Friday evening, the 31st ult…
source date: 1890
availability: public-domain

Friday evening, the 31st ult., about 9 o’clock, the citizens of Central, many of whom had retired, were startled by the rapid dis- charge of fire-arms which on investigation proved to be of the most deadly character. When the first few shots were fired John Dal- ton, the resident deputy sheriff, rushed out on the street to learn the cause of the difficulty, instantly receiving a fatal wound in the stomach from a carbine in the hands of H. Brooks, a soldier in D troop, 10th cavalry. Immediately upon learning of Dalton being wounded several citizens who heard the shooting, armed them- selves and started to arrest Brooks, who divining their intention, proceeded to discharge his car- bine at them as fast as he could reload it, they returning the fire, and for the period of about an hour, with a few intermissions, there was a continual discharge of arms upon the street. After the shooting ceased, it was learned that the murder of poor Dalton did not half complete the work of the demon. He had previously been to the house of Carrie Drugg, with whom he had some difficulty several days previous, de- liberately shooting her down, shooting her twice after she fell, one shot spattering her brains all over the floor, another cutting her jugular vein, which left her lying in a sickening pool of blood.