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Jeptha
Heathman |
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Dan
Hendricks shot and killed Jeptha Heathman on the 11th day of
December, 1877. On the morning of the 11th, Mr. Hendricks
drove over to Mr. Heathman's in a two-horse wagon, taking
with him two hands. The hands and the wagon were left
standing in the road. Mr. Hendricks got over into Mr.
Heathman's corn field and went to where Mr. Heathman and two
little boys were gathering corn. After the wagon was loaded
the two boys went with it to the house, leaving the two men
alone. What occurred after that no one knows but Mr.
Hendricks, for when the boys returned to the field they
found their father in the agonies of death -too far gone to
speak to or recognize
them. Mr. Hendricks says after the boys left he and Mr.
Heathman attempted to have a settlement, when Heathman
disputed the account and in an angry and threatening manner
began to roll up his sleeves. Hot words passed between the
parties and Mr. Hendricks says Mr. Heathman assaulted him
with his pocket knife. Then he drew his revolver-- -a small
five shooter, and shot Mr. Heathman, the ball entering
Heathman's left breast, about two inches above and to the
right of the heart. The two men then grappled and
during the scuffle Mr. Hendricks again discharged his
revolver, the shot this time missing. During the scuffle Mr.
Heathman received two cuts on the back of the head, which
appeared to have been made with the hammer of a revolver. It
appears after the affray Mr. Heathman attempted to go to his
own home, but fell and expired eighty yards from where the
difficulty occurred. Hendricks surrendered himself to the
constable.
Hendricks was finally acquitted. |
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