Last Friday morning the entire town
and community became greatly agitated
when the news spread telling of the com-
mittel of a murderous deed at Ellery the
evening before which must result in the
death of a good citizen of the county and
the possible infliction of the death pen-
alty on the culprit who committed the
crime.
Thomas Judge, in the main a peacea-
ble young farmer, residing with his wife
and three young children in the south-
western part of the country, had had re-
peated difficulties with two of the St.
Ledger boys, James and Henry, and at
times the ill feeling between the parties
had their friends had been intense.
James, the elder of the St. Ledgers,
had twice been indicted for misdemean-
ors, and he had attributed this trouble
to the action of Thomas Judge in mak-
ing complaint. There had also a few
months ago been a disagreement be-
[tween] the St. Ledgers and Judge over a
proposed horse-race between animals
owned by them. On account of the
failure of the St. Ledgers to come to
time Judge had claimed and been award-
ed the forfeit money, and all this tended
to increase the tension of the ill feeling
and embitter the feud of other years.
Tuesday evening of last week Thomas
Judge and Homer Mason passed the resi-
dence of Oscar Chappel, about three
miles southeast of Ellery, while a dance
was in progress near the roadside. A
disturbance arose and fora time it seem
ed that there was imminent danger of a
general riot. The result was that Judge
swore out warrants for the arrest of
James St. Ledger, John St. Ledger, Rob-
ert Glover and James Schofield, charging
them with a disturbance of the peace.
The trial was set for the afternoon of
Thursday, August 25th, before Esquire
William Michels, at Ellery. A continu-
ance was obtained until eight o'clock.
James St. Ledger was arrested in the
afternoon by Constable George Chal-
craft and afterward St. Ledger was turn-
ed over to the care and keeping of Rook
Patterson, who was especially deputized
for that purpose. A considerable crowd
assembled in the yard adjoining Esquire
Michels' residence awaiting the time for
the trial. Judge was there and also
James and Henry St. Ledger and Robert
Glover, the latter having his horse with-
in the yard. Some challenging and in-
sulting words were spoken by Henry St.
Ledger, and Judge construed them as
addressed to himself personally. Angry
[?] followed, resulting in Judge strik-
ing Henry St. Ledger who responded