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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= Jackson Daily Citizen Wednesday, 23 March, 1870 AN AWFUL AFFAIR A MAN MURDERED! Two Men Get Into a Quarrel - One of them Instantly Killed. WILLIAM MALONEY and PULASKI HARRINGTON in a Drunken Brawl. HARRINGTON Strikes MALONEY and Kills Him. WHISKEY DID IT! Particulars of the Tragedy! "Whiskey did it." Another human being has met his death by having become intoxicated, and in that condition engaging in a disgraceful drunken brawl. On Monday evening a number of men stopped at the Clinton House, at the four corners in Blackman township, two miles from this city, on the Clinton road. Among them were WILLIAM MALONEY and PULASKI HARRINGTON, the principal actors in the tragedy. While there they drank considerably, and, as a na- tural consequence, became intoxicated. As usual, word fol- lowed word, action followed action, and the affair termi- nated in the murder of MALONEY by HARRINGTON. The testimony given by the witnesses at the coroner's inquest goes to show that MALONEY had been with two brothers- in-law for the greater part of the day. He had been in the city, and, on is way home, stopped at the Clinton House, where were also several other men, and among them HARRINGTON. The latter, it is stated by one of the witnesses, was quite talkative, and appeared to feel "pretty good." Strangers meeting in such a place and in such a condition, are gener- ally drawn into conversation, as was the case in this instance. MALONEY and HARRINGTON had not before known each other, but in this hour were thrown together, and became acquainted through being intoxicated. Acquaintances formed in this manner are never productive of good will or friendly feeling, and this is but one of a thousand cases in which a like result has followed. During the time spent in the saloon high words ensued, which, growing warmer, engendered a hatred that would prob- ably not have been felt had they been sober men. The dispute fanned the flame that eventually burned out the life of the one, and the reputation and character of the other. Their conversation ended in a scuffle, in which MALONEY struck HARRINGTON on the lip, thereby making a bad matter still worse. The keeper of the house eventually turned them out of doors, which, had he done an hour sooner, might have saved a life. JAMES McCORMICK parted the fighting men, and they got into their respective wagons, apparently with the intention of going home. HARRINGTON then used, in referring to MALONEY, a common blasphemous, wicked expression, which, even among sober men, is generally the cause of a fight. At this, MALONEY got out of his wagon and started for HARRINGTON, in company with another man. HARRINGTON had one of the wagon stakes in his hand, and as MALONEY came up, struck him a hard blow on the head, and he fell to the earth, dying instantly, without a struggle or a groan. The wound is about two inches in length, on the left side of the head, just above the ear. The skull was broken, and the concussion of the blow killed the unfortunate man instantly. HARRINGTON gathered up his reins, whipped up his horses, and drove rapidly away. MALONEY was not known to be habitually a drinking man; wut while in this city, on the day above mentioned, he had a tooth extracted by one of our dentists, and his brother-in-law advised him to take a glass of brandy, probably for the purpose of killing the pain. This one glass was doubtless the cause of his drinking several others, and the climas is as stated above. Deceased had worked in this city at Emerson's marble yard for the past four years, and was generally known to be sober and steady. He leaves a wife and six children. After the coroner's inquest was concluded, the body was taken to his home, four miles from this place. The coroner's inquest held yesterday morning resulted in finding a verdict in accordance with the above facts, viz: That WILLIAM MALONEY came to his death from the effects of being struck with a heavy stake in the hands of PULASKI HARRINGTON, while both were intoxicated. All the witnesses of the affair give substantially the same evidence, except one of MALONEY'S brothers-in-law, who was so intoxicated as to remember but vaguely any of the events of the previous day. HARRINGTON was arrested yesterday forenoon by Sheriff JENNINGS and officer HINES, brought to this city, and lodged in jail. He admitted that he struck MALONEY, but did not intend nor suppose that he had killed him. We visited HARRINGTON in his cell yesterday afternoon, and talked with him. He expressed great sorrow at what had transpired, and said he would give all he possessed in the world if he could restore MALONEY to life, and that this terrible affair will ruin him forever. He stated that when he struck MALONEY he did it to protect him- self, as the two were after him. He states that he saw him fall, but supposed that he had only knocked him down, and that he would rise again and assault him; accordingly he drove off, anxious to get away from the place, and went immediately to his home. HARRINGTON is 38 years of age, and has lived in this county during the past thirty-five years, having come here when a child. He lives on a farm, ten miles north of Jackson, in the township of Tomplins. It has been his practice frequently when he came to Jackson, after disposing of what articles he had for sale, to get drunk, and some- times was quarrelsome. He states that this time he had not drank anything before he went into the house where the tragedy occurred, but while there took two or three drinks. The prisoner will have his examination some day this week. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: In June, 1870, PULASKI HARRINGTON was found not guilty of the murder of WILLIAM MALONEY on the grounds of self defense. ===============================================================================