from the Brownsburg Record (Brownsburg, Hendricks County, Indiana)--issue of October 1, 1911--page 1
W.A. McCASLIN
Meets Death at the Hand of Chas. A. Miller, Friday Morning
Last Friday morning at 6 o’clock W. A. McCaslin was shot by Charles A. Miller at the home of Mr. McCaslin. The McCaslin and Miller families live adjoining neighbors and have been having trouble now for more than a year past. While the present trouble seems to have been brought about over some chickens, yet, all believe that the old trouble was the real cause. There are many conflicting stories going around, and the real facts of the shooting, and what led up to it are hard to ascertain, as it was claimed by the McCaslins that the shooting was without provocation, that Allie was called out of his home and shot down, while on the other hand Miller’s family claim that during a quarrel of the two men that McCaslin made the remark that “ we had just as well settle this matter right now” and proceeded to draw a revolver, and McCaslin was shot in self-defense. McCaslin lived until near noon of the day he was shot, but the shock was so great to his system that there was but little hope entertained at any time for his recovery. He was shot while standing on his porch, and Miller who fired the shot was in his own yard some 30 feet away, two reports as to the size of the revolver are out one is that it was a 32 and the other that it was a 38 calabre. The bullet entered about 3 inches to the right of the nipple, and coursed back and lodged near the spine, as was shown by the autopsy held Saturday.
Mrs. McCaslin was standing just back of her husband when the shot was fired, and after the shooting helped her husband into the house where he laid upon the floor until help arrived and placed him upon the bed. J.E. Burns a close neighbor heard the shot and looking around saw Mr. McCaslin fall on the porch, but says that he did not see Mr. Miller or any other evidence of the tragedy. He called to another neighbor Josiah Marvel and they together went to the McCaslin home and assisted in putting him on the bed. After the shooting Miller made one attempt to escape but went about town looking after business interests and awaited the coming of the deputy sheriff who took him over to Danville and placed him in jail where he awaits the action of the Grand Jury, Miller has employed council and says that he will prove when the time comes that the shooting was in self defense, and justifiable, while on the other hand the State will try to disapprove this, and the outcome will remain a mystery until all evidence is in and the hands of a jury. The funeral service of W.A. McCaslin was conducted at the M.E. church Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock by Rev. McBride after which the remains were consigned to the grave in Greenlawn cemetery.
Wm. A. McCaslin
William Alfred McCaslin was born January 10th 1853 in Brown township, Hendricks county died at his home in Brownsburg Aug. 25th 1911 aged 48 years, 7 months and 15 days. He leaves a mother two brothers, four sisters, a faithful wife and many friends. He was preceded to the great beyond about two years by his father, Riley McCaslin. Mr. McCaslin has spent his entire life in or near Brownsburg, and is well known throughout the neighborhood. He was married June 4th 1887 to Maggie Wilson. He united with the Bethesda Missionary church in 1883 from which church he transferred his membership to the Methodist Episcopal church in Brownsburg in 1908, where he has since remained a faithful member. He gave strong evidence of his readiness to meet God only two days before his sudden death, when he said to his wife that he was ready to go. It may be said, in the words of Tennyson, this was his hope and prayer: For throughout our bourne of Time and Place. The flood may bear me far, I hope to meet my Pilot face to face, When I have crossed the bar.
Submitted By: Mike Phillips, mphillips1@kc.rr.com