Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-06-28
AGED VICTIM TAKEN TO
HOSPITAL SUFFERING
SERIOUS WOUNDS
ARGUED OVER WAGE
CHARLES MDONALD. FARMER
AND LUMBERMAN. ADMITS AS
SAUlT, BUT CLAIMS HE SHOT
IN SELF DEFENSE.

Charles Mcdonald. Deer Park
farmer and lumborman is prisoner
in the county jail as result Of his
attempt AT 73J O'Clock this morning
to kill Sam O'Niel g. years old ne.
gro prop cutter, foIowns a wage dis
pute in the iIammon timber, south
west of Ottawa The shooting oc.
cured in the presence OF George Nor
ris and Walter Iiampson, who were
plowing corn in nearby field.
Mcdonald has confessed to county
officials, but in his own behalf claims
self defense, alleging thai the negro.
who is over six feet IN height and
weighs 1870 pounds, rushed at him
while in his hand he mcnacingly held
club Three shots were pumped
from 3S calibcr revolver into the
body of O'Niel. one punCturng the
left lung, the second hitting near the
heart and the third striking the aged
negro in the muscle part of the left
arm
With his body thus perforated with
bullets O'Niel lay in cot in his tent
for more than three hours before he
was removed to the La Sale hospital
for treatment His wounds, however
had been previously treated by DR.. c.
II. Smith, who stopped the flow Of
old Sam as possible.
After he had brought down his vie
tim. Mcdonald drove 10 Tonica in
company with his wife and later was
arrested there by Sheriff Davis and a
squad of deputies. and then BROUGHT
to Ottawa He was londged in jail
and will continue q prisoner pendne
the outcome Of O'Niels condition. II
the negro dies he will be formally
charged with murder ana held to the
grand jury for trial.
men, it appears, We're at sizzling heat
with anger, after each had called The
other vile names. In their statements
to a Free 1radarJournal representa-
tive each agreed that there had beer
an exchange Of Oaths IN which The
others veracity was attacked as wei
as certain features OF his parent?ge
Mcdonald, according to witnesses
was the first to pass he lie, and Tho
negro Is said TO have rptalliatod viii
hurling the same charge at Mcdonald
The quarrel occurred near tn quite
edge Of the timber whore san VA
employed cutting props, in plain r'ey
of Morris and lIampson. MoDunar
was seen to drive into the llcd AM
go where the negro vas WORKING
Then followed the clash Of words.
The next thing they knew, Har
out gun and start shooting ~ san
The negro, they said, held a stick !
his hand just as the firing ocChrred
They rushed to the fence and Old Nol
lay on the ground badly wounded. VI
Mcdonald. without further ado, Ct
into his rig and drove away lalC" t.
ing apprehended in Tonica. IT, u AZ
no effort TO escape.
Sam. the injured negro, sta cd h
case to the Free Trader-lournal rC
resentatiye as he lay on his cot in h
tent.
Il have worked Off and ON for N
Mcdonald for six months or more, III
Monday | Quit him and went to W1l
for the man I'm now with In
morning bright and early McDDna
came here and asked me why WJd
not work for him any more ana to
him he had not kept his word wi
me. He was to pay me every t.
weeks and ! wanted my money. ! to
him these things and he said tGat
said that was a ----- black ---
said to him You are another.
with that he pulled out his gun a
started shooting at me- ! did n
have a gun nor any other KIND OF
weapon | didn't even have sti
in my hands"
1t was lahorions effort for t
negro to talk in his painful condili
and his story was unrAyelled VIII
he struggled for breath lie appear
to be momentarily about to slip ii
unconsCousness.
McDonad's story.
After his arrest, Mcdonald gave
version of the story lie SAID;
Il just went over to see what v
The matter with sam and why he q
me. offered TO pay him the MOI
he had coming with a check, but
refused to take his pay in that fo
didn't have enough cash WITH he
settle the bill and told him so.