A Drunkard’s Victim
Charles Connarty Shot Dead on
Tuesday Evening at High Valley
On Last Tuesday evening Charles Connarty, a resident of High Valley was shot and instantly killed by Edward Smith also a resident of the same locality.
The particulars of the sad occurrence are as follows: On Tuesday evening Edward Smith, Charles Connarty and A.C. dubord were near the house of the latter above High Valley and Smith was engaged in reciting the particulars of a row he had with Louis LaMeys. Smith was at the time greatly under the influence of Liquor and was flourishing a revolver when Connarty told him he had better put his weapon up or he might hurt someone.
An instant afterward Smith pulled the trigger of his pistol and Connarty fell his brain pierced by a bullet and a second report of the pistol quickly followed, this time the drunken man not doing any injury. Connarty never knew what hit him but fell dead in his traces, the bullet penetrating the forehead above the right eye causing instant death. Dubord could hardly realize that Connarty was dead and thought he had simply fallen but examination showed how true had been the aim of the slayer. Immediately following the shooting Dubord told Smith he had better give himself up to the officers but he declined the advice and said he would go to William Swaggers place. City Marshal Heritage left early yesterday morning for High Valley and learning of the whereabouts of Smith arrested him and arrived in Union about noon when he delivered the prisoner to the County authorities.
A REPUBLICAN reprsentative endeavored to visit the prisoner at the jail and obtain his version of the affray but deputy Deacon refused such a privelege to the applicant on the ground that he did not intend to allow anyone except the prisoner’s attorney to see him although he did allow at least one other party to visit the murderer afterward. Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held and the jury summoned returned a verdict that the shooting was accidental.
Eastern Oregon Republican, Thursday
January 2, 1890