The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-08-03
From the Eldorado Times.
A Terrible Tragedy.-W.P. Gossard Shot and
Killed.

Since writing the article, published
elsewhere, setting forth some of the
facts in connection with the failure of
the Butler County Bank, our town has
been thrown into high state of cx-
citement over the shooting and killing
of w. p. Gossard, President of the
bank, by L. 0. Shinn, one of the cred
itors of the institution.
After the failure of the bank, some
of those who had money deposited
there, felt very much chagrined at the
day after the failure, one man entered
a window with a cooked revolver and
through the efforts of friends of the
bank, succeeded in getting his money.
The talk on the street that the cashier
had, in connection with Wichita par
ties, taken several thousand dollars of
the Institution, and spirited them
away, before the failure of the bank,
and the fact that one depositor had
collected his money at the point of a
pistol. caused considerable talk in
town. The bank building had been
sold, some of the creditors had been
paid off or secured, leaving about a
half dozen depositors without any sat-
isfactory statement Of what would be
done.
For several days after the failure,
many threats were made against Al
vim Gossard, the Cashier, but at no
time did we hear any blame attached
to w. z. Gossard, his father. The
general feeling seemed to be that he
was not to blame.
+. o. Shinn, the man who shot Mr..
Gossard, formerly resided on his farm
on Little Walnut, in this county. A
few weeks ago he removed to town
with his wife and family for the pur-
pose of studying law with y. j. Mill
Ter. On the 9Th of July he bought a
draft of the Butler County Bank and
sent it east. One draft bought few
days afterward, having come back
protested, Mr.. Shinn was somewhat
uneasy about his. Wednesday noon,
after the northern mail came in, his
draft came back. unpaid, amounting
to between one and two hundred dol
lars.
| Shortly afterwards lie went to w.
=. Gossard's home, stating to some of
the family that he wished to have a
talk with the old gentleman. After
being in the house short time the
| two proceeded to the front gate and
were engaged in conversation for
more than half an hour. The inter
view was not characterized by any
excitement or hard words. While
they were thus talking, C. II. Selig
passed by them through the gate and
into the house. There were now in
the house, Alvin Gossard, wife and
child; G. Ii. Selig. wife and child:
Mrs. w. 7. GosSard, Miss Libbie Cos
sara and three or four half grown sons
and daughters The house is story
and a half stone structure, situated in
the east portion of town, on Vine
street, and stands with the end to the
street.
A portion of the family were up
stairs, the remainder were in the Sec
ond room from the front.
Shortly afterward Mr.. Gossard was
shot, he being in the house at the
time. The ball entered from the left
and rear, passing through or near his
heart, from the effects of which he
died almost instantly. All the details
in connection with this bloody affair
will be left for the courts TO investi-
gate. We will not attempt to preju-
dice the case by giving any version OF
what happened after the conversation
between Gossard and Shinn. 1t is q
terrible affair and casts gloom over
the entire community.
a crowd began to gather during the
excitement, and Shinn quickly entered
the corn field in the rear of the house,
which was the last seen-of him. Some
effort was made to capture him, but
as the corn field extended nearly to
the river, and as the under brush was
very thick, night coming on he was
not arrested, and up to the time of go
ing to press nothing has been heard of
him.
LATER.-On Thursday evening,
about four O'Clock. Shinn came TO
town, proceeded to the conrt house,
and gave himself up to the authorities.