Williams news., 1904-07-02
KILLED HIS BROTHER
George Hardesty Shoots and Kills
 Ed hardesty

Sterling Gazette: In defense of himself and the members of his family, George w. Hardesty, IT,, of Rock Falls, shot and killed his brother Edward at the family home shortly after 12 o'clock Saturday night, and the news of the shooting affair spread like wildfre over the community. The brother who did the shooting was acquitted Sunday afternoon by the coroner's jury which presided at the inquest held in Rock Falls. The inquest was held in the city hall and was at tended by probably POO people The verdict of the jury was to the effect that the young man acted in self-defense, and also in defense of his father, mother, brothers and sisters.
 The shooting was done with shotgun and resulted in a large wound in the left thigh which pierced the femoral artery and caused a hemorrhage of blood.
 Ed. Hardesty, the man who was shot and died few minutes later, was known by the family and police officers as we'll as some of the men with whom he worked, as being very quick tempered and has been heard to state that he thought nothing of killing a man. He had been resident of the western plains in Colorado and Arizona for over twenty years and the com pany in which he was placed nat urally made him next to desper- ado. For a number of years he held the position of United States marshal in the western country, and this made him fearless of any thing.
 Several months ago his brother, Frank T. Hardesty, of Rock Falls, received a telegram stating that his brother had been killed, and that he should come at once. Frank knew that he had brother some where in the west, and went at once to Williams, Ariz., where he was directed. There he found his broth CT Ed, not dead, but seriously wounded and likely to die. He was cared for and was soon able to travel, so Frank brought him home. This was early last fall. Since that time Ed has been residing at the home of his parents, MT. and Mrs. George w. Hardesty, in Rock Falls. He worked for his brother Frank, and got along quite we'll during the winter, but since spring has opened his people have noticed that he had been using liquor and frequently he would get drunk When under the influence of liquor he was ugly and quarrelsome
 The use of liquor has been grow ing on him and his ugly spells have been getting more severe until the family had been terrorized quite frequently with abusive talk from him. During the last week his condition has become so critical that close and eager watch has been kept by the members of the family to see that he should do no bodily harm to any of them.
 The climax occurred Saturday night when the man returned to his home at about midnight and threatened to take the lives of his father, mother, brothers and sisters. His threats covered the entire fani- fly and they were of such desrer- ate nature that alarm was created in the hearts of all the family.
 Driven to desperation with fear. and in defense of the other mem- bers of the family who were unable to defend themselves, George Har- desty sent the fatal shot which has ended the terror and brought deep grief in the home-Clintou (Iowa( Advertiser, June 21.
 A slight sprinkle occurred las 7