoples by the arm
and walked him from the room. Peoples
went Immediately TO the Jail and gave
himself up to the sheriff. He told Sheria
O'Brien, who had just arrived az the
Jail, that he had killed man AT Haleys
drug store. He give the sheriff the 81
Colts revolver with which he had com
mitted the act. He was then locked up.
When the sheriff asked Mr.. Peoples why
he had shot the man, he stated that the
man had robbed him.
As soon after the shooting as possible
DR.. Haley sent for a physician. bat be-
fore one had time 10 arrive. Mclaughlin
was dead. His remains were removed 10
the nnorgue in the Street & Reed furniture
building"