A Nebraska Man and His Motherin-law. WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 222, 1 October 1887, Page 2

A Nebraska Man and His Mother-in-law.

WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?

Omama, August 9. — A remarkable tragedy occurred at Browm ille, in this State, on Sunday nig-ht. Hiram Schoonover, a gardener and small farmer, has a melon patch which has been subjected to the depredations of thieves of late. Schooner* er loaded an old musket and went out to watch the patch. While waiting he was attracted by the barking of hife dog in a corn field near at hand. Schoonover went to see what the dog was barking at. The animal acted peculiarly and Schoonover at once concluded that there was soms noxious animal in the corn. Walking to within ten or fifteen feet of the spot, he raised the musket and fired. Some heavy laody dropped, and on Schoonover going up to see what it was, he found that ho had put a load of buck&hofc into the side of his mother-in-law, Mrs Mary J. Sloss, aged 67 year?. The old woman never .spoke, and expired a few minutes later. She had been gathering green corn for the table. The Coroner recommended that Schoonover be held for manslaughter. Schoonover claims that he mistook his mother-in-law for a skunk. He bears a fair reputation, but his story is hardly believed, as there are stories of family trouble. Mrs Sloss wanted her will drawn recently, as she was afraid Schoonover would kill her, and she did not want to leave any property to him.