Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-11-01
MuEDERoUS ASSAULT.
A Peaceful Citizen Shot In the
Street Without Prcvocation.

A Peaceful Citizen Shot In the
| Street Without Prcvocation.
Our community was thrown into u
state of the most intense excitement, on
Monday, by one of the boldest attempts
at murder which has eyer occurred in
our city. J. E. Fisher, respectable,
quiet, Industrious citizen, who in con-
junction with Mr.. Geo. W. Hinman keeps
a meat market on Main ST., while attend
ing to his regular business on the evening
named, was approached unawares by one
Jim Kennedy, brick-layer on the Asy-
lum, and deliberately shot in the neck
The circumstances attending the affair
are substantially as follows: Kennedy
the wouldbe assassin, is originally from
Dubuque, but has been working on the
Insane Hospital all summer, during
which tihae he has given no particular
indications of blood thirsty disposition.
Some two weeks ago he quit work, and
has been loafing and spreeing a good
share of the time since. Mr.. Fisher says
he has no recollection of having incurred
the lispleasure of Kennedy in any man
ner, but on Monday evening, about
o'clock, the latter entered the meat mar
ket in the absence of Mr.. Fisher, and ap-
preaching Mr.. Human at the counter,
asked if his name was Durham. MIR.
Human said: "No. My name is Hin
man." "Writc it there" said Kennedy,
laying an envelope on the counter. Mr..
Human asked for the reason for this
strange demand, when Kennedy answer
ed that it was "no NATTER" "Then," said
Human, eff it is no matter, guess l
won't write it," Kennedy then left the
shop and entered the shoe store of Stein
metz & Till, where he bought pair OF
shoes and made some inquiry about
Fisher. A short time after this, Mr..
Fisher being on the sidewalk in front of
his shop and about to enter his wagon,
Kennedy came hastily up, and, withouta
word, leyeled a small Smith & NELSON'S
revolver within two or three feet OF MIR.
Fishers head and fired. The ball enter
ed Mr.. Fishers neck on the right side
We heard the report and the cry Of the
wounded man, and in five minutes was
on the street. A small knot Of people
surrounded Mr.. Fisher and conveyed
him to Smale's drug store, while another
and more excited crowd brought the
murderer to bay in front of Fisher Bros.
grocery. Marshal Randy was soon on
hand, and placing the bracelets on Ken
nedy's wrists, started with him for the
Jail He had not proceeded a square
when it was discovered that the prisoner
had managed to draw his pistol from his
waistband, cooked it, and was apparent
" about to shoot the Marshal A smart
tap from the officers cane on the head and
confiscation Of the weapon followed,
after which the desperate man was lock-
ed ND without further trouble.
DR.. Warnc was Immediately summoned.
After thoroughly probing the wound, he
failed to discover the ball, and it is not
vet extracted Mr.. Fisher, is comforta-
bic and not suffering great pain, although
some DAYS must intervene before the
question Of his ultimate recover will be
determined AS intimated before, Mr..
Fisher cannot conceive Of a possible mo-
tive for the crime. There arc circum-
stances attending it which seem to indi-
cate that it was committed with a pre-
conceived, deliberate purpose to murder,
but in the absence Oft known Or posi-
bic motive for The act, this theory is liable
to modification. There is little doubt
that whisky was at the bottom of the
affair, either inflaming Il fancied affront
into mortal insult, or inducing state
of mind bordering on insanity. Kennedy
when questioned says that he knows no
such man as Fisher, and in the face of
probably half dozen witness utterly
denies that he shot him..
The community may well congratulate
itself that so desperate and reckless a
character is safe within stone walls. That
his bloody propcnsities may be pcrma-
ncntly curbed by a heightened term in
the. Penitentiary seems to be demanded
by justice and public safety kcnnedy's
case was Immediately presented to the
Grand Jury, which was fortunately in
session and an Indictment for assault with
intent to kill, brought into court. An
effort will be made to try him this term,
but it is probable that his counsel will
move change of venue.