Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-13
WATERFOWL MURDER
Robert Downs Dead as Result Of
Quarrel Yesterday.


liam Mclaughlin, as, Of the same
town, is in the Litchfleld county jail
accused of killing young Downs. The
murder was committed yesterday
morning about IL o'clock at the rail
road station in Watertown, when
Mclaughlin plunged a knife into
Downs's neck, after the two had
words. Although Mclaughlin at
tackled with only common, ordinary
pocket knife, he struck the common
artery In the neck and inflicted such
wound that his victim bled to
death In less than five minutes
Richard T. Higgins of Winsted, cor
oner of Litchfield county, held a
hearing in the town hall this morning
at which the circumstances leading
up to the killing were heard.
The quarrel between the men
arose because of the wages the men
were receiving from the Town. They
worked on the highway near Smiths
bridge and were on friendly terms
apparently until Saturday. 1t seems
day for their work, while Others
were paid only a dollar a day. Nc
Laughlin was one of the employees
whoreceived the larger amount while
Downs was dollar day man.
Downs thought he should be paid as
much as Mclaughlin, although he
had not worked there dis long, and
informed Mclaughlin to that effect
on Saturday.
Voctordov ,,,orpipU NT,.T o. lin
with John Northrop, Patrick Malloy,
William Downs, brother Of the boy
who was killed, James Mulhern, Ed
mund Weber and Patrick Early, was
standing at the railroad station when
young Downs came along.
Mclaughlin is said to have made
the statement Here cores one of
those dollar day --." Moreover,
according to some of the bystanders,
Mclaughlin called Downs d -
while the two were talking. Downs
said he would not allow any man to
call him that.
III you were not an old man /
would trim you," declared Downs,
and as he spoke he showed McLaugh-
lin off the platform. Mclaughlin fell
and broke a bottle which he had in
his pocket.
AS he arose he said: 'I'll get
square with you for this
Mclaughlin then started to go
away, went around the corner of the
station, but moment later turned
back and, encountering Downs,
plunged the blade of his pocket knife
into, Downs's neck. The knife en-
tered near the ear and severed the
carotid artery. As McLaugh-
lin inflicted the wound he
said not word The
knife was small and as he. raised his
hand the men present thought he
was simply going to land on"
Downs" But as they saw the
blood spatter they realized that
Downs had been knitted. Still no
one for the moment rushed to the
aid of Downs who had fallen to the
ground. Downs was on his feet
without assistance and started for
Sullivan's drug store, a short dis
lance away. He had only taken i
few steps when he again fell. Once
more he lifted himself up and al
though the blood was gushing from
his neck In stream he endeavored
to continue. Once again he fell and
this time John Northrop and Peter
Lund picked him up and carried
him into Sullivan's drug store. He
was dead In less than five minutes.
He said nothing before he expired.
Drs j. S. Martin and w. S. Munger
arrived at the drug store in very
short time but they saw immedi-
ately that Downs was dead Nc,
Laughlin after the assault started
towards the home of Sheriff F.. s.
Peck, but seeing a large crowd in
front OF Sullivans store he decided
to go by way of Colligan hill. He
was followed by Harry Earle and
Louis Edwards, who told him he
had better come back. which he did
willingly. Sheriff Peck met him at
the drug store and Immediately
placed him under arrest.
The town hall in Watertown was
crowded this morning for the hear
ing which was held by Coroner Hig-
gins. Strange to say while taking
evidence the coroner allowed every
one TO stay In the room and made no
effort TO have the hearing private.
Medical Examiner DIR Munger was
The first witness and was followed
by DR. Martin. They performed an
autopsy on the body of Downs yes
terday afternoon and found that the
carotid artery had been severed in
such a manner that unless the
wound had been closed up 80 sec
onds after 1t had been inflicted, moth
ing could have been done to save the
young mans life. 1t had to be
clamped. said DR. Munger. within
half a minute after the knife had
entered otherwise the boy would
bleed to death no matter what was
done. They declared that the autop-
sy showed the boys organs to be
normal and that he was in good
health although there was some
symptoms of pleurisy. Both doctors
said that Downs was dead when
they reached the drug store. John
Northrop was the next witness. He
was at the station when he saw
Downs approaching. He did not
know Mclaughlin. He heard Nc
Laughiin make some crack" as
Downs approached and saw the two
bad words. Downs showed him and
Mclaughlin made the threat to get
square. He saw Downs move away
and also saw Mclaughlin go around
the corner as he thought he was
going In a different direction. The
next he noticed was Mclaughlin
coming back. Springing after Downs,
Shorty" buried the knife in his
neck William Downs. who was