The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-05-09
Two Brothers Could Not
Agree About a Small Piece
of Land and Had Arranged
To Leave Difficulties to
Board of Arbitration.
THE DEED OF A MANIAC
EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT ISAAC
MAckEY HAD PLANNED THE
DOUBLE TRAGEDY FOR HE AT
Tackled HIS BROTHER WHILE
HE SLEPT AND HAD THE POL
SON READY TO END HIS OWN
LIEE-ARE WELL KNOWN.

New Paris and vicinity are in the
highest pitch of excitement on account
OF the horrible tragedy that was en-
acted yesterday morning at Brinley's
Station. about three miles north of
that place. The crime of Isaac Mack
ey. one of two aged brothers who liv-
cd together on a small farm is one of
the most terrible that has ever been
committed In that community and the
citizens are aroused by the details of
the desperate deed.
Isaac Mackey, nearly seventy years
On,, went into the room of his brother
David. ten years older than he, and
with a hatchet, inflicted wounds on
the head of his brother which will
cause death. Isaac then swallowed a
quantity of poison and last evening
died from it's effects. Both of the
principals in the terrible deed are well
known to the residents of Preble
and Darke Counties and were mem
bers of prominent secret orders.
Quarrel of Long Standing.
The quarrel of the brothers has been
of long standing. and although it has
been known for years that they in
dulged in wordy combats, it was never
thought that one would do the other
violence. Monday 1t was decided
between them to arrange for a COM
,mittee to arbitrate and settle their
troGbles. Each man chose a friend
to act in his interests and the two
men chosen decided upon a third par
ty. This board was to meet and hear
the differences existing in the rela-
tions between the brothers, and en-
deavor to settle the trouble. The
question was the ownership of the
small farm upon which they lived and
also who should have charge of the
money which they possessed Jointly.
A Scene of Blood
Tuesday was to have been the first
day of the meeting and just before
noon, the committee went to the
home to find the brothers both in one
room, unconscious, with Isaac, the
younger. on the floor. lying in the
blood of his brother, David, who was
stretched out on the bed, with his
head hanging over the side.
The men summoned physicians who
responded at once. Doctors Lynes
and Devington of New Paris, went to
the scene and worked for hours with
the two men, but the poison had done
fits work well, and Isaac, the fratricide,
could not stay death to face the law
David was found to be in a terrible
condition. He had been struck four
times with the sharp edge of the
hatchet, every time on the skull. The
bone was crushed and it was found
necessary for the surgeons to remove
parts of the brain. 1t is not expect
ed that David will live long, as his
age and feeble condition are against
him. Last night he was resting cas-.
Ter. but no hope for his recovery is
entertained.
Was All Arranged.
A terrible feature of the tragedy is
the fact that 1t was all arranged be-
forehand. and Isaac. who committed
the act, had probably been planning
for days how he would kill his broth
er and then end his own life. Every
detail was perfect. He had a sharp
new hatchet, and went into his broth
er's room probably when David was
asleep. There he struck his deadly
blows and Immediately swallowe d
the poison which he had on hand for
the purpose. The men who came to
the house found a note in conspicu-
Gus place, which gave directions in
regard to the disposal of his own
boh .sand that of his brother. In the
note ne said that the neighbors would
~z1nd new suit OF clothes in certain
drawer in bureau and in these
CLOTHES Isaac wished to be dressed
when he was buried. With a few min