Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-14
FATAL ACCIDENT.
OFFICER S. A. HARTZELL SHOT BY
E. E. BLOOD,
On the West Side, Yesterday Forenoon
The Council Of the Doctors
Last Night.

Yesterday forenoon shortly before II
| o'clock another officer received a pistol
shot wound which it now appears will
without doubt prove fatal S. \. Hartzell
well known and deservedly popular
police officer who has for few days past
been on duty on the west side, was acct
dentally shot by Z. E. Blood in the sec
ond hand store of Turner & Blood, on
Chicago avenue.
EartZell, from the statements made it
seems has been talking for some
time about trading the revolver
which he carried as it was too long for
pocket for another of the same calibre. IS,
but shorter which Mr.. Blood had in his
store. The officer Wednesday entered the
store and asked to see the revolver; but
Mr. Blood told him it was at his home
and that he would bring it down with
him the next morning.
Yesterday forenoon the officer entered
the store and said, well, are you ready
to make that trader" Mr.. Blood
took the revolver down from the shelf
and handed it to him. After arranging
the trade Mr. Hartzell removed the cart
ridges from his own fire arm, put them
into his new revolver and placed it in his
inside coat pocket. He then stood aronnd
and talked with the gentlemen in the
store, when Mr. Blood asked him to let
him see the fire arm as he wished to call
his attention TO the working of the trigger.
Mr.. Turner was in the meantime swapping
the other revolver, holding it towards the
floor. Mr.. Blood took the pistol and
it seems not knowing that Mr.. Hartzell
had put the cartridge in it, commenced to
call his attention to how difficult it was to
pull back the hammer. He had it about
half way back when his finger slipped, the
revolver was discharged and the ball en-
tered the body of the officer. The latter
stepped back and said "See what
you have done" He then walked
to the door and to some person
who inquired if he was shot, he said, "4es,
it was entirely accidental; don't blame
Blood" He was taken to }. G. Booth &
Co. IS store next door, and bed made for
him upon cot in the rear of the room.
Dr. Oldham was Immediately sent for,
and going to the wounded man commenced
an examination of the wound. He found
that the ball had entered on the left side
about two inches below the heart, but
the probing made by him and the other
physicians, among whom were DR.. Jordon,
failed to locate the ball. They at the time
expressed but little hopes for his recovery.
The wounded man lay on his cot during
the afternoon attended by his wife and
several of the police force, and in the
evening was removed to a room in the
Riverside hotel, just across the bridge.
AT II O'Clock an examination was again
made by the physicians in the hopes of
finding the ball. There were present Drs.
Purdy, Fabrique, Oldham, Jorden, Hotf-
man and Hinsdale They did not find the
ball but discovered its course and saw that
it must prove fatal.
Mrs. Hartzell remained in rear room of
the hotel and with her, her bright little
son who has for some time been employ
ed as messenger boy at the Western
Union. She was deeply affected by the
sad accident that had befallen her husband
and seemed to have given up all hopes of
his recovery.
By his death this faithful officer leaves
besides his widow six fatherless children,
who were dependent upon him for support.
At . o'clock the surgical examination
was completed: it was found that the ball
had entered just below the heart under the
seventh rib, passed slightly downward
through the stomach lodging in the mus
Gle of the back, severing several large ar
teries. 1t was advisable to discontinue
the investigation as there was no hopes of
recovery, it being believed that he would
die before morning. IL the ball had passed
a sixteenth of an inch to the right of its
track it would have severed an artery that
would have caused almost Instant death.