Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-05-11
THE TRAGEDY IN CLINTON

The "Joy of the budding Springtime
was changed to woe and misery for the
families Of VIM. J. Hemphill and John
B, McGlaughlin Of Clinton twp, last
Friday by the act of the latter in shoot
ing the former.
VIM. ]. Hemphill is in his grave and
John B. mclaughlin is in Jail awaiting
his trial.
The two men owned and lived upon
adjoining farms in the northern part of
Clinton twp, just south of Saxonburg
they had had some trouble regarding
an oil and gas lease and were not on
good terms, but had never came to
blows.
That morning McG Glaughlin loaded his
shot Qun-a breach -loader-and went
to his pasture field. adjoining Hemp
hills property and began shooting such
Of Hemphill's chickens as he found upon
his property.
Hemphill, who was helping to build
. new house on the opposite side OF the
road heard him, crossed the road and
-eenee-4nto Mc6iaugblin's field and was
heard "shooing" his chickens, as though
to get them away from mclaughlin.
What words passed between the men
were not heard by those working upon
the house, nor what motions made seen,
as row of trees stand between the
house and the scene; but Hemphill
seems to have walked towards Nc
Glsughlin, who says he warned him off
his premises.
As mclaughlin aimed his gun at
Hemphill the latter raised his arm as
though to protect his face. turned his
rigEt side and stopped slightly, and the
TWO men must have been close to each
other, as the charge of shot entered his
right side in circle of about six inches
in diameter, fractured three ribs. rid
died his right lung and perforated the
arteries and heart
Hemphill fell instantly and never
again spoke The men on the house
hurried to him, and carried him to the
house, bnt he was dead before they
reached it.
Immediately after the shooting Nc
Glaughlin went to his own home, dress
ed himself hastily, walked to the rail
road station, came to Butler and gave
himself up.
he is Q son Of John B. mclaughlin,
who was Sheriff of Butler county dur
ing the years 1889. 40 and Al. was a
well-to-do farmer, and has four child
rem. His wife, who is said to be COM
pletely prostrsted by the affair. is a
daughter of Jacob Beck of Winfield
twp, near Marwood.
Insanity, however, has developed in
the Mclaughlin family. Johns broth
u, Dunlap, has been an inmate Of Dix
mont since October Of 1901, and his
brother. David, now living in Pittsburg
was noted for his eccentricities.
William J. Hemphill was one of the
most Industrious and prosperous farm
ers Of Butler county. He was son of
Robert Hemphill of near Tarentum;
married daughter of Henry Knoch of
Clinton twp, and for some years
lived with him. but, few years ago
purchased the old Montgomery farm
nearby and adjoining McGlaughlin's,
moved to it and had just about COM
pleted a new house upon it when he
met his death.
He usually kept flock of several
hundred chickens and was a regular
shipper Of eggs and dressed chickens,
and also butter to the Allegheny mark
ct. Lately he has been a member of
the Overheim Oil and Gas Co. of Sax
onburg, which has been very success
ful with its gas wells in that neighbor-
hood; and it was dispute between this
company and Mclaughlin, regarding
the terms of lease that engendered
the hatred that caused Hemphills death
and McGlaughlin's disgrace.
Mr.. Hemphill was buried from West.
minister church. last Sunday, the whole
neighborhood attending. He was about
45 years Of age, and leaves a wife and
four children.
Deputy Coroner Dodds held an in
quest at the home Of MIR. Hemphill and
ct Saxouburg. and upon the fling of the
report, Detective Hoon made a formal
charge Of murder against mclaughlin.