Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-11
MURDER MOST FOUL,
The Body Of chas. oFooe Found
Dead on the Prairie with TWO
Bullet Holes through
his Body.

O000 Oh tbo0 pV0St10 WsUVsSVO
Bullet Holes through
his Body.
On Saturday last the community
was startled by the announcement
that a man had been found dead,
shot through the heart and through
the head, in the northeastern part of
the county.
Coroner McGrevy being informed,
impsnelled jury, and started for the
scene of the crime.
When the coroner and jury arrived
at the scene of the murder it was
found that the body had been removed
to house on section t. town Z. range
80. Going to the house, the body was
at once identified as being that of
Chas. c. Cross, we'll known in Thomas
county. The following is the testi-
mony before the coroner's jury, and
the verdict:
FIRST wITNEss.
H. h. Dowdall, Cumberland, Thomas
Co., Kansas, being first duly sworn
says: e. Is
Found body on northwest quarter,
section 4, town :, range 81. I should
judge at half past three o'clock p. m,
lying on his left side with hand on
his revolver, with bis hands below his
breast Both costs and vest were
open when found, body bent little
with one foot lying on top of the other.
No foot prints were found about the
body. His face was lying on one side
with snow drifted against it. Head Of
the body was lying nearly north with
face toward the east
First person notified was Oscar
Boggert stopping at Mr.. Miers'. The
boy went out and went to his fathers
and brought two more men. Remained
there until the Squire took possession
of the body. Did not modest the
body. The body did not look to be
moved after falling, it seemed to have
fallen in that position. /,
SECOND WITNESS.
J. W. Ellsworth, Gem, Thos. Co.,
Kas., section 10, town Z, range 80, be-
ing first duly sworn according to law
says:
When I arrived on the ground
| found the body about as the witness
described it lying on the left side.
Then proceeded to examine the body
for papers, and the wound, and the
revolver was about as the other wit
ness stated. Then thinking it best to
remove it to a house on section 3, town
IL, range 80. I examined the papers
there. All that could be found te
| identify him was note given to. the
|0berlin Bank, signed by c. c, Cross
I removed the revolver from his hand.
The revolver was not grasped tight,
his thumb in the trigger guard.
Charlie Roberts notified me and I wen
to see him. Turned said papers over t.
the coroner. l did not find an,
tracks about the body. No means t.
tell whether he came there on horse
back or on foot; not great ways from
. the town line between section 6, tow
Z, range 80, nearly three quarters OF
mile from the house to which he wa
moved.
Messrs. M. W. Witham, Amos
Myers and August O5erquell wer
then examined, their testimony bein,
similar to that Of H. H. Dowdall.
( SIXTH WITNESS.
DR.. c. 81. Martin, Colby, Thos. Co.
Kas., being first duly sworn accordin,
to law says:
On examining the body / found tw'
; gun shot wounds, one just beneatl
the right eye passing inwards, up
t wards and backwards. The othe
about one inch and half below th
left nipple passing directly backward
Either one Iconsider sufficient to caus
immediate death. On the left groil
. there were indications of q bfuise.
7 could not tell whether the two wound
!. were made by the same revolver
I think the one fred in the body, wa
fred while down; the vest and Goa
{ were unbottoned when the shot va
! fired, no holes were in the coat or vest
!, I have taken out the bah that was i,
. the body. I have mot examined tn
! size Of the. ball. By indications b
had been dead two or three days. >.
think it impossible for him to hav'
7 fred both shots himself.
L NJ