Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1909-04-02
DOUBLE MURDER.
Horrible Deed Committed Monday at
About Two O'clock near Edgemont.

About Two O'clock near Edgemont.
One of the most horrible murders
that could be committed anywhere
was done about twelve miles south of
Edgemont near the little station of
Provo, Monday afternoon, at about
two o'clock, when James Albert Bar
ton deliberately murdered Mrs. Anna
ID. Tucker and husband. Stephen
Tucker.
All of the above named parties are
newcomers in this county, the fuckers
having moved onto q ranch near the
above named place about "a year ago.
Barton is a son-in-law and came there
about January l1th Of this year, after
his wife had left him, in Missouri, and
come to live with her father and
step mother.
Family troubles seem to be the
cause for the deed. Monday forenoon
he was working with MIR. Tucker,
making II fence and everything seemed
to be running smoothly. After dinner
he returned from the field, where he
was working, for drink, and took a
shot gun from the wall where it was
hanging, remarking as he did 80,
"thAt he thought he would take shot
at jack rabbit He then stepped to
the door, loaded the guu and deliber
ately shot Mrs. Tucker in the side of
the head, killing her instantly His
wife and little son were witnesses OF
the deed. He then reloaded the gun,
and his wife, thinking he was going to
kill her, begged him not to, and he
said he would let her live. Mr.. Tuck.
er, who was at the barn, upon hearing
the shot, started to the house and
when quite near the door, Barton
it only stunned him as he was far
enough away SO that the shot scat.
tered.
From sworn statement made by
Mrs. Barton. it seems that then is when
the murderer did the most fiendish
work that could be thought Of The
elder man grappled with him and tried
to get into the house to get weapon
but Barton commenced beating him
oyer the head with the gun. They
finally tumbled into the room and
fucker was getting the best of Barton
when the latter grabbed flat iron and
Knocked him senseless. Mrs. Barton,
during the scutile, had started for a
neighbors to get help, when he dis
covered her and brought her back
telling her he would kill her if she left
the house. Each time Tucker would
partially regain conciousness, he would
beat him about the head and finally to
make sure of the killing, he cut his
throat from ear to ear with pair of
scissors.
He then made his wife promise not
TO let anyone know of the deed until
he had made good his escape from
Edgemont, to which place he drove
leaving the house at five O'Clock the
next mori.ng. AS soon as he left. she
Went TO nelghDors and told them of
the killing and one of the boys follow
ed him To town and pointed him out
To the officers. who Immediately arrest
ed him.
When the people of fllgemont heard
of the crime, it caused quite bit of
excitement aud there was some talk of
ly1ching. Sheriff Jensen was notified
and he directed his deputy at Edge
mont to bring the prisoner TO Mime
kahta, where Sheriff Jensen met him
and brought the prisoner to this city
He was lodged in the county Jail Tues
day afternoon.
$. +. Wilson, states attorney, j L.
MarcpuN, coroner, AMI Chris. Jensen,
sheriff, conducted the inquest at Edge
mont, Tuesday evening, the bodies
having been brought there. Funeral
services were held yesterday.
The preliminary hearing will be held
probably i!axt week, and the trial at
the next term of court Since bring
Barton here he has talked quite fre-
quently Of the crime and speaks of it
as though it was an every day occur
rance. From all appearances he seems
to be perfectly sane although person
can hardly imagine a man so fiendish
to be so. The crime is to all appear
ances a pre-meditatea one, aud the full
measure Of the law should be meted
out to him in any case.