New Rockford History: March 23, 2020

The Feb. 13, 1903, “Transcript” said Mrs. M.F. Kepner was recovering from pneumonia.

William Erdelbrock had a Card of Thanks to his many friends and neighbors who “lent aid and kindly sympathy” during the illness and passing of his beloved wife.

“DOG GONE—A black Gordon setter with ‘spike’ collar, Saturday night, Feb. 7. Finder please return to Wm. Wilson, Hotel Davies.”

Jacob Allmaras was ill during the week with bronchitis. Mrs. I.W. Sheldon was very ill northwest of Tiffany with erysipelas [a bacterial infection with skin rash].

A child had been born to Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Bennett a couple weeks prior.

Recently a surprise farewell party for Misses Bertha and Freda Adams was held at the home of their cousin Jacob Ackerman and his family prior to their leaving for their home in Reynolds, N.D.; 35 friends enjoyed music, games and singing.

A note said that postmaster M.F. Kepner had a number of blanks for filling out a petition for rural free delivery out of New Rockford.

For sale by John McVey: 60 head of one- and two-year old steers (including two graded animals—one gray and one red Durham); seven draft horses, 1200 to 1500 lbs., five years and older; three sets of double harness; one single driving harness; one buggy; two wagons; and miscellaneous farm machinery.

A notice from A.D. Tomlinson stated that all persons caught hauling and depositing rubbish and refuse in section 28, T149, R 66, just north of the new bridge would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

In Barlow news: there was going to be a new school; John Keller was going to put up a meat market; carpenters were turning the storeroom in Charles Hansch’s building into a place for the Security State Bank until a bank building could be constructed; John College’s Barlow Hotel was being extensively renovated; a Mr. Palmer was the editor of the “Barlow Recorder”; the chief of police was Mr. Swanson; Frank Bissen had resigned his position at P.C. Peterson’s Barlow lumberyard and gone east.

On Feb. 13, Mr. and Mrs. Otho Lathrop of Fargo arrived to visit and do business. That evening there was a literary and musical program. A debate was held on the question, “Resolved, that woman’s suffrage, if adopted, would be detrimental to the country.” R.P. Allison and Mrs. H.G. Hudson were the Affirmative, while J.E. Hyde and Mrs. Annie Oliver were the Negative. The West Side Kindergarten Whist Club hosted a going-away party for Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Gage in the Masonic Hall; almost 30 members were there.

On Saturday morning, Feb. 14, the “Transcript” came out with the first Extra Edition in its history.

“Shot By His Brother.

“Richard Cahill Dangerously Wounded by a Bullet From a 38-Calibre Revolver in the Hands of His Brother, William Cahill.

“The Shooting Occurred Shortly Before Midnight Last Night at the House of the Elder Brother on Lamborn Avenue.”

The story went on to say that about 11:45 the previous night in the residence at the corner of Lamborn and Dakota [today, First Ave. N. and Ninth St. N.], William Cahill shot his younger brother Richard with a 38-caliber revolver in the abdomen.

A number of people heard the shots, but did not respond until Richard staggered a block south to Villard Avenue, turned east, and made it as far as Babcock & Bucklin’s drug store, looking for medical help. Dr. G.D. Murphy was called and had the victim carried into the drug store. An examination revealed a wound on the left side about even with the seventh rib and another on the right side between the tenth and eleventh ribs.

Sheriff J.E. Bennett was called and he had the wounded man taken to the Hotel Brown, where a more thorough examination showed there had been only one shot that took effect, entering the left side and exiting on the right. The bullet was found in the man’s clothing.

The shooter walked to the drug store, admitted to the shooting, but claimed it was self-defense. Bennett arrested him and escorted him to the city jail.

In an interview with the “Transcript,” William Cahill claimed the two men were in William’s home and began quarreling “over some family trouble.” After yelling at each other, Richard struck William with a “billy” or some other type of club. William then ordered him out of the house, saying, “If you strike me again, I’ll shoot you.”

Just outside the back door, Richard turned and struck William a hard blow over his right temple, which dazed him. William then fired two shots to scare his brother; one missed and the other struck Richard.

The paper said Richard’s life was despaired of.

On the morning of Feb. 14, Dr. Charles MacLachlan was in Barlow on a professional visit. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gregory at Barlow. Dr. Charles McNamara returned from his eastern trip and immediately left for Barlow and his new medical practice there. Pat Byron was up from Barlow. G.B. Hall was in from northeast of New Rockford on business. McHenry State Bank cashier W.H. Neimeyer was in New Rockford. Valentine Fertig moved his family into the former H.G. Gage residence on Stimson Avenue West, for which he paid $1,500.

On Feb. 14 and 15, A.C. Cross was in from McHenry to talk about a telephone line to connect New Rockford and McHenry.

On Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1:35 a.m. Richard Cahill died. Drs. Bartley and Murphy had operated on him on Saturday and learned that the bullet had perforated the stomach and liver, the latter being damaged severely. Cahill suffered much pain until his death. He was conscious for all but the last few minutes of his life. His wife was at his bedside and he told her his brother William had done the shooting, but gave no explanation.

An inquest was held on the afternoon of Feb. 16 by Coroner Bartley, assisted by State’s Attorney Manly, with J.W. Stoddard, O.B. Stedman, and G.W. Brownell as the jury. Evidence was taken all afternoon, then the jury returned a verdict of death by a bullet from a revolver fired by the deceased’s brother William.

On the afternoon of Feb. 17, the body of Richard Cahill was laid to rest in the Catholic Cemetery north of town, Father W.A. Gallahue. [There is no Richard Cahill listed as being in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery today.]

On Feb. 18, a preliminary hearing was held before Justice J.R. Winslow with Cahill charged with first-degree murder. Through his attorney M.T. O’Connor, he pled not guilty and waived examination. A large number of witnesses testified about the shooting and its aftermath. William Cahill was then remanded to jail without bail until the next term of the district court.