The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-10-18
A BLOODY ARRAY.
A Game Of Craps Results in a
Terrible Tragedy Near
Boonville.


passenger train for Hannibal pulled
out from the union depot last Friday
morning, four negro men, who had
been employed in loading ties on the
south end of the NJ, X. Il T. road,
boarded the train, with the intention
of going to Moberly.
The negroes were supplied with
passes, also with several bottles of
liquor. They were not long in be-
coming hilarious and finally started a
game Of craps in the smoking car.
When about three miles south of
BOonville fierce quarrel arose among
the quartette, named John Searcy,
Frank Harris, Henry Wheaton and
James Cornelius. \ desperate
encounter then took place,
when Harris stabbed Wheaton near
the heart with large pocket knife.
This did not end the atfiay, for
Searcy took up the quarrel and "A
desperate struggle ensued between
him and Harris, the former trying to
draw his revolver. Harris was strug-
Cling TO get possession of it in order to
save his life, but Searcy, who has the
strength Of a giant, managed to get it
in position and fired. The ball was
truly aimed, striking Harris in the
left side and passing almost entirely
through his body. The wounded ne
gro ran out of the smoking car into
the adjoining passenger coach and
fell, fatally shot, in the aisle.
Conductor Smith, was standing
within two feet of the combatants, and
witnessed the whole struggle. He
saws that he knew somebody was sure
to be shot, but was powerless to inter-
fere.
Less than ten minutes would he
required to reach BOonville and he
advised Searcy, who still held his 10
calibre revolver, to he quiet and sur
render himself to the authorities upon
reaching the city.
As soon a. the train arrived there
Smith telephoned to the officers and
they promptly responded. At their
approach Searcy started toward the
bridge spanning the Missouri river,
with the intention OF again boarding
it there when it slowed up. But the
police were close at his heels and he
ran westward along the Lexington
branch track. a fusilade took place
between him and the pursuing officers
and it was not until he had made
desperate resistance that he was
captured and lodged in Jail
Cornelius stayed on the train and
made his way to Moberly, where he
was arrested.
Harris was removed to house near
by and prompt surgical and medical
given, but he died early yes
terday morning from the effects of the
wound.
Conductor Smith SAYS that the floor
of the smoking car was covered with
blood and presented a sickening sight.
Cornelius story is he related it to
the reporter Is that a gang of negroes
who had been loading ties down in
the Indian Territory, were EN- route
home and to pass the time away began
4 crap game. Among the PLAYERS
were Frank Harris, Henry Wheatley
and John Sercey. When the train
WIS within few miles of Boonville a
arose and Harris whip
ped out a knife and stabbed Wheatley
near the heart inflicting a fearful and
likely Il fatal wound. \ second after
the stabbing Secrecy pulled out a re-
volver and shot Harris the ball lodg-
ing in his left breast. BY this time
the smoking car was bloody scene,
with Wheatley and Harris stretched
out bleeding from their wounds.
On the arrival of the train at Boon
vile, Secrecy jumped off and started
TO run. He was pursued by officers
but disregarded their commands to
halt. The officers then opened fire
and Sercey fell, but how hard he was
hit Cornelius could not say, Is the
train-pulled out at that time.
Cornelius is held on the charge of
giving the knife, which did the bloody
work, to Harris, but he saws he had
no intimation at the time the knife
was given that there would be any
All the parties involved are hard
characters and their names appear in
many places on the court records.
Harris has done time in the state pen
itentiary.
BooNvILLE, Oct. 10, Especial. II
Frank Harris, the negro shot by John
Searcy on the North bound NJ, X. Il
I. yesterday died this morning. The
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