Crittenden press., 1902-01-23
The COFFEEN TRAGEDY.
Story of the Killing of Gertrude
Clifford by Fred Brockman,
Her Sweetheart.
THE LATTER ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
he Made Bungling Job of IL, and
VIII Recover, and VIII Have 90
Answer TO the Charge of MUIR
der-He is Now In Jail at Hills
boro.


boro.
Coffeen, ILL.,, Jan. 15.-Following IL
the story of the tragedy enacted
here, Thursday night, and which is
the sole subject of conversation in
Montgomery county. About eight
o'clock Thursday night horse with
out driver stopped at Cundiff's livery
stable here, and in the buggy which
he was drawing was found the dead
body of Gertrude Clifford reclining
In the arms of Ford Brockman, who
was unconscious. Two bullet holes
In the head of the girl, two slight
wounds in Brockman's head, an
empty revolver in his hand told the
story OF tragedy which has stirred
the people of Coffeen as few events
In the history of the village has done.
Brockman was restored to conscious
ness and admitted that he had killed
the girl. A note was found written
by Brockman, stating his intention
to kill himself and that the girl de-
sired him to kill her also.
Brockman has two scalp wounds,
one on top of the head, the other en-
tering the lobe of the ear, grazing
the sclap and lodging just above the
right eye. He still held in his hand q
32-caliber bulldog revolver, empty.
The following letter was found in his
pocket:
To My Friends, Brothers and Sis
ters:' Kind Friends, Brothers and Sis
ters-l am going to commit suicide
tonight. am in my best mind, but
have made up my mind to leave the
world behind, so good-by to all. see
there is only one way to settle this,
so good-by to all. All you young fell
lows take my advice and don't go
the way 1 am, 1 have gone. Such q
way 1 never can go again. hate the
way have done, but forgive me,
won't you all? owe so many people
that / can't pay, for they are the
curse of my life, so must go. Good
by, John; you are sitting near me,
but don't you go the way am. love
you, but i must leave you. know 1
have some friends, but they are few.
They all think am a dead-beat, but
may meet them all in the other
world by and by. have told Ger
trude what l am going to do, and
she says she might go, too, so bury
me by the side of Fred, will you
folks? As / will leave my home for
him, so good-by. Do as 1 ask, mother,
will you, please? Good-by.
FRED AND GERTRUDE
Brockman makes a full confession
Of the killing, but in this he states
that girl knew nothing of his inten-
tion when the note WAS written, her
request being his own invention.
will recover.
To-day Brockman waived a prelim- |
mary examination and was placed in |
Jail at Hillsboro, the county seat, TO |
await the action of the April grand |
Jury. He expressed a wish that he |
had succeeded in killing himself and
spoke highly of the girl. but offered
no explanation or statement as to
the cause of the shooting. He asked |
how the relatives Of the dead girl |
we're taking it.
Miss Clifford was . beautiful girl,
20 years old. Brockman Is also about
20 years old and is of good family,
though he has been drinking recent
". The couple have been keeping
,ompany for some time. The girl was
dressed in plain clothing and is
thought to have started for a short
irive only when Brockman called for
Ter about dusk. There was much talk
If lynching, but no outbreak is prob
Ible.
Miss Clifford was a highly respect
ID girl, granddaughter of an old Illi-
iois settler, William Laws, Sr, one of
county's financiers.
3rockman has a sister and brother
living here who are respected citi-
ems.
The coroner's verdict is TO the eff
ect that Gertrude Clifford received
Ter death wounds by three revolver
hots, two in the temple, fred by
Brockman. Feeling was
high when Brockman was
aiken from here 90 the Jail at Hills