OCR Text |
Show A BLOODY AFFRAY. Two Farmers Killed As the Keaalt of An iOtd yaarrrL Sti-akt, Neb., May 25. A terrible tragedy was enacted Saturday afternoon after-noon on the Nebraska river, near the southern border of ICeya Paha county, in which Schuyler Dayton was instantly killed nnd John Rivers fatally wounded by George Covill. Covill and Dayton owned adjoining farms and bad blood had existed between them over stock matters. Just before the tragedy a man was seen prowling about the farm of Dayton, and the latter on going to see who it was, was lired upon. Dayton Day-ton ran home, hitched up his team and taking his two hired men John Rivers and Richard Williscroft, all armed, started in pursuit. Wheti they overtook over-took tho man it proved to be Charles Barto. Barto had previously worked for Dayton and after leaving his employ em-ploy had circulated scandalous stories concerning himself and Rivers' wife, which afterward lead to a separation. The wagon overtook Barto near tho home of Covill. The scandal was brought up and a fight ensued between Williscroft and Barto, in which tho latter lat-ter was knocked down. Covill rushed uoou the soeue with a double-barreled shotgun, both loadsof which he emptied into Davton's back as he was stooping down in the act of hitching a tug wnich had been unhooked, killing him instantly. in-stantly. Inserting another charge, he fired on Rivers, wounding him severely. severe-ly. Covill at once gave himself up to the authorities. 11a claims to have acted in self-defense. |