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Cornelius M. Blachly

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Cornelius M. Blachly

Birth
Ohio, USA
Death
29 Mar 1877 (aged 44)
Lowell, Lake County, Indiana, USA
Burial
Lowell, Lake County, Indiana, USA Add to Map
Plot
Cedar Creek Section R6
Memorial ID
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Aged 44 years - Murder Victim

The Murder of Cornelius M. Blachley
This article from an unknown source was found in the Local History Files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 1, page 82)

A Terrible Tragedy
Cornelius M. Blachley Shot Dead by John Myers
Details of the Murder, etc.
Last Thursday, about half past nine o'clock in the forenoon, the startling rumor spread that Cornelius M. Blachley, a well-known citizen of Lowell, had been shot dead by John Myers. The rumor was found to be too true. Just before the deed was committed Mr. Blachley had drawn some water from the well on the premises of Jonah Thorne, and at the time he was murdered was standing at Mr. Thorne's gate, on the opposite side of the street from his own residence, conversing with Mrs. Thorne in reference to the death of Mrs. Purdy, a lady who had died a few hours before. At this juncture Myers started from the Union House, two or three rods west of where Blachley stood and as he came upon the sidewalk in front of Blackley, Myers deliberately drew a six-shooter from his pocket and coolly shot his victim. Blachley fell, and as soon as help was secured he was carried into Mr. Thorne's residence, and in ten minutes was dead. The terrible news spread like wildfire and the utmost excitement prevailed. The murderer is a man 74 years of age last January. He made no effort to get away, but gave himself up without hesitation.
We perhaps can get the matter before our readers in a better shape by giving statements of those who witnessed the affair and those who were there immediately after the tragedy occurred:
Mrs. Thorne -- Was standing in my door talking with Mr. Blachley, who was near the gate, about Mrs. Purdy's death; Myers came along the walk; Mr. Blachley was standing just inside the gate; spoke to Myers; said "good morning;" Myers then shot and Blachley fell; said "Oh, my poor sick wife" or something like it; I called for help; he was brought in and died within ten minutes from the time he was shot.
Charlie Hulinger: Got to Blachley immediately; when shot was against the gate; gate partially open; fell against the gate like, and partially on his face on the sidewalk; Myers halted after shooting apparently to see if his victim was really hurt bad; appeared to smile satisfied as to the result; as Blachley fell he exclaimed "Oh, my poor sick wife." He lived but a short time after getting him in the house. Bid the boys "good bye" and he died.
Dr. Carmer: Was in the hotel bar room; heard a shot; went to the door and saw Blachley lying on the sidewalk; started toward him met Myers returning toward the hotel; said he had shot Blachley and meant to; went to Blachley; asked where he was shot; he replied "in my throat;" I opened his shirt and found it was apparently through the lungs; told him I thought it was not fatal; he appeared cheered for a moment; he died however in about fifteen minutes.
Statement of James Moore: Was at Blachley's shop; had just left Blachley at his house; Blachley said he would get a pail of water and then go to the shop. I then went on to the shop and heard a pistol shot and Mrs. Thorne scream; saw Blachley lying on the sidewalk; ran to him; he said, "My God I'm shot. Oh, my wife." Took him into Mr. Thorne's; he said "I'm killed"; I replied I hope not; he then said "good bye all," and died.
Statement of Dr. Davis: The ball struck him a little above and external to the right breast, entering between the second and third rib, passing obliquely inward through the upper lobe of the right lung and probably severing the superior vena cava or arteria innominata or some of the large blood vessels near the heart which produced immediate death.
The above statement is also concurred in by Dr. Bacon, who also made an examination.
Myers had been living at George Mee's Hotel for several months. He was in rather straightened circumstances, and appeared to be annoyed at his condition.
During the excitement, and before Myers was taken before the justice his unconcern was a general subject of remark. To every question he replied that he had deliberately planned the shooting of Blachley a year ago. He gave up his pistol without hesitation. The weapon was a five shooter. Three of the chambers were empty, and two of them had the shells of empty cartriges. He said the pistol was fully loaded, and that he paused after shooting Blachley to see whether he had really succeeded or not, with the intention of shooting him again if it had not. This is singular as the pistol had but one load. It appears the old man thought it was loaded but it was not.
[Since the above was written the matter is explained. It appears that the weapon was loaded with a cartridge a size or two too small. When the pistol was taken, M. Turner discovered the cartridges the next day.]
Upon being questioned he made the following statement to us: Have been meditating this a year; I got three pistols at different times, but the first two did not satisfy me; I was afraid they would not do the job; I shot Blachley because he fooled me out of some money; he had the proceeds although he did not get it of me; am not sorry for what I have done; I intended to shoot him; he is dead but has not suffered as much as I have; I have prayed many times that I might die; but I have done the deed and am willing to suffer the consequences.
Having been taken before a Justice he was asked if he would have counsel, and replied that he would not. The following statement was made before justice Chapman:
John Myer in the above cause voluntarily sworn, and testifies as follows.
I shot C.M. Blachley on the morning of the 29th of March, 1877, in the town of Cedar Creek, Lake county, State of Indiana, in the village of Lowell, in the street in front of Jonah Thorne's house in said village. Says he has premeditated shooting said Blachley for one year past, on account of said Blachley holding property that justly belonged to him.
John Myer
Subscribed and sworn to before me on this 29th day of March, 1877.
A.D. Chapman, J.P
As we have remarked Mr. Myers is an old man 74 years of age. He was born in Maryland. Thirty years of his life he spent in Ohio. He came here four or five years ago from Benton county, this State, and worked considerable for John Hack and Frank Barton a few years ago, at the harness making business, that being his trade. He had always been peacably inclined so far as known, and was the last man that would have been suspected of committing such a terrible crime. He confessed all without any apparent compuntion or embarrassment when brought before the justice. He was taken to Crown Point by Marshall McNay and M. Turner, and lodged in jail where he awaits the action of the court.
The deceased has been a citizen of Lowell for some ten or twelve years. He moved here from Blachley's corner, Porter county. He was just in the prime of life, a vigorous, hearty man, and by trade a blacksmaith. His wife was sick and the prostration was terrible when the sad news was broken to her. Besides his wife, deceased leaves two children to mourn this saddest of bereavements.
Mr. Blachley is a man who had many friends and the sympathies of a community are poured out in behalf of his afflicted family.
His funeral will take place to day at 1 o'clock P.M. He will be buried by the Masonic fraternity, of which order he was a prominent member.
________________________________________

His wife, Elizabeth H., passed away in 1919 at the age of 78. The newspaper account spelled the name "Blachley," while cemetery records show "Blachly".
Aged 44 years - Murder Victim

The Murder of Cornelius M. Blachley
This article from an unknown source was found in the Local History Files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 1, page 82)

A Terrible Tragedy
Cornelius M. Blachley Shot Dead by John Myers
Details of the Murder, etc.
Last Thursday, about half past nine o'clock in the forenoon, the startling rumor spread that Cornelius M. Blachley, a well-known citizen of Lowell, had been shot dead by John Myers. The rumor was found to be too true. Just before the deed was committed Mr. Blachley had drawn some water from the well on the premises of Jonah Thorne, and at the time he was murdered was standing at Mr. Thorne's gate, on the opposite side of the street from his own residence, conversing with Mrs. Thorne in reference to the death of Mrs. Purdy, a lady who had died a few hours before. At this juncture Myers started from the Union House, two or three rods west of where Blachley stood and as he came upon the sidewalk in front of Blackley, Myers deliberately drew a six-shooter from his pocket and coolly shot his victim. Blachley fell, and as soon as help was secured he was carried into Mr. Thorne's residence, and in ten minutes was dead. The terrible news spread like wildfire and the utmost excitement prevailed. The murderer is a man 74 years of age last January. He made no effort to get away, but gave himself up without hesitation.
We perhaps can get the matter before our readers in a better shape by giving statements of those who witnessed the affair and those who were there immediately after the tragedy occurred:
Mrs. Thorne -- Was standing in my door talking with Mr. Blachley, who was near the gate, about Mrs. Purdy's death; Myers came along the walk; Mr. Blachley was standing just inside the gate; spoke to Myers; said "good morning;" Myers then shot and Blachley fell; said "Oh, my poor sick wife" or something like it; I called for help; he was brought in and died within ten minutes from the time he was shot.
Charlie Hulinger: Got to Blachley immediately; when shot was against the gate; gate partially open; fell against the gate like, and partially on his face on the sidewalk; Myers halted after shooting apparently to see if his victim was really hurt bad; appeared to smile satisfied as to the result; as Blachley fell he exclaimed "Oh, my poor sick wife." He lived but a short time after getting him in the house. Bid the boys "good bye" and he died.
Dr. Carmer: Was in the hotel bar room; heard a shot; went to the door and saw Blachley lying on the sidewalk; started toward him met Myers returning toward the hotel; said he had shot Blachley and meant to; went to Blachley; asked where he was shot; he replied "in my throat;" I opened his shirt and found it was apparently through the lungs; told him I thought it was not fatal; he appeared cheered for a moment; he died however in about fifteen minutes.
Statement of James Moore: Was at Blachley's shop; had just left Blachley at his house; Blachley said he would get a pail of water and then go to the shop. I then went on to the shop and heard a pistol shot and Mrs. Thorne scream; saw Blachley lying on the sidewalk; ran to him; he said, "My God I'm shot. Oh, my wife." Took him into Mr. Thorne's; he said "I'm killed"; I replied I hope not; he then said "good bye all," and died.
Statement of Dr. Davis: The ball struck him a little above and external to the right breast, entering between the second and third rib, passing obliquely inward through the upper lobe of the right lung and probably severing the superior vena cava or arteria innominata or some of the large blood vessels near the heart which produced immediate death.
The above statement is also concurred in by Dr. Bacon, who also made an examination.
Myers had been living at George Mee's Hotel for several months. He was in rather straightened circumstances, and appeared to be annoyed at his condition.
During the excitement, and before Myers was taken before the justice his unconcern was a general subject of remark. To every question he replied that he had deliberately planned the shooting of Blachley a year ago. He gave up his pistol without hesitation. The weapon was a five shooter. Three of the chambers were empty, and two of them had the shells of empty cartriges. He said the pistol was fully loaded, and that he paused after shooting Blachley to see whether he had really succeeded or not, with the intention of shooting him again if it had not. This is singular as the pistol had but one load. It appears the old man thought it was loaded but it was not.
[Since the above was written the matter is explained. It appears that the weapon was loaded with a cartridge a size or two too small. When the pistol was taken, M. Turner discovered the cartridges the next day.]
Upon being questioned he made the following statement to us: Have been meditating this a year; I got three pistols at different times, but the first two did not satisfy me; I was afraid they would not do the job; I shot Blachley because he fooled me out of some money; he had the proceeds although he did not get it of me; am not sorry for what I have done; I intended to shoot him; he is dead but has not suffered as much as I have; I have prayed many times that I might die; but I have done the deed and am willing to suffer the consequences.
Having been taken before a Justice he was asked if he would have counsel, and replied that he would not. The following statement was made before justice Chapman:
John Myer in the above cause voluntarily sworn, and testifies as follows.
I shot C.M. Blachley on the morning of the 29th of March, 1877, in the town of Cedar Creek, Lake county, State of Indiana, in the village of Lowell, in the street in front of Jonah Thorne's house in said village. Says he has premeditated shooting said Blachley for one year past, on account of said Blachley holding property that justly belonged to him.
John Myer
Subscribed and sworn to before me on this 29th day of March, 1877.
A.D. Chapman, J.P
As we have remarked Mr. Myers is an old man 74 years of age. He was born in Maryland. Thirty years of his life he spent in Ohio. He came here four or five years ago from Benton county, this State, and worked considerable for John Hack and Frank Barton a few years ago, at the harness making business, that being his trade. He had always been peacably inclined so far as known, and was the last man that would have been suspected of committing such a terrible crime. He confessed all without any apparent compuntion or embarrassment when brought before the justice. He was taken to Crown Point by Marshall McNay and M. Turner, and lodged in jail where he awaits the action of the court.
The deceased has been a citizen of Lowell for some ten or twelve years. He moved here from Blachley's corner, Porter county. He was just in the prime of life, a vigorous, hearty man, and by trade a blacksmaith. His wife was sick and the prostration was terrible when the sad news was broken to her. Besides his wife, deceased leaves two children to mourn this saddest of bereavements.
Mr. Blachley is a man who had many friends and the sympathies of a community are poured out in behalf of his afflicted family.
His funeral will take place to day at 1 o'clock P.M. He will be buried by the Masonic fraternity, of which order he was a prominent member.
________________________________________

His wife, Elizabeth H., passed away in 1919 at the age of 78. The newspaper account spelled the name "Blachley," while cemetery records show "Blachly".

Inscription

CORNELIUS
BLACHLY
DIED
Mar. 29, 1877
AGED
44y-11m-4d



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