The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-12-12
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Double Murder Was Caused by a Quar-
rel Over a Load of Hay. .

rel Over a Load of Hay. "
A quarrel over a load of hay was
what led to the double murder for
which George Bear today paid the death
penalty. .. 7'
/, The wife of Bear was formerly mar
ried to a man named Shaw, now dead.
Her son, John Shaw, lived on n of
the quarter sections Of lane owned by
her n when she married Bear, the
latter demanded the hay raised on the
place. John Shaw objected and despite
Bears protests: sold several loads of
hay to a liveryman named Slaughter,
residing at Bonesteel. Bear went to
e. c. Tayloe, government school teach
er and assistant farmer, at Ponca sub
agency, and made complaint. Tayloe
wrote to Major McChesney, agent of
the Rosebud agency, who had the mat
ter under consideration at the time of
the murder.
Bear, however, chafed at the delay
n learning that Shaw was continuing
to sell the hay, he borrowed a repeat
ing shot gun from a mar named John
Kelley and alta o'clock on the afternoon
of October 8, he drove to Shaw's place
on Ponca creek. He found his step-son.
loading hay. Angered beyond all rea-
son, Bear accosted him and wanted to
know whether he intended to settle for
the hay. Shaw, who was unarmed, gave
I'll - CIV oSA IlloWSl ,ra "llSlCupOl DGdII
raised his gun and shot, Shaw in the
back. The Indian rolled off the load
of hay and lay writhing on the ground.
Running around the stack, Bear again
fired a load of bird shot into the wound
ed man at close range, killing him.
Then he turned his gun on an Indian
named Shorty Thigh, who with his wife
and a son of the murdered man, We're
near. Thigh ducked and the charge
went over his head.
Savage Blood Aroused.
The sight Of blood aroused all the he
'redity ferocity of the Indian, and Bear
Immediately drove five miles to the lit,
tie school house at the Ponca sub
agency, where Tayloe was engaged as
teacher. Tayloe nae Just dismissed his
school for the day, and two Indian boys,
John and Main Milk, sons of a famous
chief, We're ] n the school house with
him. Mrs. Tayloe was present. On
the school grounds Bear met Miss
$Klackner, a cousin&of Mrs. Tayloe.
Where is Tayloe?" asked the Indian,
as he g~claInbered out Of his wagon, shot
gun in hand
why, I think he's in the school.
house." she replied.
Bear grunted, smiled and walked
straight into the house. AS he entered
the door Tayloe looked up from the
desk Where he had been writing.
Hello, George; been chicken hunt
ing?"&%he asked as the; Indian strobe
down the aisle and stopped not six feet
away.
Yes, and here's another chicken I'll.
kill" he cried.
Deliberately he lifted the gun, point
edit at Tayloe and fired, the charge en-
ftering below the right shoulder blade
and tearing a wound four Inches in di-
sametet., Tayloef died instantly. u
With the screams of Tayloe's wife
ringing in his ears, Bear ehuekled with
(@satisfaction and walked out of the
building, waved aside those whom he,
met, got into his#Wagon and drove to
This home; where he spent the night.
Sought Third Victim.
EARLY next morning he rose and drove
ito BonesteelSt to see Slaughter, the liv-.
ieryman who q purchased hay of
John Shaw. Asthe Indian drove up the.
streetEWith his shotgun across his knees;
The chanted loudly the death song of the
Sioux and drove without m~oleStation.
Ito the barn where he found that
slaughter had gone ontEof town for
THE day.
Disappointed, the Indian, with the pa
suence of bloodhound " prepared to,
await hisscoming. He put up his team
and walked about the streets of Bone
steel unIt, an officer arrested him. He
submitted qussatly, acknowledged he
had killedaShaw and TayIoe and#saidl
he only regretted he had not murdered
Slaughter.