The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-26

4 Neaiejds 4 jssooeboe9
A most unfortunate homicide 90
CURED near New Cambria Station,
this county. last Friday night, In
which Oscar Bennett last his life u
the hands Of Elmer Reagle. The evil
dence ct hand comes almost entirely
from Reagle and his friends, aud u ID
almost impossible to obtain any testi-
mony that shows otherwise than that
Reagle killed Bennett In self-iefeBse.
A numbered young people who were on
their way home from the writing
school. and were near the parties 1t
the time Of the assaults Of Bennett and
the shooting by Reagle, confirm Rea-
gle's story In the main. Without ex.
pressing an opinion o. 10 the guilt or
innocence Of the party we give all the
facts that we can learn concerning the
matter.
The circumstances rs related BY
young Reagle and his friends are Is
follows: The cause Of the trouble was
q young lady living 10 the neighbor.
hood. to whom both young men bad
been showing some attention. Over
the same matter they had had several
qusrrels, which finally eliminated In
the tragedy Of Friday night. On that
evening there was . writing school II
the New Cambria school house. Rea-
gle and Bennett were both present.
also the young lady referred To- At
the close Of the school Reagle started
out to escort her home, Bennett fol.
lowing them. They had proceeded
about one mile south Of the school
house when ReagIe 10 avoid any dif.
hcuIty with Bennett, started on an.
other road from the one usually taken
to the young lady's home. After going
about 50 yards from the crossing.
Bennett overlook them and tapped
Reagle on the shoulder, saying ~
would like TO speak 10 you o minute"
ReagIe replied II have nothing to talk
to you about. This II no place Tor you
and ! Ia talk over matters" Upon
which Bennett struck him such
blow with his fist In the face n would
have knocked him down. had not the
young lady supported him Bennett
struck Reagle q second time, which
feIIed him 10 the earth. and then
struck him several times again while
ReagIe was down. While Bennett
was over him in the act Of striking
him, Reagle drew o revolver and shot
him twice. the first shot entering
at his neck, which proved fatal.
Reagle shot the second time be.
cause he thought lie had missed
him at the first shot. Bennett died at
the spot about fifteen minutes after
the shooting. Reagle walked back
towards the crossing. and meeting
Benefits brother, was asked by the
latter, "What have you done?" Rea-
gle replied. 1--WE fixed him" ReagIe
then went Immediately To Mr.. John
Hsrmon's house, notified the people
Of the shooting, and asked what he
should do. William Harmon advised
him to deliver himself up 10 the
sheriff, which he did on Saturday
morning, and was confined Ia jail.
Reagle states that at the last difficulty
they had had previous to the shoot. |
ing. Bennett had threatened In kill
him, and this was In the presence Of
Reagle's mother. Keagle In eighteen
years old, and has lived in Saline
county about eighteen months. His
parents reside near New Cambria.
Reagle's step father was the brother
Of Bennett. Young Reagle has
worked on the farm for r. &. Virgins
and others. and was Iat;erly employed
by VIM. Harmon. He was known as
u hoy Of good character, with no
bad habits. Bennett was about forty
years of age. He has lived In the
county about the same length Of time
rs Reagle. He was employed at the
time Of his death by Louis Donmyer,
sr We are told that there was moth
ing against his character. 4 coroner's
jury was hastily summoned on satur-
day morning, and proceeded to view
the remains. They then adjourned
the inquest until Monday. After de-
until Monday evening
they returned q verdict that the de
PENDANT committed the homicide with
felOnous intent. Based upon the yer
diet, complaint was made before
Justice Norton, aud ReagIe's ex-
animation was to take place Tuesday
afternoon. No witness appeared
against him, however, and he was
LATER--We understand that the
friends Of Bennett are much dissatis-
fed with the dismissal Of the case and
propose to have it re-opened They also
claim that they can prove the shoot
ing was not done i'm self-defense, but
that Reagle encouraged the encounter