Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-06-04
SHOT IN THE RACK,
Ike Steele Uses a Forty-Five on Theodore
Beers,
At John Cooks Ranch, in Barber County,
Last Saturday.

Beers,
At John Cooks Ranch, in Barber County.
Last Saturday.
Joseph Perryman, who WORKS on John
Cooks rancho, fourteen miles south
west of Medicine Lodge, came in town
last Saturday afternoon, May 18th, af-
ter physicians to attend Theodore Beers,
who had been shot few hours previ-
Gus by Isaac Steele. Drs. Lockwood
and KesSler ut once answered the call.
Tie county attorney was also notified,
and at once made complaint before JUS
tice Durham, who issued a warrant for
the arrest Of Steele. This was placed
in the hands of Under-Sherilf Lindsey.
who immediately started out in search
of Steele. When south of town seven
miles, he met Steele, who was coming
to town to give himself up. He was
brought to town and lodged in the So
called Jail. Soon afterward he consult
ed with Brand & Long. whom he retain
ed as his attorneys.
The INDEX met Steele i'll the Office of
Brand Il Long, and obtained partial
statement of his side of the story. He
said that he lived about one mile from
Cooks ranch; that he had formerly
boarded there: that on Saturday he
went to the ranch to borrow saw and
to deliver a note he held against Mr..
Cook, which had been satisfied. When
within short distance IF the house he
was met in the path 10y Beers, who was
coming at him in a most threatening
manner, at the same time using most
abusive language. He, Steele, stepped
out of the path, and endeavOrcd to go
around Beers, but the latter headed him
off. Steele then warned Beers to come
no further, but no heed being taken of
the warning, Steele fired two shots, both
taking effect. Beers fell to the ground,
and Steele went to the house, transact
ed his business, and went home, and
from there started to town TO give him
self up. Steele further stated that he
had heard of Beers threatening to put
him, Steele, under the care of a doc
tor" if lie ever came on the place.
This much was said by Steele, against
the wishes Of Attorney Long, who OBJ
jected to his client making any state
ment for publication.
From DR.. Lockwood, who attended
the wounded man, the information was
gained that one shot fired by Steele en-
tered Beers back, on line with, and
near the right shoulder blade, passed
through the right lung, and came out in
front about two inches above and lit
tie to the left of the right nipple. 1t
then passed through an inch board, and
lodged i'll tree. The other shot raised
through the rear and fleshy portion of
the right and left thighs, producing
flesh wounds only. The weapon used
was 45-calihre Colts revolver. The
patient is dangerously wounded, but
having good constitution, the physi-
clans have hopes of his recovery.
The witnesses to the shooting were
Denny Rush and William Argo, two
neighbOrs who happened at the ranch a
few minutes before the occurrence, and
Frank Hurry and Tom Mack, who were
employed on the ranch.
OF the principals engaged in this diff
ficulty. this much is known:- Beers for
merly worked near Kiowa, and became
engaged in difficulty with an old man,
to whom he gave severe beating. 1t
is rumored that warrant was issued
for his arrest for that offense. but was
not served. For several months Beers
has been staying at the Cook ranch,
doing the cooking and other work. He
was pleased to be known as bad man,
and had, on several occasions indicated
desire to put Steele under the care of
a doctor. No one appeared to know
much about his previous history.
Steele came to this county two years
ago, from Sedan, Chautauqua county,
and worked for J. p. Hall, herding
sheep, for eighteen months. He took
a claim, and, after making proof, sold
it, a few months since, to w. L. Rouse,
of this city. Last spring his mother
came out and took a claim near the
Cook ranch, and on this he was living
up to the recent trouble. lie is about
q years of age, tall, has dark eyes,
black hair, and is said to be peaceably
inclined. 1t is rumored that he Dor
rowed the revolver with which he did
the shooting, from a neighbor, but
whether it was borrowed for this spe-
cial occasion was not stated.
The preliminary examination will oc-
cur some time next week, in this city,
before Justice Durham.
AT last accounts Beers condition was
improved, and lie will probably recover.
The Kiowa Herald says that J. w.
Cook gave it the following statement
which We cOndense:
Theodore Beers, an old man, was
cooking for him; Isaac Steele was board
ing at his place some time ago. Steele
and Beers had some trouble. The two
men had not met previous to last Satur-
day for fifteen days. The weather being
warm, Beers was dressed only in his
drawers and shirt, with his slippers on.
at about one O'Clock on the day of the
shooting, Beers started to go out to the
stable, unarmed, and when he was
about sixty feet from the house, he saw
Steele, who was some sixty feet further
on. Steele told Beers to halt, and he
stopped and turned 10 go to the house,
when Steele began to shoot. The first
shot took effect in Beers shoulder blade
and passed through the left lung, COM
ing out above the heart and lodging in
the door casing of the house. The Sec
ond shot hit Beers little above the left
knee, passed through both legs and hit
the cook stove standing in an open
kitchen. This shot brought Beers to
the ground"
Tube paints at 10 cents per tube at