Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-02-06
Tragedy in SlipperyrOck.

The excitement following the wild.
west experience with the Biddles had
scarcely died down until another TRACE
dy occurred in the county.
/ Monday night Earnest Morrow died
at his home in Worth twp. from the eff
/ fects of wounds inflicted by David S.
/ Sneathen, proprietor of a combined bak-
cry. restaurant and pool room in Slip
peryrock.
The dead man is a son of Jonathan
H Morrow, 80 years Of age and mar
ried Saturday evening ne visited his
brother Emerson, who is married and
lives in Slipperyrock Both are large
muscular men.
We are indebted to two citizens OF the
neighborhood for the following ac-
count.
The two brothers were about the town
during the afternoon and evening. and
visited Snedthen's restaurant where
they ate lunch and pie In the res-
taurant their conduct was boisterous
and their talk loud and profane.
Sneathen. who ia a small, slight man,
and crippled in one leg through a runa-
way accident two years ago, remOn-
strated with the Morrows. saying there
were other patrons whom they annoyed
and that his wife and other ladies We're
present and for these reasons they
should not swear so The loud talk con
tinued and when the Morrows were
through eating they refused to pay.
Sneathen said lit is all right | know
you boys and know you are all right,
and can either get it again or lose II
few cents These remarks enraged
Earnest and he threw off his coat and
allowed that he could pay for all he got
and Hex any man who said he couldn't.
With these words he started for Sheath
en- and chased him around the room.
Sneathen fed out of the front door Hud
scug ht refuge by entering the dor of
HIS house, adjoining the Restaurant ard
locked himself in. Morrow pursued
him. kicked the donr i'll aud attacked
Sleathen again Sne3then heard him
coming and armed himself with bread
mixer, stout hickory paddle resem
bling pick handle, Morrow broke
through the door and rusLad at him and
Sura hen struck him over the head
with TIE mixer, telling him to the floor.
Emerson followed his brother and
also attacked Sneathpn and was beaten
over the head and severely cut and
bruised, but not dangerously.
The above is the account Of the fracas
almost exactly as given by Mr.. Sheath
en- to customer shortly after the affair
and before anything serious was appTe-
hended.
30 - 81 * I
fathers home, four miles south of Slip
peryrock later he complained of
severe pain in his head (caused by a
came unconscious.
Earnest was attended by Drs. Pearson
and Hockeuberry He did not regain
consciousness and an examination show
that his skull was fractured He was
removed TO the home of his father JON
athan Morrow in Worth twp where his
death occurred Monday night
Sheriff Hoon was telephoned to Tues
day morning and Coroner Jones was no
titled and deputized Justice of the Peace
John E. Stoops of Slipperyrock to hold
an inquest. Sneathen did not seek TO
escape and Sheriff Hoon ordered that he
be taken into custody pending the in
vestigation.
The building occupied by Sneathen is
a large old three-story frame few
doors north of Eyth's hotel
Wednesday Sheriff Hoon was notified
that an autopsy on Ernest Morrow's re-
mains was held, Tuesday, which show
ed death had resulted from the fracture
of the skull and blood clot. The in
quest was not held until the day follow
ing.
Sneathen was not arrested There is
no lookup in Slipperyrock. He says he
will not rnn away but will come TO But
Ter and 60 to Jail whenever wanted. He
says he don't fear the result of trial.
The hearing was begun before Esq.
Stoops, yesterday, and was continued
until today at p. IN.