Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-08-18
A GAME OF CARDS.
It Results in a Murder and a Proba.
BILE Suicide.
BILE Suicide.
August Dunkle In a Drunken Rage
Shoots Frank WahI-Death
of Wahl this Morning.
Ante.MOrtem State.
ment Dunkle
Likely to
DIE.

From the st. Louis Post Dispatch Aug. 1871
A corpse, covered with a 0tton sheet, re-
posed on a bed in the rear room of a little no.
ton store on Cherokee street this morning. A
household of mourners and q few friendly
neighbors stood about the bed, silently gaz-
ing at the draped body. 1t was all that re-
manned of Frank VAIL, the proprietor of the
store, who was the victim of an old mans
rage over in-luck at a game Of cards. Yes
terday VAIL, who was q man in the neigh
borhood of forty-fivc years, closed up his
store and spent most of the day in Refers
saloon, which is the next door to his house.
An eccentric old man named August bunker
or Dunkle, 20 years of age, who came here
from Lexington, Mo-, about a year ago, be-
tween whom and VAIL a strong friendship
existed, met VAIL in the saloon early in the
evening and proposed a game of cards with a
man named Spuhler. The game went against
Dunkle, and, though he played for a long
time, he failed to win. The only thing at
stake in each game was the beer, and, as in
all three handed games, two had to unite
against one, Dunkle, greatly to his chagrin,
found himself the one. AS each game was
finished the faithful bartender rushed up the
beer, and while VAIL and Spuhler drank
with the serenity that is born of success.
Dunkle swallowed his with increasing bitter
ness. When all three had become tipsv,
Dunkle 1t is alleged, began to chalk up a
bigger score than he was entitled to, and he
was jocularly reminded of this by Wahl.
THE OLD MAN INDIGNANTLY DENIED THE
ASSERTION
and made an excuse of it to give vent to his
long-suppressed rage. He pushed the cards
from him finally, and left the saloon, threat
ening all sorts of vengeance. VAIL and Spuh-
Ter played the game out, and then VAIL got
up and took his place with a number of others
at the bar. Spuhler continued the game with
two new recruits. VAIL and others looking
on. In q short time Dunkle re-entered, fully
as angry and excited as he was when he left,
and approached VAIL, calling him a vile
name. VAIL, appearing to make allowance
for Dunkl age and condition, asked him it
he wasn't only joking. Dunkel tiercely re-
piled that he was dead in earnest, and asked
Wahl to step out on the sidewalk. Wahl, in
tending to go home, walked through the
swinging inside door of the saloon, and as he
reached the sidewalk saw Dunkle about six
feet away from him,
WITH A REVOLVER IN HIS HAND,
waiting for him. Before he had time to re-
treat, expostulate or escape, Dunkle fred at
him, the ball entering his stomach. VAIL
fell backward into the saloon and DunkIe
wildly discharged the revolver twice the bull
let's going astray. Seeing what he had done,
Dunkle ran through a narrow space between
the saloon and his own house, which is situat-
ed west of Refers, and reaching the back
yard, placed the revolver to his forehead and
discharged 1t. The ball entered the orbit of
the left eye, struck the frontal bone, and It is
thought ranged downward. The first tragedy
had a paralyzins effect upon the people who
witnessed it, but when the fourth report of
the revolver was heard they came TO their
senses and ran to the spot from which it pro-
ceeded.
DUNKEL WAS FOUND THERE
lying prone, bleeding from the eye and the
mouth. A messenger was sent to DIR. Lutz
and another to DR.. Hickman, both gentlemen
appearing shortly afterward. WahI was alive
but suffering intense pain. Dunkle was also
alive but unconscious. Vail was removed
to his house, where his wife and sister as
sisted DR.. I.utz in the care Of him. The doc
tor saw that the wound was fatal and did not
probe for the ball. Dunkle's~ daughter looked
after her fathers wants. A search of Dun
kle's clothes resulted in the finding of a can
vas bag which contained 81 300 IN bills. The
was taken charge Of by an officer
who gave it to the sergeant in charge of the |
Second District station. 1t was a 3s-calibre |
weapon, of Smith 4 Wesson pattern. Dunkle |
was sent to the City Hospital, where ne was
taken in charge by DR.. Rohlfing. Wahl re-
manned conscious all night, but
DIED AT 9 O'CLOCK
this morning. Before DR.. Lutz left the !
wounded mans last night, he took down tbs |
following ante mortem statement:
"A party played cards in Refers saloon. I |
looking on. was not playing. Dankle |
said to me without any provocation on my
part. "You ---, called you to
help finish this game" I had played a few |
games of solo with him about twenty-five
before this. ! asked him whether
he was joking or not. "Yes' he said, ssI am
in earnest, come out on the pavement" I
walked toward him on the pavement, intend !
ing to go home. He said, "You---.
am going to shoot" He then shot, standing
about four or six feet from me, three times.
The first ball struck me in the stomach; 1 fell
backward into the saloon. This was wit
messed as was also the conversation by Adolpb
Chas. Rheinhardt, Fink and another |
man whose name l do not recall. His name |
Spuhler. Dunkle and I have been warm |
since he came here about a wear AGO.
FRANK VAIL.
Witnesses: Ed. NJ. Bernard, C. Kiefer.
This
TELLS II STORY OF II MURDER BRIEFLY.
1t was signed by VAIL in a firm hand, and
by a reporter for a morning paper
and a %neighbor of VAIL.
DIR. Luedeking conducted a Post-Dispatch
to the cell in which Dunkle was w.
lug at the City Hospital this morning. The
old man was still unconscious. The flesh be-
meath both eyes was swollen, and a banda2e
with blood encirled the head about
The forehead. eve have made no examine
ton yet" said the doctor, Hand it is, of course.
mpo ssible to determine whether he will live
'r not. The ball evidently ranged downward
IS he has been expectOrating blood. The
oulse Is good" he concluded, dropping
.unkle's hand.
An examination was made later and it was
aid Dunkle would not live. Wahl leaves a
wife and four children.