Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-22
THE NEwcoME TRAGEDY.
Printed Letter From the Hon VIM. Ross
Clearing up All Doubts.

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
1t would certainly be very amusing, to
say the least, to the people of Clearwater
who are conversant with all the facts of
the unfortunate affair which occurred in
the case of Mr. Newcome at the Clear
water bank Were it not for the mortifi-
cation that is felt by the people of this
city when they read the very absurd arti-
Giles which have been going the rounds Of
the press lately calculated to cast I'M
favorable reflections upon the character
and business integrity OF one OF the trusted
and most respected citizens OF this place.
Had there been any mystery surround
ing the occurrence, or had there not been
ample opportunity for any member Of the
press to place himself in full possession of
all information necessary to place a
truthful statement before the pub
lie concerning the matter, there
might nave been some excuse
for all the nonsenslcal foolishness that has
been circulated throughout the country in
regard to a matter, concerning which,
there cannot be shadow of doubt. At
the time of the occurrence people remarked
that il was fortunate thing for Mr.. Til
linghast that there werefparties present in
the bank at the time the shooting took
place, and SO it has turned out to be, as
there might have been some grounds for
ready to put the worst construction on
such affairs, and it is always hard mat
ter to prove a negative III the absence OF
positive evidence But no one that has
known Mr.. Tillinghast since he has resided
in Clearwater, would entertain an IDEA for
moment that he would be party to
any such an unmanly action as the press
would insinuate.
Here is plain statement of facts as re-
lated by all the parties who could know
anything in regard to the matter what
ever, and the public can figure out for
themselves who shot Mr.. Newcome. The
outside of the main room of the bank is
separated from the inside by an open wire
railing and no part OF the room Is obscured
from the vision of persons on the outside
of the counter. At the time that Mrs.
Brumtield and her son-a young man
grown-entered the bank on the day OF the
shooting, for the purpose OF drawing some
| money, Mr.. Tillinghast and Mr.. Newcome
were sitting near a desk that stood In the
center of that part of the room, inside Of
the railing. Mr.. Tilinghast rose from his
chair and advanced to the cash window Of
the bank to examine her account. At this
time Mrs. Brumfeld observed Newcome
rise from his chair and take a pistol
from the desk near where he had been
sitting and 90 into room in the
rear of the building and close
this time had returned to the cash window,
reached foI the money and counted it out,
aud had just pushed it towards the lady
when they heard the report OF a pistol in
the room Mrs. Brumfield said, that
man must have shot himself. l saw him
| take pistol in there with him." Mr..
Tillinghast went towards the door of the
room, at the same time telling the other
parties to come in, and when the door was
opened they found Mr.. Newcome lying on
the floor in an insensible condition. After
giving the alarm, and a number of citizens
coming to the place, he recovered so tar SO
| that he was able to walk block to the
hotel. WM Ross.