The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-02
WHAT WITNESSES SAY OF THE
WOOD MURDER.

SOul0 OF the bleInOOlSG Cnurcn IN hugo
ton; was coming toward them; noticed
the smoke in the door of the church
when the first shot was fired Wood was
stepping down off the step; could not see
anyone injured by the shooting, but saw
Wood run; after Wood had got half the
length Of the church, I saw Jim Bren
nan running after him with pistol in
each hand; heard three shots fired, two
shots fired in quick succession; Brennan
was about fifty feet behind Wood; Wood
turned the southwest corner; then Bren-
nan ran up to him near the northwest
corner; when he was in about three feet
of him he throwed down his gun and
fired one more shot. Did not
see Wood have any pistol
in his hand. The first shot that
was fired Wood threw up his hands to
his face and ran. | heard two shots
fired before l saw Brennan come out o.
the church. At the time the second
shot was fred Word was running west,
bent forward, with his hands to his face,
or had just started to run
Mrs. j. r. Carpenter swore: ga few
minutes after we got to the church Col.
Wood went in and Mrs. Wood and /
stopped at the buggy, near the door;
there was a man standing in the door in
side the church; think Wood was in the
| church about ten minutes; this man
stood there all the time; when Wood
! came out he shot Wood just after step
ping off the last step; when shot Wood
screamed and halloed, putting his hands
up to his face; he followed and shot
again; would Know the man if | saw him
he wore a white shirt and dark suit of
clothesi don't think they were over ten
feet apart; would not like to set the dis
lance. Wood had no weapons when he
was shot; there was not word passed
between Wood and the man who shot
him; Wood was almost to the buggy
when shot"
Mrs. Wood testified, giving the same
account of the shooting which has be-
fore been published.
L. p. Ludwick swOre: I live four
miles northeast of Woodsdale, Stevens
county, Kansas, was subpCened mere
today as a witness; came in town in
front seat of the spring wagon in which
Col. Wood was riding; we all got out
at the well and got drink; Wood got
in the buggy with his wife and Mrs.
Carpenter and drove to the church or
court house. L put my horse up at
Cams stable, then came over to the
church; when got here Mrs. Carpenter
and Mrs. Wood sat in the buggy six or
eight feet south of the door: | came up
the steps; James Brennan was standing
inside the door with his right hand in
his hip pocket; just about that time
Judge Botkin and two or three more
came out; Judge looked up and said:
"Hello, Jimmy; had my back to them;
don't know whether Brennan spoke to
BOtkin or not; Wood was at that time
examining the court docket; about ten
minutes after that Wood went out of the
same door / came in; did not see Wood
and Brennan when they passed each
other; did not see the first shot fired;
ran out and saw Wood running west
about eight feet from the building with
his hand to his face, seemed to be holding
his hat on with one hand; Wood was
running; Brennan was running after
him; l was about thirty feet behind
Brennan; he had pistol in his right
hand; Mrs. Wood was close after Bren-
nan; l saw him turn and look at her as
though ne was going to strike her, then
run on around the west end of the build
ing; when they got to the northwest cor
ner Of the building Brennan was right
close to Wood; Wood turned about half
around and looked at Brennan, when
Brennan fired the third shot right in
his face; Wood fell on his left shoulder
and turned over on his back: l saw the
powder burn on his face after death; l
did not see anyone talking to Brennan;
he was standing there looking very pale;
no one spoke to him to my knowledge,
unless it was BOtkin, who said, Hello,
Jimmy | heard no response from Bren-
nan" Witness explained that he ran
around after Brennan from the southeast
corner of the building to the northwest
corner, and was in sight of both Brennan
and Wood all the time. Il was close to
them when Brennan fired the third shot,
at which time Wood fell to the ground;
Brennan then jumped to the left, across
or close to Woods feet, and started to
run and | ran after him; when he ,
got to about the center Of the building
on the north side Sheriff Cam !
passed me; / then stopped and |
ran back to where Wood lay: Brennan |
had two large revolvers; l did not see |
Wood have any weapons: after | went |
back to where Wood lay ran back along |
the building where Brennan was holding /
Sheriff Cam and the crowd at BAY with !
two revolvers; he said he would not sur |
render 10 Sheriff Cam, but would sur |
render TO Frank; / don't know Frank, |
only l am told he is the sheriff of Morton /
county, Kansas; ] also saw b. E. John |
son go up behind Sheriff Cam and catch |
hold Of his revolver, telling him not 10
shoot"
Mrs. \. f. Drew's testimony corrobor- |
ated that of the other witness. though /
She was not so near to the scene of the |
shooting.
5 Q. Auberrv stated: Il live in /
stevens county, Kansas; was summoned |
here today as one of the jury: as / was
coming from the well 10 the court house,
when l was about twenty or thirty feet
II the building, | saw Mrs. Wood and 4
Mrs. Carpenter in the buggy, which was
TX or eight feet south OF the door; was
Ooklng toward the court house; | saw
JoL Wood as ne came out of the house
almost TO the buggy; heard a shot aud
aw the smoke: q gun or pistol; Wood
aised his hands 10 his head and I
vhlrled around facing the west. or lit
lie more as though he was turning TO
he door; almost az the same instant /
econd shot was fired; Jim Brennan
Jumped out OF the doorway with a SIX
hooter smoking in his hand; Wool
4arted 10 run west, about eight or
welve feet from the house: / think
leard two other shots; / am no positive