The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-14
1NDKBTEp TO 4 DEsPERADo4
How Elk St John First Became
Known to Fame.

HOW Ex-Goyernor ST John First Became
Known to Fame.
Kansas City Star. III
sApropos of the nomination of John P. ST.
John as the candidate ofrthe Prohibition party,
recalls to. my mind the circumstances of how he
came to be Governor of Kansas" remarked a
gentleman to an Evening Star reporter this
morning.
How was thatF' asked the scribe
well, if you would like to hear it | do not
mind giving you the facts in the case. The
truth of the matter issSt. John owes'his present
notoriety to Jim Crow Chiles, a. former desper-
ate character of Independence, and who was
killed by Marshal Peacock, at independence,
in September or October, 1874 Al few
years prior to this occurrence St.
John was practicing law in that city
under the. firm name Of St John g. Dawson.
One day Chiles shot a negrosin front of the old
Hickman House, and St John was the only wit
ness thereto, OF, at least the only one upon
whose evidence the prosecution could rely.
Chiles went to the saint and told him if he did
not leave the State he would kill him, where
upon, like a good, dutiful child, st. John stood
not upon the order of his going, but just got up
and busted for Olathe, Kan, where he formed a
law partnership with Col Parker, and went to
practicing. So you see if hesh lax not been rum
out Of Independence by Jim Crow Chiles, he
probably would have been a one-horse country
lawyer YETI
'Chiles' must have been a hard man tofrighten
St John away SO easily" said the reporter
why, did you never hear of Jim Grow Chilesg
No; i guess moi, as he was killed long before
You came here
How did he happen to be killedq7
nChiles had been attending the exposition
here in September, 1874, I think it was, and
during the last two days of the fair had been
drinking quite freely and had several rows with
parties here, among them being Ed. Corrigan,
the. well,known horseman. Jim drew d pistol on
he not been afraid of Gorrigan's friends. Ed
was unarmad. but plucky, and never backed
water once, although he was looking right into
the muzzle Of Jim's pistol. and knew that he had
the nerve to shoot too Sunday morning follow
ing tho close of the fair, Chiles went. home to
Independence still under the influence Of LIQUOR,
and kept up the spree all day.
Peacock was marshal of the city at
been some difficulty. Chiles had a young son,
twelve years old, who was trying to induce
his father to leave the public square and go
home with him. In walking around the square
between them in which Chiles told Peacock if
he met him on the square again that day he
would slap his jaws. Peacock demonstrated
with ChiIes and tried to get him to 60 home, but
he refused Shortly afterward the two men met
again, when Chiles, true to his word, slapped
the marshal heavily in the face. when the latter
raised his cane and struck Chiles, who grabbed
it, and they clinched, falling to the ground. with
Chiles on top. While il shhis position The latter
managed 70 draw one of his xshooters aud
" nHOOu 4 CuOO[A< 11AO 4dbtpA3 ACutAN
ing his ipcrilous position and thatit was a case
Of life and death with him. grasped the pistol
with one hand, while with the other he managed
to draw q deringer. and placing the same to
Chiless head, literally blew lis brains out As
Peacock rose to- his feet young Chiles, who was
very near sighted. picked up his fathers pistol,
and holding it in both hands. fired at Peacock,
the ball striking him in the spine and rendering
him insensible for the time. At this ~iuncture
Jack Farrow, the deputy marshal, hearing the
firing. came around the c~ornor0f the square on
the run. with q doubIeNbarrelled shotgun; when
Young Ghilos turned his battery on him, infict
ing q wound in the breast.
AT this interesting stage Of the tragedy a son
Of the marshal. n young man, came dashing up
to the scene on horseback, and with a revolver
IN his hand. Young Chiles began firing at him,
shooting him in the leg, which FIRE was returned
by young Peacock, resulting IN. young Chiles re-
ceiving q mortal wound, and he sank down dy-
ing beside his dead father and the wounded mar
shall The little fellow WAC placky, and deserved
a better fate. He fingered. until the next day,