Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-07-07

The business portion Of the city was
thrown into considerable commotion about
8 O'Clock yesterday morning by an attempt
on the part Of A. D. Stryker to kill J. W.
Bickell, Tho circumstances connected with
the affair, - related by parties who were
witneasss to i, are substantially % follows:
About the hour mentioned Mr.. ]. W.
Bickell was going north on Main street, and
Just - be reached the pavement against the
county building, corner Main and First
streets, Stzyker stepped from behind .
clump Of gentlemen standing near the foot
Of the steps that lead to the corner entrance
to the building, and with the remark, "You
DID son Of b., I'll kill you," thrust
pistol to within . foot of Bickell and fired,
but the aim was bad aud the ball entered
the ground few feet behind.
Shocked and astounded at the attack,
which was altogether unexpected, and being
unarmed and wholly unprepared to meet ii,
Mr.. Bickell caught Mr.. c. z. Richey, who
was standing nearest him, and whirled him
around, placing him between himself
and Stryker. Just then Stryker
fired . second shot which also missed
it. intended victim, but which made close
call on . man named Martin, driver of
street car No. 10, that was passing at the
time, cutting his sleeve and scarifying the
skin on his arm from the wrist to the elbow.
At this juncture, Mr.. j. D. Mccoy, who
had been 10 conversation with Mr.. Richey,
threw his left arm around Stryker's neck
and seized the pistol with his right, and in
the act of wrenching the weapon from the
would-be murderer, it was discharged a
third time, but the bullet fattened itself
against the brick wall few feet away and
did no harm.
This ended the shooting. Messrf. Mccoy
and Richey disarming Stryker, who. few
moments later was taken in charge by Officer
Snyder and conveyed 70 the city prison. In
the meantime Mr.. Bickell, realizing his de-
fanseless condition, and acting upon the
first promptings of nature. j. e.. self-preser-
walton, sought safety in an adjacent ONCE.
Shortly afterwsrd he went before Judge
Walker and swore out warrant for Stry-
ker, charging him with assault with intent
to kill. Later in the day Stryker was taken
before Judge Walker who fixed his bond at
$1,000 for bis appearance before the
circuit cou.t. In default of bail
he was turned over to the sheriff
and placed in the county Jail to await the
action of the grand jury and circuit court.
As to the cause of the difficulty. 1t seems
there has been some disagreement between
Stryker and Bickell, running back for sev-
eral weeks, and W hich had its origin, per-
haps. in the lodge of Knights of Labor OF
which both ware members. OF this it is not
our province to speak just now, nor do the
public care particularly to know; suffice it
Bickell asked for and was granted with
drawal card and last week Stryker was de-
posed from the position of master workman
and dismissed from the assembly.
In addition to the trouble just men
toned Stryker and Plat & Bickell had
some disagreement about q job of work,
and Stryker charged the blame of this
upon BickelL Then, outside parties have
busted themselves running back and forth
filling the Office of tale-bearer "a most vii
famous occupation), and have conveyed
from one to the other what they were
pleased to constrae into threats of violence,
and this is suggested by some as the imme-
diate cause of the open rupture.
Ordinarily it is mean and contemplate to
Jump on an unfortunate when he is
under the ban Of an adverse public senti-
ment and is oveEtsken in q fault or crime.
The writer does not consider this, however,
case that justifies the exercise Of forbear-
ance, for as is known by almost every one
in Wichita who knows anything of the man
at all. knows that A. d. Stryker is Il cad.
dangerous man in any community. Pos
sessed of naturally irrsscible temperament
his habits for some time-sxcessive drinking
and general dissipation-hsve transformed
him into crank Of . dangerous type. We
are informed his antecedents are not of the
order to be admired; that while his
paLontA uTo W0Esuy koVu S'si|ones Az i'"'
been self-willed and hard TO control. This
being his predisposition, and his course of
life such as indicated. it is not strange if his
home has not been happy one, though his
wife is represented as an amisble lady and q
true wife, and his children bright, intelli-
gent and lovable.
Pity It's that, surrounded by the ties and
inducements to higher aims and nobler &C
tions, as A. D. Stryker evidently has been, a
man should permit himself to be led by the
devil captive ct his will until he should be-
come his abject slave, As this poor, to be
pitied mouomaniac is. His suffering family
have the sympathy Of oil. but the hero of
this article is hardly entitled to pity from
any.
The accused will be given preliminary
bearing before Judge Walker tomorrow
morning a. 9 O'Clock.
BUSINESS II OUsES BUILNING.
Jewell and Castle have determined to