, 1886-08-06
A SHOOTING AFFRAY.
William Stevenson Shoots and Kills
Frank White.
And He Apparently Did so in Self
Defense.

About 9 o'clock yesterday morning, a
man named William Stevenson. in COM
pany with VIM. Phillips, the well known
ranchman, presented himself at the office
of j. C. Baird. Upon Mr.. Baird's ap-
pearance. Stevenson said: 81 shot a man
last night and want to give myself up"
Mr.. Baird accompanied the man to the
court house. and delivered him to Deputy
Sheriff McGonigle, who locked him up.
Stevenson had been working for Percy
Hoyt until last Tuesday, after which he
obtained employment Of VIM. Phillips,
who wanted hin to go with two other
men, Frank White and Ben. Hoffman,
about thirty miles porth, to get out some
fence posts. The party started Wednes-
day morning, White and Hoffman riding
in a wagon and Stevenson, who had charge
of the outfit, riding on a horse. White
had purchased a jug of whisky in this city
and drank a liberal amount CT it on the
road. 1t also appears that Stevenson,
who had received his wages from his for.
mer employer, purchased a revolver from
p. Bergersen, of this city, to use for
shooting at a mark and at animals. which
are plenty in the timber where they ex-
pccted to go. Everything went well until
they reached Otto station on the Union
Pacific railroad, about twelve miles from
this city, where they were to camp for
the night. After ~unsaddling his horse,
Stevenson said, II guess I'll picket my
qorse,'. when White, who up to this
time had made no disturbance. said, No,
you won't" and picked up the neck yoke
lying near the wagon and started for
Stevenson and struck at him, but always
failing to hit him, as Stevenson kept
backing away. supposing that
he was only fooling, but as
White still followed him and kept
making fiercer and more determined
efforts to hit him, Stevenson thought it
time to stop him. and told him that he
had better quit. White still advanced,
and Stevenson then pulled his revolver,
and thinking to scare him shot once over
his head. White, however, only became
the more anxious to strike him, and
Stevenson, fearing for his own safety,
fire again, the ball striking White squarcly
in the center of the forehead and lodged
in the back of the head, causing his death
almost Immediately. Stevenson not
thinking that he had killed the man, pro-
cured some water and washed the wound,
but upon seeing that the wound was fatal
he resolved to come to town and give
himself up.
He first rode to Phillips ranch and
told him where his team was and gave
him an account of the affair. Mr.
Phillips then mounted a horse and ac
companied him to this city, where they
arrived about 7 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. In surrendering himself to Deputy
Sheriff McGonigle, Stevenson gave up the
pistol with which the shooting was done
a 3s calibre, double action, Smith g. Yves
son, with two chambers empty.
The deceased, a Canadian, is n man
about five feet FIVE inches high, heavy set
and apparently a powerful man, dark
complexion and a black moustache. and
has always been Of a quarrelsome dispo-
sition, while Stevenson is a young man 81
years old, light build, smooth face, dark
complexion and lame in one leg, and by
no means a match for the powerful Cana
dian.
A LEADER reporter, through the kind
ness of Deputy Sheriff McGonigle, wa
given an interview with Stevenson. The
young man was willing to bc questioned
on anything except that which directly
pertained to his case. In talking to thu
reporter he said hat he came to this sec
ton last fall and was then employed by
man named Thos. Mills at cutting hay
after which he went in the service Of
Percy Hoyt and had been employed by
him until last Tuesday. His father
Andy Stevenson, is a farmer in Sciotl
county, ILL.,. his mother Is dead. II,
left home about five years ago and wa
working in Oregon and California up tt
last fall, when he came to this territory
He will be % years old next January,
He seemed to feel very lad about tn,
affair and is the last man that one woulC
pick out as having shot a man.
Coroner Moore summoned a jury con
sisting Of E. Leibey, Geo. Emery, Geo
Hanes, s. T. Meyers, VIM. Phillips anC
j. II. Jones, and left at | o'clock yester
day afternoon for the scene of the shoot
ing. They returned with the body abou
6 o clock last evening, and turned it owe
to Undertaken Booth.
The jury will met at 10 o'clock thi,
morning.
Stevenson's preliminary hearing vii
take place at . o'clock this afternoon be
fore Judge Lee, when the only witness
Ben. Hoffman, will be examined.