Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-04-21

punt NHeTe the DTedSC UOue lSIIulu-
ates. This shot tore a great wound
in his person. The tips of the three
first fingers of the right hand were
shot off, indicating that the shot was
fired just at the moment that Hal
loran was either lowering his hand
from the door facing, or raising it
to protect himself.
The assassin turned and ran and
as he did so was recognized by the
wounded man, who, though suffering
a death-wound, managed to walk to
the section house short distance
away. AS he entered the section
house he fell to the floor, being UNI
able to walk further Halloran ask
ed the Mexican section men to run
for the station agent, which they
did The agent, j. B. Varain, came
to him at once and to him Halloran
told the story of the shooting. A
friend, c. c. Plyler, was also sent for
and he arrived before Halloran
died. To both of these gentlemen
the dying man made statement
that S. Shehady had come to his
cabin and shot him; that he knew
he was about to die, and that he de-
sired TO direct what should be done
with his property. Halloran was
perfectly conscious until just before
death closed his lips, and babe his
friends goodbye, saying almost with
his dying breath that he knew She
hady was the man who had shot
him.
j. B. Verain telephoned to MERGED
for physician, and G.. H. Nicker-
son took DR.. O'Brien to Pleasant
Valley in the motor, but Halloran
was dead before they were able to
reach the station. Yesterday morn
ing party composed of o. w. Leh-
mer, superintendent and traffic man
ager for the Y. V. railroad; j. H.
Ellis, auditor of that company; G..
II. Nickerson, chief engineer; c. L..
Easton and Edward S. Ellis of the
Sun staff, went to Pleasant Valley
on the motor, arriving there about
II o'clock AT l o'clock District
Attorney j. A. Adair, Coroner d.
E. Johnson and Under Sheriff Rob-
ert Paine arrived from Mariposa
and an inquest was held. The jury
was composed of Edward S. Ellis.
foreman; c. B. Thomas, ]. H..
Wiley, c. l.. Eaton, William n. Adj
ans and John Carney. After eX-
aiming the body of the dead man
and the surrounding premises, sew
eral witnesses were examined. The
jury rendered a verdict that Thomas
Halloran was about 81 years of
age; that he was born in DEBORAH,
Iowa, and that he came TO his death
on the 9Th day of April, 1909, in the
town of Vargo, Mariposa county,
California, from the effects of gun
shot wound at the hands of S. She
hady.
Immediately following the verdict
of the jury Under Sheriff Paine
brought the prisoner to MERGED for
safe keeping over night, it being
quite impossible to go to Mariposa,
there being no conveyance at hand.
The murder was a cold-blooded
affair, and was apparently the result
of Shehady brooding over fancied
grievances which he held against
Halloran, because the latter three
weeks ago quit boarding with the
Shehady family and built for him
self cabin, where he lived and did
his own cooking. 1t is also stated
that Shehady has at different times
quarreled with Halloran about
trivial matters, and that he had
done everything in his power to
place the section foreman in bad
repute with the railroad company.
Halloran was man of quiet habits
and was not addicted to the use
either of liquor or tobacco. She
hady did not like this and brooded
over the fact that Halloran did not
spend any money in his saloon. Up
on numerous occasions Shehady at
tempted to quarrel with Halloran,
and it was to avoid those unpleasant
things that led the section foreman
TO establish his own quarters. 1t
is also alleged that Shehady was
very angry because Halloran sent
to MERGED for the provisions for
himself and the section men instead
of buying them of him.
AT one time yesterday afternoon,
Shehady intimated that Halloran
had at one time attempted to be in
innate with Mrs. Shehady, but when
asked questions which followed that
intimation closed his mouth upon
biC ouDJOCis INC WllClul
almost lost his nerve at that time
and very soon saw his mistake.
When asked if he was angry at Hal
loran when he learned of his alleged
attentions TO Mrs. Shehady, the
prisoner at once became the un-
speakable Turk, simply replying that
he was not angry.
Thomas f. Halloran was 81 years
of age and was born in DEBORAH
Iowa. His legal advisor is Hon
j. b. Hanten of WATERFOWL, South
Dakota, where he owned eighty
acres of land. He was also possess.
ed of property in San Francisco and
Stockton. A brother, j. H. Hal.
loran arrived from stockton yester.
day afternoon, and met the body al
the Yosemite Valley station las
evening when it arrived on the
freight from Pleasant Valley. I'm
dertaker G. Z. Nordgren took charge
Of the remains. The funeral was
held from the Catholic church, and
10, IL