Barney Kerr: Grant County man acquitted of brother’s 1891 murder
Lead
In April 1891, Jimmie Kerr was killed at the Mangus [1]. Barney Kerr and Peter Mungall were arrested and lodged in jail [3]. At a preliminary hearing, Mungall was discharged, and Barney was held to await the grand jury without bail [2]. An inquest jury found that Jimmie came to his death by a wound inflicted by Barney with a hammer, shotgun, or crowbar [4]. Barney was indicted for first-degree murder [5]. At the scene, Barney had blood on his hands and said he didn’t remember anything [7]. When asked who hit his brother, he said he didn’t know [6]. After a trial, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty [5].
Sources
- Territory vs… (1891)Territory vs. Barney Kerr, charged with murder of his brother, Jimmy Kerr at the Man- gus last month, still on trial.
- After hearing the arguments of counsel,… (1891)After hearing the arguments of counsel, the court discharged Peter Mungall from cus- tody, and held Barney Kerr to await the action of the grand jury without bail.
- Barney Kerr and Peter Mungall, the par-… (1891)Barney Kerr and Peter Mungall, the par- ties accused, were brought into town by the officers and lodged in jail. Their preliminary trial was held before Judge Givens on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- county of Grant, find the deceased came to his… (1891)county of Grant, find the deceased came to his death by reason of wound inflicted at and by the hands of Barney Kerr, with a hammer, shot- gun or crowbar.
- liminary hearing, Scotty was discharged, and… (1891)liminary hearing, Scotty was discharged, and when the grand jury assembled a few weeks ago, Barney was indicted for murder in the first degree. His case was called for trial and was concluded last Friday night,…
- that he reached the scene of the tragedy about… (1891)that he reached the scene of the tragedy about 10 o’clock Friday night, and found Barney Kerr. I remarked that this was a sad occasion for us to meet, and asked him who knocked his brother in the head ; he s…
- P… (1891)P. J. Dodd, of Black Hawk sworn: ‘T was stopping at the Alhambra mine. I arrived at the ranch and found Scotty sitting near the door. I found the two Kerrs lying on the bed. Barney had blood on his hands, …