The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-08-04
sENsArros ~ REAplNa.
A CoIored Girl Fatally Shot by David
SnooLEs, an EmPl0ye OF DR.. Esdson.
READT-1a Kansas Jufv 81 1881.

SENSATION AT READING.
A CoIored Girl Fatally Shot by DasIs
Snooks, an EmPloye Of DR.. Esdson.
READING, Kansas, July 81, 1881.
EDS. News: Reading has Z real sen
sation at last, which eliminated to day
in coroner's inquest at Riverside Farm
owned by DR. Edison, formerly of Tope
ka, Kansas, at whose house the tragedy
occurred. 1t appears from the testimony
which was adduced that there was and
had been for some time past eolored
girl of about eighteen years, who resided
with the Doctors family as maid Of all
work The Doctor also had in his en-.
/ ploy a certain gentleman known as
David Shocks. who. as rule, took care
of the farm and appurienances when the
Doctor was from home, as he was at the
time when this affair happened. ~
There was at the time a lady yisitin 6
at the Dr's house by the name of Mrs
Palmer who had fine gold watch and
q quantity of money which were down
stairs in her trunk. which had been left
there by reason Of It's considerable
weight. AT the hour of two O'Clock a.
m, Tuesday of last week. Mrs Edison
was awakened by some unusual noise
down stairs and called TO Mr.. SHOCKS
asking him to go below and ascertain
what the trouble was. he complied,
and after lighting lamp found one of the
windows of the room raised and slip
per lying on the floor near by.
Procuring the slipper he went to
Mrs. Eidson's room as shown by the les
timony Ia the case, and asked her if she
recognized the slipper or not. She re-
piled in the negative. Shocks then took
his revolver and went down stairs 10
look about the premises. being
satisfied that an Attempt at
burglary had been committed.
Going out at the north side of the house,
he espied some one standing about
twenty feet from him, to whom he called,
..Who's there ?" Receiving no reply, he
fired upon the party, who thereupon fled,
Shocks continuing to fire until he had
discharged three shots. By this time
the party had reached the hedge, a dis
lance of about seveaty yards. near to
which Shocks had arrived. AS he fol-
lowed he fired. At this time the woman
in questipni called to him saying: 1T
is me, Dave,n and they went to the house
stOgether, she saying nothing of being
injured in any way; Shortly after this
Mrs. Edison called Mr. iSnOeks, who
had retired, and told him that Lizzie
was shot. asking him TO summon med
ical aid. DIR. Biddle, Of Reading, an
swered the call, and y dressed
the Injury. In 1 ms testimony
he said at that time he did not deem the
wound a very serious one, as it had the
appearance of having been nade.by a
small bali, ana thought it was but flesh
wound. He saw the case once subse-
quently, but the patient was sleeping
and he did not arouse her. sfrs
DR.. Edison had returned home and
was in charge of the case, and evidence
in to-day's court was to the effect that
the wounds were not fatal IN his judg-
mcnt. However, the contrary has
proven to be the case, and the woman
died Saturday, the 30th lust, at 2 p. III.
In the matter D. W. Umdenstook,
Justic of the Peace of Arvonia, Usage
county, Kansas, assembled the court.
The jurors names have not learned.
Officer Williams made the. arrest
When we left the verdict had not been
given in, but will nodoubt be justifiable
homicide Some features in the
case seemed peculiar. There has
been great secrecy apparent and
the nearest neighbors of the doctors
family had no knowledge of the shoot
ing until called upon TO sit as jurors at
the inquest.
Officer ] j. Williams, who made the
arrest, did so at the depot in Reading
this morning, where he found Mr.Snooks,
who had brought the corpse with him
to that place, attended by, two men
whom did not know. II seems as
though he proposed shipping her to
Topeka, her former home. Upon in
terrogation he Rrst said she had died
from bilious fever to Officer Williams,
but subsequently admitted lie had shot
her
Mrs Edison testified that she had al
ways thought the woman honest and
trustworthy, and the testimony in court
went to say that the woman had had
good care and attention during her ILL.,
ness.
There was just look of haste in the
manner in which she was arrayed in her
coffiu. She was in scarce half dress,
and the. sheets upon which she died were
in the coffin with her.
Yours, etc,
|. = OBSERVER.