LAYTON, Tade - L-Obituaries

Tade Layton, who is said to have killed one Driscoll, near Attica last week, now languishes in jail at this place. We learn that his case will come up at the next term of the Fountain Circuit Court and that he has secured Hon. D. W. Voorhess, and George McWilliams and Judge Ristine, of our town, as counsel.—Covington Friend

The Fountain County Murder Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Saturday, 22 August 1874

Our community was startled Tuesday, just after dinner, by the report that Mr. “Tade” Layton, a farmer residing near Riverside station, six miles above Attica, had killed his neighbor, Dan Driscoll. When the unfortunate affair occurred, Layton came to town to give himself up, and reported to Justice Trullinger, whom he found busily occupied with the Houts sale. Layton then went to Mayor Milford’s residence, to employ him as counsel, but not finding him at home, started down town, where we met him. With very little excitement, and in a plain, straightforward way Layton gave us his statement as follows:

“Some time ago Driscoll’s stock got into the wheat of Layton and destroyed some of it. One or both of the parties referred the dispute to Jesse Marvin to report the damages, which Marvin did, fixing it at five bushels. A dispute arose (at what time we do not know) as to Marvin’s decision; Layton insisting that it was five bushels, and Driscoll that it was five dollars. The morning of the homicide Layton, his brother, Michael, and Driscoll and his son, together with some others, were threshing wheat. A part of the crop belonged to Layton, and he had removed it. The share he was working on was Driscoll’s. To settle the dispute about Marvin’s assessment, Layton had sent a man, and Driscoll his son, to Marvin, to see what he did decide. When they returned they reported that Marvin said the damage was to the amount of five bushels. Layton wanted his wheat then and there, to which Driscoll objected, saying he was worth it, and if he wanted it to sue for it. It appears then that Layton and his brother, Mike, were filling or preparing to fill a sack with the wheat, when Driscoll advanced in a threatening manner, making a pass at Mike with a fork. Driscoll’s son also rushed in; Tade Layton caught him and threw him back against a crib, when Driscoll turned and rushed upon him (Tade) with a drawn knife. Layton had in his hand a knife with which he had been cutting bands, and as Driscoll rushed on him, to use his own words; “I struck him with my knife and he died in two minutes.” The blade penetrated in the region of the heart. The knife with which the deed was done is a common pocket knife with rough metal handle, and the blade (the larger one) probably 2 ½ inches long.

Layton is a rather young Irish farmer about 28 years of age and unmarried. He is a fair looking man, and reported as an industrious and successful farmer. Driscoll was older, also a farmer, and we believe a man of fair standing in his neighborhood, as was the man who slew him. Driscoll was a widower, but leaves three children. Some time since the two men had a fight of the rough and tumble order, chronicled in the Ledger at the time, and wherein Layton had a finger broken and his head cut.