The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-22
WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.
Quarrel Between Two Prominent CIixens
Ends in . Shouting ARRAY.

Ends in , Shooting Array
Another tragedy was enacted on the
streets of Wellington at AS yesterday
afternoon that will. in all human prob
ability, result in the death of Isaac Hop
per an old and somewhat prominent
citizen of that city and one of the leading
| Democratic politicians of Sumnsy county
Isaac G. Reed was the other actor in the
tragedy.
From what could be gathered from a
special telephone message to the EAGLE
the details are about as follows: AT AS
Judge Reed was standing on
| Washington avenue in front
of the dry goods house of
Richardson & Co, when Hopper ap-
preached him in his usual prompt man.
ner. Some talk was INDUCED in and
Reed, it appears. immediately began NOV
ing away while Hopper WAS following him.
Reed warned Hopper to keep away from
him but the latter still kept pressing him,
talking all the while about some apparent
ly serious matter. When Reed had reach
ed the stairway that lead to his Office he
warned Hopper again to leave him aud up
on the latter failing to comply Reed pulled
a 81 calibre revolver ard fired, the bull
let taking effect in Hoppers stomach
/ about two or three inches above the navel
Hopper immediately jumped into his bug
gy and friend drove him home to
mis- family and Drs. Emmerson and Splitter
were summoned. They, finding the case a
serious one. and not being able to fiud the
bullet, telegraphed to this city for Drs.
Oldham and Fabrque. but these gentlemen
could not be found. What the trouble be-
tween them on this occasion was could not
be ascertained, as no one was near at the
time the tragedy occurred but District
Clerk George w. Ewing, and he could not
gather from their conversation what the
trouble between them was. 1t is the
current talk in Wellington, according to
information sent out from there to the
EAGLE that Reed was entirely too init
mate in the family of Hopper. A conven-
lent key TO the situation may be found by
the reader in the fact that after the shoot
Ing yesterday, when all hopes of his life
was dlspared of, Hopper changed his life
insurance policy so as to make his children
instead of his wife the beneficiaries.
The origin of the trouble between Reed |
and Hopper dates from last Christmas
day Both men had quarrel that day
and had a regular fist fight in the street in |
front of tho Arlington hotel in which |
Hopper came out victor At intervals from |
that time till this they had quarrels, |
Hopper always claiming that Reed was |
wronging him. About three weeks ago |
Hopper went to Reeds office and entered |
into serious conversation with and finally |
wound up by asking Reed to make an |
affidavit as defence to the character of
Mrs Hopper. Reed refused saying that
he would defend the reputation of Mrs. |
Hopper at the right time and in the right
place. That Hopper had a legitimate
grievance against Reed in this respect
public opinion in Wellington will sustain
from all the information at the command
of the EAGLE reporter As to the facts,
however, nothing can be said here, nor is it
proper perhaps to state them in
advance of the legal proceedings in the
case.
Immediately after the shooting Reed
was arrested and placed in the county Jail.
At 10 o'clock Hopper was bleeding pro-
fusely and his death was expected every
minute-ln fact, it seemed impossible for
him TO survive during the night. He made
his dying statement, but its contents
could not be ascertained.
Isaac G. Reed, the man who did the
shooting, is about 40 years of age and mar
ried, although his wife resides con tinually
in Boston. He is the law partner of Judge
Nebeker, and Judge Nebeker is a brother
to the present treasurer of the United
States. Reed is graduate of Yale college
and is said to be one of the best judges in
the state of Kansas although his practice
1c of In hat of ut her Lar in
Wellington. He will be remembered well
by the people of Sumner, Harper, Barber
and Commanche counties as the Republi-
can candidate for judge of that district in
1884 when he was beaten by James T. Her
rick. Democrat. He will be particularly
on account of the bitterness
that resulted from his nomination over
james A. Ray, the present judge of the re-
district He always seemed to
be very genial and intelligent man and
was popular Notwithstanding his
alleged beseting sin. 1t is said
that his trouble will effect the set
Element of the extensive interests of the
late E. n. Adrews, who died suddenly a
few weeks ago, as he was his chief law adj
visor.
Isaac Hopper was real estate aud in
surance man principally, but he was also {
4 lawyer He has Il large family aud was
N fairly good circumstances. He was
about 40 years old, prominent Democrat
and had lived many years in Sumner
He was in Wichita few weeks
ago making preparatory arrangements to
moving here, and it was said then that
lis object in moving to Wichita was to
improve the surroundings and influences g
Of his family.
The tragedy undoubtedly causes no
small amount of excitement in Yelling c
on, where botE men were well known. 1t c
5 said that Reed was made treasurer and /
deacon a short time ago of one OF the /
,hurhes there through the influence Of t
Hopper who was also a member of the
church.