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death.The tragedy Is the worst in the city’s history, not alone from the character and standing of the officer who met death, but from the assault upon the honor and the dignity of the court, where he had been given a fair trial. The people are astounded at the utter defiance of the laws and the courts, and surprised that such an attempt should have been successful when every official connected with the case was aware of the fact that (McDonald had made threats against every one connected with the case, including Judge Piety, and one of his own attorneys. M. C. Hamiil. to whom it is said he sent word that he would kill him if he fHamill) permitted him to go to the penitentiary. The case against McDonald had been tried once before and resulted in a hung jury. His attorneys made a strong fight for their client, but without avail. It is claimed that McDonald had openly boasted during the day of what he would do in case he was convicted by the jury. The police officials and the deputy sheriffs were aware of these threats and were prepared for a demonstration on his part. Detective Dwyer had consulted John R Lamb about the case, and freely admitted that he feared trouble. The letter's advice was that the officials should be prepared to close in on him should he make a move towards violence, and the fatal mistake was made of not disarming him before the jury returned its verdict. The reading of the verdict, as a matter of fact, had not lwen completed when McDonald drew a 38-calibre Colt’s revolver from an inside pocket, and holding it in both hands, with hi -elbows on the table in front of him, fired at the prosecuting attorney. Judge J. T. Walker, one r flitthp- beside him at thewim-imt-ti w Jin mpaury ;mu vomult;-lonce.The Funeral of the Dead Official.The funeral of the martyred official will ho held from the family residence. No, 1200 South Fourth. Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock, and from there to St. Joseph’s church. Where hieh mass will b? said over the remains. The deceased official was a mem-her of the Kniebts of Columbus, the Tonne Men’s Institute and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and these organisations will participate in the funeral. The r-all-bearers will he Hon. John F, Pamh. a life lone friend not alone of the deceased, imf of his fa mil v: Mover Pvons, Prosecutor J. A. Former. Jw. Patrick! B- Walsh, president of the hoard t f nnhhv works; Chariest Tt. Duffin citv controller, and .Tmiv Thormnn. The funeral will no doubt he one of the largest in the history of the city.Notes of*the Tragedy.Otis Tichonor, page of the Circuit court, ran hat-Ioss to police headquarters. On the way he* passed Taylor Tichenor of the clerk’s office bearing the same name, but not related to the page.“Where are you going and what’s the matter?” asked Taylor Tichenor.“Help,” uttered in a feeble voice was the only response.Otis Tichenor rushed into police headquarters to tell what had happened. He was too excited to give Taylor Tichenor an intelligent answer.After leaving the court room Prosecutor Cooper, several of the jurymen and spectators, who did not know how they got out, made a rush for the basement. They didn’t stop until they reached the base-ranid smwr-sr-ion. rlt;»ojnlt;r erawjM past w-*. Tip-first shot was so unexpoef.-d that if earn me a rible start and tlrn sound was awfuh A? the sbots were fifed it sounded like pn n*rny ^kirm ish. The court room was filled with smoke. Fveryom-excent Judge Crane and n few of j]-!,-- officers was trying to get out. Fran* did tsof selt;-m fn he srr-uvHv excited. Some of the snort* tors an 1 jnrvmr*ri ran into the wall and tried fforce their wnv through The way Chief Jones w#rjt nffo- McDonabl that be has ph*nlv of nerve, j am f'-M tde-t .-lt; w.alkpd ricbt toward McDonald while Cm m-wnjm'-bad his gup pointed twnr ; him. And after V rttrmtmf! his revolver he human cbihbiim the ■ofisnm r A-feDonaid is a powerful man. T should in hm timt he weighs over 200 pounds and he seems to fe a?] muscle.”McDonald’s bond was for ft.000 accordto a statement made in the clerk’s office y*~«to-dnv afr-m consulting the records. It was signed bv MoDm?aM\« father, three brothers and two brothers-in - l.a w. The saloonkeeper has a little property, hut it is said that it will not exceed 33.000 in value, and a more accurate estimate is $2,000.The Sandfnrd saloonkeeper had threatened the life of Judge Piety, his grade against him being due to issuing a search warrant under the blind tiger bow to enable officers to search his Snmiford saloan. McDonald also made an aflfid lvit that Judge Piotv was prejudiced against him fa get a trial s*d before a special .judge, the third criminal case since Judge Piety took his seat on the bench twefve years ago m be venued from ids court because of an affidavit expressing doubt about getting a fair trial before him..To d fro Pi of v urns off end inn- the state r-im-niuinn
Newspaper Details
Terre Haute Saturday Spectator
Terre Haute, Indiana, US
Sat, Apr 04, 1908
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Bj C.
NA, 07 Oct 2023
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