Mexico weekly ledger., 1906-03-29
PRISONER PLACED UNDER AR
REST AND BROUGHT HERE
TO AWAIT PRELIMINARY
HEARIEG-voLUNTARI-
LIZ SURRENDERED
AFTER TRAGEDY.
TROUBLE over MONEY MATTERS,
Slayer is Past sixty Years Of Ags
and the Deceased Was Fifty
Killing Done With Twelve
Gauge Shot Gun Loaded
With Bullets and slugs

unobtainable, James p Edwards, liv
ing about Al miles west OF Thomp
son shot and instantly killed Johr
Oldham, Of the same locality, abou
moon Thursday in dispute over mon
ey matters.
The tragedy, which occurred at Ed
wards home, was without an eye
witness, and the slayer claims that II
was In defense Of his own life. Boil
principals are married and have fam
lilies, Edwards being 60 and Oldham
about so years OF age.
After the killing, Mr.. Edwards noti
fed the officers over the telephone
land waited at his home until theil
arrival, voluntarily placing himself
under arrest In company with The
sheriff, the coroner hurried to tht
scene Of the tragedy and held al
inquest over the body Of Oldham. Ed
wards was then brought to this city
and placed in jail to await bis prelim-
mary hearing.
The particulars Of the affair, from B
statement made by Mr.. Edwards toa
LEDGER representative are as follows
John Oldham had leased a coal bank
from bis neighbor, Edwards, some
two years previous, for a period Of five
years; agreeing to pay royalty Of one
cent per bushel for all coal taken out
land work and keep up the mine
Oldham, Edwards alleges, had moi
worked the mine for some time, had
failed to pay the royalties, which
amounted to some $500, and In othel
ways had violated the contract.
When called TO time by Edwards fol
his mismanagement Of the mine and
royalties due, Oldham Is said 10 have
admitted that he had annulled the
contract In the eyes Of the law, bui
contended that,as he had placed some
$3.50 worth Of machinery there, he
would not vacate until be could get
his money back. Atthe end Of this
interview between owner and tenant,
Edwards says that rather than take
the matter to the courts he offered Ia
cancel the $500 Indebtedness arising
from the unpaid royalties, and give
Oldham $50 in cash to vacate the
mine and not make trouble about it
he, Oldham, to retain the ownership
of the machinery, but give Edwards
the windlass, buckets and horse.
"This,n says Mr. Edwards. ''he con-
sented to do, and nothing further was
said about the matter until the fol-
lowing Tuesday, when he came to my
house and demanded s451 for the loss
of the use Of the machinery be had
bought
~ don'towe you that money John,
l told him, 4 am willing to pay you
what's due but since you've broken
the contract | owe you nothing; l
made you the proposition l did In or
der to get you of the place without
any trouble -
HE came to my house again after
wards and we talked the matter over
/ standidg by my agreement and he
demanding more money. After thai
l saw him no more until yesterday
Thursday morning, when, with my
son, was at the barn near the mine
hauling hay
"Oldham came to the barn TO move
out some Of bis possessions, which ht
had stored there; nothing was sale
about the money and pretty soon
went back home.r
''He had some words with my boz
and told him that there would b,
trouble over this and that he had bet
ter keep out OF it.n
"Oldham again called at my house ;
little before noon Thursday and cam,
to the room l use for a bed room ant
ofllee. l was lying on the bed when b,
entered but arose and took a chair II
front Of my desk; he seating himself =;
few feet In front Of me.''
"He said "You owe me S451.n
81 don't think / owe you anything
replied but | will cancel the $500 vol
owe me and give you 500 in cash d
vacate the place and cause no trouble
When be refused this,II proposed tina
each Of us pick man, and let then
settle the affair."
"This also he refused to do an,
again demanded s451. Il won't pa,
IT, said l and I don't see how you ar
going to get it."
al may not get IT, said he but III
fix you so that 1t won't do you an,
good With that be reached hi
hand In his pocket and started to ge
up from the chair, / reached for m,
shotgun, standing In the corner nea
my desk and shot him twice."
81 don't know how far apart th
shots were, and didn't lsee him fal
until after the second time fired
the room was so full OF smoke that
could hardly see at all"
When asked il be expected troubl
with Oldham, Mr.. Edwards replied
81 feard il would come, l was uneas
and feared that he would XIII me "
The gun with which the killing wa
done was a IL gauge, shortbarrelleI
shotgun, and the ahelis were loadeI
with BULLETS instead Of shot. On
charge entered the left side, Just owe
the hip and pierced the heart, goIn
clear through the body; the other eu
tered the right side, a little higher ur
and come out on the right side OF To
breast
Mr.. Edwards is a man past 60 year
of age, about 0 feet tail and wears
long beard which snow white; his hal