The Green Forest tribune., 1903-03-14
CLAIMS IN SELF-DEFENSE
Riley Roberts Kills Dr. Cavins Last Wednesday Morning.

Word was brought to Green Forest Wednesday afternoon of the killing Of Dr. B. F. Cavins near Notation, this county, on Wednesday morning by Riley Roberts.
 From the information at hand it seems that Dr. Cavins came passed the Roberts saw mill, where the owners, Riley and Mack Roberts, were at work. The doctor was in a buggy, having been out to see patient. Soon after Dr. Cavins went by Riley told Mack he would go homo and get something to eat. His residence being in the same direction the doctor was travel ing, he went along and overlook the doctor, whereupon, it is stat ed, that Roberts says he asked Dr. Cavins, who it was that wrote letter, for which Roberts was arrested several months ago, ac- cused of sending improper matter through the mail. To this ques- tion, the story goes, Dr. Cavins answered: "Wait till 1 get my forty four and I will show you.' Roberts claims that he got in his work first, the doctor firing but missing his mark. Mack Roberts heard the reports of the guns and hurried to the scene, finding Dr. Cavins dead by the road side, his team and buggy being d short distance ahead of him on the road. No exam ination of the body had been made at last report, and the nature of the fatal shot is not known further than it took effect in the left side. A forty four re- volver was found with one cham- Der empty in Cavin's buggy.
 Mack Roberts came to Green Forest the same day and stated it was his brothers intention to surrender to the sheriff.
 An enmity of long standing has existed between the parties to the tragedy and there seems to be material in the circumstances leading to the killing for a long and hard fought battle in court.
 Reports, however, are conflict ing. One says that it was Cavins that overlook Roberts, while still another says they metin the road and that Cavins fired first. There were no other witnesses to the shooting, and the fact that Roberts is disposed to give up indicates that he believes he can easily establish a case of self defense.
 LATER: J. F. Smith, justice of the peace of Upper Piney township, was in town Thursday, since the above was put in type, and stated to THE TRIBUNE that from the information gathered from statements made by several parties living in the neighbor- hood of the tragedy, it is 2 fact that Roberts overlook Cavins on the road on horseback and that the two shots fired were from Roberts pistol, both taking eff feet in Cavins' body. one in the leg and the other in the stomach. Dr. Cavins was removed from his buggy by Thomas Dean and 8 gentleman by the name of House who were close by when the shoot- ing took place. Cavins called to them for help but was dead before they got him out of the buggy. A pistol was found in the buggy but it contained no empty cham Der.
 Mir. Smith also said that Sheriff Morris reached the scene Wednesday night and had failed to locate Roberts after an ali nights search, making it evident that he has escaped.
 A coroner's inquest was heil over the body "Wednesday atser- noon, but up to the hour of going to press we have not learned what the verdict is.
 Both men have families and stood fairly well ip the commun-