from The Republican (Danville, Hendricks County, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, July 26, 1900—page 1, column 4:
MURDER AT CARTERSBURG
Merlin Moon Shot Dead While Defying Officers
Tragedy Results from the Ill-Treatment of a Pet Goat
Cartersburg had a Sunday tragedy when Merlin Moon was shot and almost instantly killed by deputy constables Fred Okely and Tillman Sparks while he was defying them to enter his home. They went to his house about ten o'clock and demanded that he surrender. He had previous send [sic] word that he would not be arrested. When the officers appeared he was to be seen in the house with a double-barreled shot gun. He said he would kill the man who entered his home. Through the screen door, his gun, full cocked, could be seen. It was being raised as if to fire, Okely and Sparks both fired with their revolvers. Moon placed his gun in a corner, walked out of the house. He said: “Fred, you have killed me,” and turning to Sparks, he said, “Til, you have killed me.” Both men rushed to his assistance and supported him as he walked. In a few steps he sank to the ground and died instantly by the road-side.
Immediately word was telephoned to Coroner Curtis and the sheriff. In company with Deputy Sheriff Taylor and W.H. Nichols, a representative of this paper started to Cartersburg immediately. Just in the edge of Danville they met Okely and Sparks coming to town. All then went to the sheriff's barn together where Okely and Sparks talked of the affair. Okely was very cool but Sparks was decidedly nervous, saying this was his first trouble and he regretted it the more because he was a stranger here. They agreed in the story told above.
Sparks also told of the trouble Saturday which resulted in a warrant being sworn out for Moon. Sparks said that Moon was abusing a goat belonging to Harry Snodgrass who is a brother-in-law of Moon. Finally, Harry protested against Moon's treatment and said if he did not stop he would have Moon prosecuted. Moon started after Harry who ran home and locked the door behind him. Moon kicked the door down and ran through the house after Harry. He finally caught him and had choked him black when he (Sparks) and others went to his aid. Mrs. Snodgrass also rushed to help him and Moon struck her a terrific blow on the forehead. He struck at her again but Sparks threw up his arm and received the blow on his arm, it being still swollen Sunday as a result of the blow. Matters quieted down and it was decided that Moon should be arrested. Sparks having been a witness to the affray swore out a warrant against Moon and it was placed in the hands of John Towles, constable. Towles went to Cartersburg but could not find Moon who had hid in a corn field. He turned the warrant over to Okely and Sparks with instructions for them to arrest Moon. They tried to find Moon Saturday night but were unsuccessful.
Moon is a married man with one child. He is said to have been of a quarrelsome disposition. He has been wanted by the authorities before. Sparks lives in North Indianapolis and was in Cartersburg on a visit.
Coroner Curtis' investigation commenced Monday and adjourned over Tuesday on account of the burial of Moon, his body being taken to Howard county. It is known that the ball from Sparks' revolver did the fatal work. There are three holes in the screen door. One was make [sic] by the ball from Okely's gun. This ball struck a chair and lodged in some clothing on the chair. It was 38 calibre. Sparks fired twice, each ball hitting Moon. One struck him in the fleshy part of the hip and the other in the breast. Both of these balls were 32 calibre, the size of Sparks' gun. This evidence is in contradiction to Sparks' story Sunday, as he said he fired once only. But as he was laboring under great excitement, he did not know just what he had done. Moon did not fire a shot. After he was wounded and as he walked out of the house, he cursed even though he knew he was dying.
The post mortem examination showed that Moon's heart was on the right side. This explains why he lived several minutes after a ball had apparently passed through his heart.
Moon's violent temper has caused him to be guilty of gross cruelty to animals. He seemed to stand in with a reckless element around Cartersburg and his death may prove a valuable lesson to some who are just taking their first steps in wrong.
The coroner's verdict will be that the officers acted in self defense.