Fergus County argus., 1890-10-09
w. w. Bennett Shoots Wade Baker
and Under Sheriff Shaules.
THE FORMER RECEIVES WHAT NAY
PROVE A FATAL WOUND.


About q o'clock last Thursday even
ing our citizens were startled by the
rapid firing OF a revolver, and in II brief
period large crowd had gathered in
front OF Blaker Bros. saloon, where
the shooting took place. The princi-
pals to tine desperate encounter were
W. W. Bennett and Wade Blaker.
The shooting was the result Of a grndge
or difficulty growing out OF gam
bling debt, and was Of some months
standing.
From under-Sheriff Shaules, who
was one OF the victims OF the shooting,
we get the following version OF the
affair: 81 was coming down the street
about six o'clock, and when within a
rod or two OF Blaker Bros saloon
saw Wade Blaker strike w. w. Ben
nett with a piece Of board, when
both men drew their revOlvers and
commenced firing. I rushed up and
grabbed Blaker and endeavOred to
stop the shooting, when bullet from
Benefits revolver struck me in the
arm, rendering it useless. Bennett re-
treated to his home, where he was ar
rested soon afterward and lodged in
jail"
The first shot from Benefits re-
volver struck Blaker, entering the
right breast about two inches to the
right of the meiian line and three
inches above the nipple, coming out
through the right shoulder-blade.
After Blaker received his wound he
was heard to excla,m to his brother
Julian, who was present: "lie has
done me; take my revolver and shoot
the son-of-a-b-." But Julian was
prevented from shooting.
1t is thought five shots were fired
three by Bennett and two by Blaker.
One of the shots from Benefits re-
volver went through Wade Blaker, as
stated above, and made an indenture
in the window casing behind him; an
other struck Mr.. Shaules in the right
arm and was removed by the doctors;
the third passed through the window
OF the saloon.
Ashot from Blaker' rev o. yer entered
the postotlice building across the
street.
There are different versions rs to the
difficulty. Some claim that Blaker
was standing in front Of his saloon
when Bennett came along, stepped of
the sidewalk, drew his revolver and
commenced firing without any words
or provocation, but the story told by
Under Sheriff Shaules is given cre,lence.
Mr.. Shaules was shot through the
right forearm, and the bullet was cut
out of the flesh just under the elbow.
The bullet shattered the small bone OF
the forearm.
The above account was published in
an extra" on the morning following
the shooting. An examination was
held before Judge Gudgell on Friday
aft ernoon and Saturday morning, the
prisoner appearing in his own defense.
Owing to the excitement attending the
shooting the evidence was somewhat
conflicting. Nearly all of the witnesses
testified that they did not see Blaker
strike Bennett with stick, or make
any motion toward him.
Under Sheriff Shaules' testimony,
given below in substa ance, cOrrects the
first account given by him which was
taken hurriedly and under some diff
culties by an ARGUS reporter: He was
coming down the street, and as he
stepped upon the porch at the drug
store he saw Wade and Julian Blaker
in front OF their saloon. At that in.
slant W. W. Bennett stepped upon the
porch i'm front OF the saloon, when
Wade Blaker struck him with a stick
he had in his hand. Mr.. Shaules could
not say whether he struck him more
than once or not. He grabbed Blaker,
when Bennett drew his revolver and
fired twice in rapid succession, although
he had hold OF Blaker and calling upon
Bennett to desist. Bennett fired the
third shot after slight interval, then
ran across the street. Blaker fired
one shot at Bennett after he was
fifteen feet away. Mr.. Shaules says
the stick with which Blaker struck
Bennett was small one and not large
enough to stagger him.
After hearing all the testimony the
court remanded the prisoner into the
custody OF the sheriff to await the re.
suit of the wounds inflicted upon
Shaules and Blaker.
At the present writing both men are
doing well.