Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-09-06
j. L. LEEPER.
ne was Related to Residents of this
City.

). l.. Leeper, who was fatally shot
al alk's Store, In Ada county, last
week, was well-known in this CITY.
and is brother Of Mrs. jackson aud
Mrs. Mckibben. The Statesman
publishes the following additional par
tlculars of the affair:
James Curtis, the negro who on
tuesday morning, at FalA's Store,
KILLED j. L. Leeper, was Yesterday
lodged In the county Jail by Deputy
Sheritfs E. E. Morton and ed. Blan.
chard.
On Thursday Justice Bishop held
Curtis without bail to avail. the action
OF the November grand jlry.
From information now at hand it
seems that Curtis was not so fully
justified in shooting Leeper as was at
first supposed.
The coroner's jury empaneled by
Justice Bishop, found that Leeper's
death had been caused by gun shot
wounds III the bowels and groin, in.
inflicted by the negro.
The testimony adduced at the in.
quest and at the preliminary examin-
alton showed that Curtis, who had
been employed as cook at one of
William Stewart's cattle camps about
two miles away from Falk's Store, had
quit work and come to the hamlet,
where he became drunk. About mid
night he was in Woods saloon with
William Stewart, Jr., and Jim Wood
ward, and when the place was closed
he asked Stewart to give him some
blankets upon which to sleep.
His request was granted, and Curtis
started toward house belonging to
Stewart, ia which he had formerly
slept.
The house had been rented to Fred
Foster, and was at the time tenanted
by himself, his wife and Leeper. The
latter had been working on the Paw
cite canal, but he had become i'll and
had come to Falk's Store to rest.
When Curtis reached the house his
request for admission was denied.
Mrs. Foster told him that he could not
sleep there, but Curtis persisted, say>
ing he would sleep in the house or kill
everyone in it.
Finally Leeper said: "Give me that
pistol, Fred, and | will scare him
away"
He fired shot over Curtis head,
and the latter raised a shotgun tina,
he carried and fred point blank at
Leeper. The latter fell, crying out
that he had been shot and bcse eching
tn, Sc present to run for doctor.
Curtis did not attempt to run away.
He was held at Falk's Store until day
ligh. and then taken to Emmett where
there is Jail. A physician was not
sent for until sunrise, and then DR..
Clymer OF Emmett was summoned.
Leeper lived nearly y hours, and lie
moanei and writhed with
pain. After the inquest the body of
the murdered man was inferred at the
e Expense Of the county.
ne prisoner was interviewed Oy |
Statesman reporter at l O'Clock yes.
terday afternoon. He is a mulatto,
about So years of age, and at one time
he was employed upon the New York
ditch, near this city. He is a sharp
fellow, and was very careful not to
say anything that could be used
against him. He declared that he had
never seen Leeper before, and that he
was not looking for fight when the
shooting occurred. He had been out
hunting and had loaded gun in his
hands when he approached the house
where he formerly slept. While he
was talking with the woman Leeper
came to the door and fired at him. He
fancied he was hit, and staggered
backward. He thought that Leeper
was about to shoot again, so he raised
his gun and fired. AS Leeper fired he
uttered several words, the purport of
which he would not disclose until
placed upon trial.