The log cabin Democrat., 1913-10-27
c. c. MOSS KILLED.:
SLAYER SET FREE
WAS SHOT BY Il. B. M'CE[
JIM REED ALSO INJURED IN
TRAGIC AFFAIR SATUR-
DAY NIGHT.

and instantly killed and Jim Reed of
Benedict township was slightly injur-
ed by h. B. C"Bud') McGehee at the
home of the latter 10 1-2 miles south
east of Conway between 9 and 10
O'Clock Saturday night Before Coro-
ner }. A. Pence jury yesterday aft
ernoon found that McGehee was JUS
tifiable in the killing, the evidence
tending to show it was an act of self
defense. Both Moss and Reed are
said to have been intoxicated for sew
eral hours preceding the tragedy.
Moss was McGehee's landlord,
renting land on the Arkansas river to
him. According to witnesses who tes-
titled yesterday afternoon, Moss, ac-
companied by Reed, went to Niece
hee's home Saturday morning, when
Moss demanded a settlement of the
rent due. McGehee is said to have
claimed that the land Moss rented
him was smaller in area than Moss
claimed, and that he (McGehee) had
had the land measured. There was
no difficulty between the men at the
time, however, McGehee giving Moss
an order on S. G. Smith for $50, and
both agreeing that the land should
again be measured.
Moss and Reed started to Conway,
but it is said they stopped at farm
house about three miles southwest of
Conway and spent the day drinking
wine and whiskey Moss then decid-
ed to return to McGehee's place and
they arrived there about o'clock.
Both men got out of their buggy,
went around the house and entered a
chicken house at the rear. They
aroused McGehee's sister, Mrs. S. c.
Hall, who awakened her brother. Nc
Gehee went to the back door, and
after calling and receiving a profane
answer, fired twice, one of the shots,
load of No. shot, taking effect in
Reeds shoulder.
McGehee went back into the house
and about 10 minutes later Moss came
in. He told McGehee he had nearly
killed his friend and declared he was
going to kill McGehee. He pointed a
41-Colt's revolver at McGehee and
pulled the trigger twice, but the wea-
pom snapped, ali except one cartridge
having previously been discharged. In
the meantime, McGehee's sister had
taken the shotgun and reloaded one
barrel, after McGehee had unsuccess-
fully attempted to remove an empty
she'll which had hung. Moss and Me
Gehee grappled after Moss had struck
McGehee over the head with the pis-
tol when it failed to fire. The men
clinched and went to the floor, Moss
on top, and in the struggle McGehee
gained possession of the pistol and
struck Moss blow on the head.
Moss knocked the pistol from Nc
Gehee's hand and the latter succeed
ed in getting out from under his ad-
versary. Mrs. Hall standing by with
the shotgun in her hand, McGehee
grabbed the weapon from her and fir
ed upon Moss as he was raising from
the floor. The gun barrel was distant
only about four feet from Moss and
the discharge tore great hole
through Moss head, the charge enter
ing the right temple. Moss never
moved after he was shot and his body
was found lying on the floor when
Coroner Pence arrived about 4 o'clock
the next morning. McGehee had
gone to the home of w. F. Colay,
where he was arrested by Sheriff j.
s. Johnson. 1t is stated that he had
made no attempt to escape and made
no resistance when arrested
In the presence of crowd which
filed every inch of space, the coron-
er's inquest was held in the undertak-
ing rooms of J. A. Pence, beginning
at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The
state was represented at the inquest