Swaim-Bryant murder
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Saturday, 30 September 1893
The Swaim murder trial has begun at Rockville. It is of interest here because the original fight of the brothers was had in the Montgomery Circuit Court where it attracted considerable attention.
The difficulties which have beset Lafayette and Moses Swaim, of Parke County, which were of their own choosing, would fill several chapters. They have been litigating for years, and now one is waiting trial for murder, while the other is barely recovering from a pistol wound inflicted by his brother.
The trouble began shortly after the death of their father. He deeded to Moses Swaim his farmland in Union Township, Parke County, and Lafayette was appointed guardian. Seven years ago there was a settlement, and Moses deeded to Lafayette eighty acres, while Lafayette transferred to Moses a tract of sixty six acres. Moses failed to have his deed recorded and it was lost. He then brought suit to quiet title, and Lafayette refused to relinquish the claim. The suit was filed in Parke County, and was venued to Vigo County and again to Montgomery. A trial resulted in disagreement of the jury, and the case was again venued to Vermillion County, where plaintiff secured a verdict. Lafayette appealed to the Supreme Court, where he was beaten. Moses then sued for possession and obtained judgment. During the past summer, after this judgment had been rendered, Lafayette assisted by Gabriel Bryant, an employee, attempted to harvest the wheat on Moses’ farm and Moses killed Bryant and seriously wounded Lafayette. While Moses was in jail, Lafayette employed men to harvest the wheat, and these have been sued for trespass by Mrs. Swaim. Meanwhile Lafayette is suing his brother for damages, growing out of the shooting, and the heirs of Bryant will also have a whack at him. Meanwhile he is held on two indictments; one for killing Bryant and the other for wounding Lafayette. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Monday, 9 October 1893
At Rockville, after being out eighteen hours, the jury in the murder case of Moses Swaim, charged with killing Gabriel Bryant in a wheat field last July, returned a verdict of acquittal. The theory of the defense was that Bryant was accidentally killed during a fight between two brothers, Moses and Lafayette Swaim, who have been at outs for the past seven years, during which time there had been many encounters between them. The last fight occurred over some wheat which was on Moses’ land, but which Lafayette claimed and was attempting to harvest when the tragedy occurred. The brother, Lafayette, was at the same time dangerously wounded and it was thought for some time he, too, would die. In a general way the verdict is well received, some enthusiasts applauding when the verdict was announced, which demonstration was promptly squelched by Judge White with threats of fines. Sympathy for the defendant, who has undoubtedly been badly treated by his brother, doubtless influenced the jury. Moses Swaim is still held under an indictment charging him with an attempt to kill his brother, Lafayette, at the same time Bryant was killed.