The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-11-18
A Murder at Gross.


Lynch, Neb, Nov. Especial to
The News: A murder at Gross, an
inland town in Boyd county, last
night was followed by bombardment
upon the murderer's hiding place
which lasted until early this morning.
Con Kerwin, pool hall proprietor at
Gross and known generally as bad
man." at $3.50 last night shot and
killed Ed Jones. Then Kerwin barri.
caded himself in his pool hall and
threatened to kill anybody who APP
preached. Sheriff Bradstreet and
posse surrounded the building and fir
ed 300 shots from shotguns and rifles
into the pool hall before Kerwin sur
rendered at 3:15 o'clock this morning.
The pool hall was riddled with bull
lets and shot. Every window was
broken The continuous attack was
kept up in an effort to try to compel
Kerwin to come out. But for hours
he remained inside the walls of has
pool room, refusing to surrender.
kerwin Comes to Door.
A couple of times Kerwin came to
the door and, looking out, declared
that he would kill anybody who come
to the door to get N. But he never
returned a shot during the entire
night
Both men had been drinking since
Monday. When they met last night
kerwin demanded $40 of Jones which
he claimed Jones owed him.
Witnesses say that Jones denied the
claim and started out the door when
Kerwin drew a revolver and shot, the
charge taking effect in the breast
Jones died within half an hour.
Kerwin is As years old and is con-
sidered an all-around bad man.
Jones was 26 and lived with his moth
err and brother at Gross,
After the shooting Kerwin barricad-
ed himself in the pool hall and detied
arrest Sheriff Bradstreet at Butte
was notified by telephone and he and
his deputies came over and laid siege
to the pool hall.
Pool Hall Riddled.
1t was a continuous fight nearly all
night during which all of the windows
of the pool hall were shot out. Final
ly at 3:15 this morning the sheriff
succeeded in gaining entrance to the
pool hall and Kerwin surrendered.
He was taken to Spencer and locD-
ed up in the Jail there for the night,
being taken to the county Jail at Butte
today.
A coroner's inquest was held this
morning over the remains OF Jones,
the verdict being that Jones came to
| his death from a gunsnot wound In the
breast caused by snot fired from
pistol In the hands of Con Kerwin.
There is great excitement through
out Boyd county over the tragedy.
Lynchins was Feared.
Spencer, Neb., Nov. Especial to
The News: 1t was feared when Con
Kerwin was locked up in the Spencer
| Jail at an early hour this morning for
killing Ed Jones last night at Butte
that there might be a lynching before
daybreak. There was no mob VIC
|
this morning.
The trouble between Kerwin anc
Jones is said to have been brewing
for a couple of months. 1t is reported
that last night Jones offered to MAKE
bet with Kerwin in a boxing mattel
and that Kerwin replied, "You owe mi
$40 on an old bet" or words to tina
effect 1t is said that Kerwin drew
his gun and Jones told him he WASH
afraid of that so long as he didn
: pull the trigger, whereupon Kerwi
sent the fatal bullet crashing int
Jones breast. Jones' was Instant
killed, it is said.
Jones was about 80 years old an
Kerwin about 35. Kerwin was know
as bad man"
Sheriff Bradstreet and Deputy Fran
Henan organized the posse that bon
barded Kerwin's pool hall for sewers
hours.
] Jones was the son of a widow an
D well-to-do Kerwin has several bru
theirs at Gross but none of them mad
: any move in last nights affair,
A month ago Kerwin drove Jone
Q out of town at the point of a gun.
kerwn in Jail at Butte.
u Butte, Neb., Nov. Especial
l. The News: Con Kerwin was place
in the county jail here early toda
There was no violence, Tho jail
i not guarded more than usual.
II KILLS OFFICER, SUICIDES.