Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-15
THE INQUEST.
The Coroner's Jury Finds the Shooting Of Of
fcer Hartzell Accidental and Exoner-
ates Blood From any Blame.

The Coroner's Jury Finds the Shooting Of OF
fcer Hartzell Accidental and Exoner-
ates Blood From any Blame.
| Yesterday morning between the hours oil
aud o'clock Officer s. 4. Hartzell, who
had been shot Thursday forenoon by Z. K.
Blood, died in front room Of the River
side hotel. He seemed not TO have recov-
cred consciousness after the surgical ex-
animation OF the night and passed away as
if he was falling asleep so quietly and pea
ceable was his end. Besides his wife and
child there were in the room several Off
GERS and brother living in Sumner coun-
ty, who had been notified Of the accident.
In the afternoon his remains were taken
to the home Of his family, No. $40 Wabash
Ave.
At o'clock an inquest was held upon
the remains by the coroner and jury. The
following report of the proceedings is
given as it will tend to show how the fatal
accident occurred and to exonorate from
any blame whatsoever Mr.. Blood, who
was the unwilling cause Of the officer
death.
DR.. Oldham, the first witness, being
sworn, on oath said: / was called Deem
Der IS, at 1890 think, to West Wichi a. l
found deceased lying in a store and was
suffering very severely from a shock; did
not examine wound at that time as |
wanted to bring about a reaction. / saw
him again at 2 o'clock. DR.. Jorcon was
with me and / saw his condition was much
the same. He Lad Yomited clotted blood;
thought that it came from the stomach.
saw him again at 5 and 6; indications OF
reaction; extremities warm; saw him again
at :. DR.. Fabrique and l thought thea an
examination only could do; called
in Jordon, Purdy, Hinsdale and
Hoffman. We opened the abdomi-
nal cavity saw large quantity of blood in
same. We secured bleeding points and
sewed up wound in stomach, saw that the
ball had passed through the stomach and
cut the spinal arteries; wound was neces-
sarily fatal. ! heard Hartzell say the shot
was purely accidental and that he did
not want Blood prosecuted he was at the
time perfectly rational.
w. d. Turner, the next witness, said:
About 10 o'clock Hartzell came into our
store and said he wanted to trade off his
his pistol. Ny partner, Z. Blood, said
all right, and then he showed
his pistol l told him to trade
for 81 or even. | came to see
he had traded to US. Blood said let me
see pistol traded you: Hartzell handed it
to him. When Blood had pistol in his
hand it went off Then heard Blood say,
"are you hurt" Hartzel replied: My
God, man; see what you have done?" and
he walked out to the sidewalk. Then he
- 80 l,,,+ op6
into Booths store did not hear exactly
what Blood did say when he took the re-
volver but think he said let me show you
about it; think that it would
not go off at half-cock. 1t was IS British
bulldog HartZell and Blood were both
good friends; Hartzell would come into the
store two or three times day.
7. r Booth: Yesterday l started from
my store on the West Side
to come over the river. Just as took hold
of the door heard a shot; ! heard some
one say am shot or killed; | went in front
of the second hand store and saw HartZell
with his hand on his side and in distress.
Blood said, what have done?" HartZell
started for my door and l got a cot ready
for him; put him upon the cot and tele-
phoned the police headquarters; l went to
Hartzell and thought he was dying; | said
tell me all about it and he related how he
had traded and then Blood said, ''let me
show you something in regard to the gun. -
The boy let it go off accidentally He |
stated positively that it was an accident. |
told the crowd what he said and Hart |
zell said yes" he said telephone for my
wife / heard him say several times that |
le did not want him prosecuted.
c. A. Marford-I was at Turner and |
Blood's store the morning of December |
18th and Hartzell came in; wanted TO /
rade guns for 81 or even. They traded, | /
ion't know how, went to front and Turner (
ooked at pistol he had traded for: put in /
his pocket and asked HartZell if he could /
AIRY; he thought not. Blood took it and |
laid let me show you something. 1t .
EXPLODED: did not think there was a
oaded gun in the house. HartZell put
lis hand to his side, walked to the side
walk and exclaimed: Boys it is an
accident. Hartzell said, don't let him
lurt himself referring to Blood. saw
blood on Hartzell when he was in Booths
tore
The jury was composed of John Fisher
l. Lily, ' . ~. I'D utS, u w IluSlOl, W.
,. Mosley and A. H. Mckee. They re-
urned the following verdict: The de-
eased came to his death from pistol shot
wound at the hands of Z. E. Blood, and
ye. the jury further find that the shoot
ng was accidental and that the said (. T. /
Blood is fully exonerated from blame"
The funeral of the deceased will take
lace Sunday afternoon, the arrangements
or which Will be made this evening at the
Meeting of Garfield Post G.. \. r., of
7hich he was during his lifetime a mem
er.
Young Blood is almost insane over the
fleet of the frightful accident and il is
cared that he may yet lose his reason.
THE WICHITA BAR ASSOCIATION.
There will be a meeting of the Wichita
L s -.