Milburn, Dave

MILBURN

Posted By: Renee L Rimmert (email)
Date: 2/3/2019 at 21:43:52

Appanoose Times
Thursday, September 22, 1881

Death in a Saloon.
A tragedy occurred at the saloon of Sammy Stewart last Saturday night, which resulted in the death of one Dave Milburn. From the evidence before the Coroner’s jury, the fact of the case appears to be that Jas. Gafney, Wm. Baglin and the deceased went to the saloon of Sammy Stewart, south of the Rock Island depot, about eight o’clock Saturday night. After staying a while Sammy wanted them to leave, and told them he was going to shut up; they refused to go and a quarrel ensued, Sammy drawing a corn knife and a revolver. The saloon has three rooms in a row, the east, west and middle one, the west on being used for the bar. There are two doors leading from the bar room to the middle room, on from behind the bar and on about the center of the room. The weight of the evidence adduced before the Coroner’s jury seemed to show that during the quarrel, Bobby Stewart ran back into the middle room and fired through the center door, the ball striking Milburn a little inside and below the left eye and ranging upward. The witnesses none of them testified positively that it was Bobby who fired the shot; but were positive that it was either him or his father, but whoever fired it, it was evident that it was fired from the center door and at very close range as his face was badly powder burned. After the firing, Gafney and Baglin, leaving their wounded companion where he fell, supposing him to be dead, went to the Rock Island depot and telegraphed to town for the marshal, who not being found, the dispatch was given to constable White, who at once proceeded to the scene, but was unable to find either Gafney or Baglin, they having started back boarded a freight which was passing intending to get off at the saloon as the train stopped for coal, but the train not stopping for coal they were carried to Numa and did not get back until nearly morning. In the meantime the man had died and the authorities had taken possession of the place. In the morning the coroner, Jacob Shontz, was notified and empaneled a jury composed of Adam Grundy, Samuel Norris and Geo. W. Kimmis who after a hearing of the witnesses present brought in a verdict that deceased came to his death by a pistol shot, in the hands of a party unknown to the jury. The witnesses in the case were Jas. Gafney, Wm. Baglin, Anna Stewart, W. H. Parmer, Wm. Donaldson and E.A. White, constable. The ball was extracted by Dr. Henry and was a caliber 22. The Stewarts, father and son, were arrested and lodged in jail and a hearing will be had a soon as practicable.