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Author: Adina_SDyer
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Classification: death
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Daily Globe, pg 5
December 8, 1878
St. Paul, Minnesota
HOOSIER TRAGEDY
A Tippecanoe County Farmer Murdered by His Son-Conflicting Statements Made by the Latter,
and His Confession of Guilt at the Preliminary Examination.
[Lafayette Special to Cincinnati Enquirer]
The neighborhood ten miles east of this city has been startled by a tragedy which occurred
last night, and which, from the suspicious circumstances connected with it, caused much
excitement and general comment. The victim in the case is one Patrick Murphy, who, with
his son, moved from Illinois over a year ago and bought a farm of sixty acres in Perry
township, this county. They were the only members of the family and lived in a miserable
little shanty of two rooms, and cultivated land and attended to the usual duties on a
farm. The house is a quarter of a mile from the nearest neighbors, and about two miles
north of Dayton Village, eight miles east of this city.
Michael Murphy, the son of the deceased, in his testimony before the coroner's jury
this afternoon, said he had been sent to this city yesterday for groceries; that Monday
night at midnight he had been awakened by a noise in the house, and saw a man going out of
the door. He and his father chased the burglar, but did not catch him. A watch and $24
in money were taken, and that he afterward found the watch in a fence corner. When he
came to this city he borrowed a dollar but lost it, and went home without groceries, where
he arrived at 7 o'clock last night and found his father in bed, and by a light from
the fire in the stove, at his supper. At 9 o'clock he discovered that his father was
dead, and ran to Mr. Ellis, a near neighbor, and told them that his father had committed
suicide.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellis came to the house and found Murphy lying undressed in bed. The boy
pulled up the shirt of his father and, pointing to the wound in the left side, said,
"Here is where he shot himself," and picking up the pistol, a single barreled
toy pistol, and throwing it on the floor said, "This is the damn thing that done
it."
He admitted that he had been drinking while in the city yesterday. The coroner's
inquest resulted in a verdict that the deceased came to his death by the hands of his son
Michael. He was placed under arrest, and while being taken to a justice's office he
confessed to Coroner Yount and A.W. Gregory that he had shot his father, but that it was
an accident. He further said that he bought the pistol Tuesday and took it home, and
found his father sitting on a trunk, that he playfully pointed it at his father, supposing
it was not loaded, and pulled the trigger; that the deceased had gone to bed after the
shot was fired.
On being arraigned before Justice Lowman, he pleaded guilty to the charge of murder. He
was brought here tonight at 10 o'clock and placed in jail. On the way to this city he
conversed freely, and expressed he intended to pursue in the management of the farm after
his father's death. This would seem to indicate that the murder was premeditated.
From the best information, it appears they did not live harmoniously.
They were frequently seen quarreling and fighting. Young Murphy is about 19 years old,
and said by his neighbors to be indolent and dishonest. He appears stupid, and has a low
expression of countenance. His stories conflicted in so many particulars that the first
statement, that they death was by suicide, was at once discredited, and suspicion pointed
to him as the guilty party. His admission of guilt before the justice of the peace, and
his confession to the coroner, together with strong evidence, presents a clear case,
leaving little or no doubt of his guilt.
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