The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-11-17
A Cold FLOODED Mursler-JOhn Smarr
Shot Dead by j. II. Russell,
at Kansas CITY

A Cold RloOded MurSler-JOhn smarr
Shot Dead by j. II. Russell,
at Kansas City.
Il KANSAS CRY, Nov. 10.-The Times
of this morning gives the following &C
count of the shooting of John Smarr at
the st. James hotel in this city, last
night:
yesterday evening, about z O'Clock,
one of the most cold-blooded cases OF
killing ever perpetrated in Kansas City,
occurred in the Office of the st. James
hotel, on Walnut street, at which time
John Snlarr, jr, a young man widely
tand most favorably known throughout
Kansas City, was shot and instantly
killed by j. III. Russell, formerly propri-
etor OF the livery stable under the Thea
tire Comique. At the time the shooting
began, the Office AMI billiard room was
crowded with habitues of the house,
while the dining room was also we'll
filed with guests, it being the regular
supper hour, and as three distinct pistol
shots sounded throughout the building,
the greatest excitement and consterna-
ton prevailed, and such a hurrying and
rushing of affrighted persons as has not
been seen for a long time.
| THE FIRST SHOT.
The first intimation of the terrible af
fair, even to many of those present, was
the sharp report of a revolver, which
was instantly followed by a wild rush
of fifty or sixty perons TO escape from
the Office, and while the hurried exit
was taking place, and before all had
reached places of safety, second shot
| was heard, and in an interval of perhaps.
| fifteen secodds-aboutt the time occurring
between the first and second-a third
was heard and then all was over, and
poor Johnny Smarr sank 10 the floor
with bullet hole in his body and in
less than sixty seconds from the time of
the last shot his soul had gone before its
Maker.
THE ARREST.
When the body fell 20 the Office floor,
| Russell, who had sent u soul so suddenly
to its long account, stepped back two or
three feet. with the smoking revolver
yet in his hand, but refused to hand it
to any one unless an officer. and as per
sons who had fed from the room for
safety began TO return, he walked toward
the office counter and stepped behind
| the rail, where he was shortly after
placed under arrest by officers Flanagan
and Moran, and upon the arrival of
| Chief Spears he was escorted TO police
headquarters and charge of shooting
John Smarr" recorded opposite his
name.
| SCENE IN THE OFEICE.
1t IS almost impossible to describe
the scene in the Office of the hotel dur
ing the interval of time between the first
and second shots, as within thirty sec
Eonds or less the room was vacated by
over fifty persons who had been loung-
ing about, chatting with friends; some
of them in the pell nell rush for cover
falling over each other, SO wild was the
brake for the billiard and wash rooms
and the street. Noone knew which way
the bullets would go and stray or glanc-
ing one was as liable 10 strike friend as
| foe. All seemed to realize this fact, and
there was no delay as to the way or man.
ner of going. A
| TIMES REPRESENTATIVE
was seated in the dining room when the
first report, sharp and clear, sounded
through the house, and quickly ran
toward the Office, from whence it came.
AS he reached the screened door he
tween the Office and the dining room the
actual tragedy was in plain view, not
person being in sight except Russell
| who, with revolver in hand, was trying
! to shoot young Smarr, whose arms were
upon one of the square iron
posts of the Office, when he was using
as shield for his body. 1t was dra-
matte and startling situation not often
seen in actual life, and quickly realizing
the condition Of things the Times repre-
sentative, who knew and recognized
both parties, passed from the DINING
room and called upon Russell to put up
his revolver and not kill the man in
front of him. All the while the two
men were playing q real game Ut
! "HIDE AND SEEK
with the iron post between them, and
| the words, "He called me thief, damn
him." Russell fired the second shot
At this point Mr.. ], A. ellis, chief clerk
of the hotel, came from behind his desk
and also beseached Russell TO give him
his revolver, "to put il up" etc, but in
reply the infuriated man whipped his
weapon through the air over his head in
a very menacing manner and again ats
| tempted to got a shot at Smarr, who dur
| ing the few seconds interval had not
dared leave the protection of the post,
knowing full well to do so
WAS CERTAIN DEATH,
while If he remained there was chance
for his life. Again Russell, with an oath,
said The would fix the who had
called him dishonest" and turning fully
toward Smarr, his eyes and attention
having been partially diverted from his
deadly purpose for a few seconds, waited
for an opening to shoot, all the time
lodging this way and that in his en-
deaYor 10 draw Smarr from his seeming
place of safety. At last, after this sort
of maneuvering had lasted fully fifteen
seconds, which seemed as many min
utes, a portion of Smarr's body pro-
truded from behind the post, and quick
as a flash, Russell covered it with his
revolver, and with the muZzle not three
feet distant, the fatal shot was fired.
With the flash and report Smarr uttered
a moan or half scream, as if he knew
the tragedy was ended, and clutching
the post conyulsively, tried to
i STEADY HIMsELP,
and then turned over a dead man. He
fell first upon his knees and then rolled
over on his hack within two feet of
where the Times representative stood,
who. quickly STOPPING. asked the dying
man If he wanted anything or any one
i. sent for. Opening his eyes in sort of
dazed manner, Smarr attempted to make
a reply, but death came too quickly, and
, what he would have said will never be
known.
Instantly all was a scene of the
, widest confusion again, as the crowd
poured into the Office from the street
and billiard room, the central figure OF
all being the towering form OF Russell,
/, who, with the revolver
STILL IN HIS HAND,
refused the overtures of peace, until fin
| ally induced to step behind the office
, desk. The body of the dead man re-
> NAMED upon the Office floor for q few
minutes after life was extinct, in plain
sight of the gathering crowd and white
+ faces of the ladies of the hotel, who
peered over the balustrade upon the
| horribleness below. 1t was tenderly
carried to room 5 on the office floor by
L g. rrf.1 1Nxy
1.-THE sorrowing friends and relatives pre-
paratory to removal by Mr.. Carlat, the
undertaken. 1t was the last shot fired
by Russell that caused the death, the
: | first striking the wall as Smarr ran after
the opening assault. The second struck
the iron post in front of the dead mans
{ body, about breast high, as if intended
for the heart, il hitting the post about
an inch from the edge. The fatal bullet
. entered the left groin about six inches
below the heart.
[ About BIaine-A Magnificent Home and
a Princeiy Entertainer.
II WASHINGTON, November. 0.-James G.
q Blaine will retire from the position OF
t secretary OF state at the close of this
9 month. He has no intention at present
of going abroad. He will remain dur
n ing the winter in Washington, and de
= vote himself TO preparing for the nexl
: national convention. His elegant house
0 in the neighborhood of Castle Stewart
o is nearly completed. 1t faces the south
/. and stands in the center of large open
a space, looking on the one side, toward
e the P street circle, and on the other to
a ward the heights of Georgetown and the
8 Potomac. The site of the house is 9
n beautiful one, in the extreme north
s west part of the most fashionable