The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-17
HIS FIRST MAN.
OMcer irish Shoots an Alleged Coal Thief
Named Spidle.

Ate O'Clock last night officer Irish Of the
Metropolitan police force. shot at and
probably fatally wounded man named
Wesley Spidle on North Mosely avenue.
For some weeks an immense amount of
coal has been stolen both from private
parties and the railway companies, and
the practice became SO serious that two
policemen have been detailed specially for
the business of watching.
Yesterday the Santa Fe company made
complaint to the police that a quantity of
coal had been stolen from
their cars on North Mosely ave-
nue. and Officers Irish and Scnlly were
detailed last night and sent up there to
watch for the thieves in expectation OF
either them or others returning to carry
away some more coal. AT the hour named
they saw two men, evide ntiy stealing coal
from the company's cars, and the officers
slipped up on them cautiously. Ofticer
Scully car tured Spidle and turned him
over to Officer Irish in order that he
might capture the other man, for be was
much younger aud more active than Irish
When SpIdle was alone with Irish be
broke away and tried to make his escape
and Irish pulled his 3S-calibre, double
action revolver and fired shot
in the air in hopes OF causing.
him to halt. He did not halt
however, and Irish gave him chase.
When within about ten feet of Spldle,
Irish hit the end OF tie with his foot
stumbled and fell. When falling he tried
to catch himself on the elbow to save his
head from coming in contact with the
steel rail, and as he struck the ground the
revolver went off and shot Spidie In the
back The ball entered near the tenth rib
and naturally ranged upward from the
position of the officer, aud lodged under
the skin about three inches below the
right breast. Spidle fell, and cried out
that be was shot. BY this time Officer
Scully had captured the other man and
brought him to the scene. A message
was sent at once to police headquarters
and an ambulance was sent down
which conveyed him to the City hospital.
Drs St John and Fordyce were hastily
and they went at once to the
hospital They cut the bullet out. Spidle
was bleeding internally and the probable
ity is that the wound is fatal.
Spidle is man about 40 years old and
resides at $50 North Meade avenue. He
has wife and child. and he came recently
from some town in Indiana.
Officer Irish is all broke up over the &C.
currence and it is said that he cried like a
child when he ascertained what he had
done. In an interview with an EAGLE
reporter he told story sub
the same rs above
related. Officer Scully substantiates
his story and says that no blame whatever
attaches to Irish as the revolver exploded
when he fell down.
Chief Cone after returning from the hos
oital last night where he saw and talked
with the wounded man called up the
EAGLE Office and made statement Of the
facts. He added that no blame was at
,ached to Irish by him as he regarded it
IN accident which could not be averted
lnder the circumstances. He said it would
result In the force being disarmed of self
cooking double action revolvers
f he had to give them |
in their stead. Spidles' partner
II the attempted theft gives his name as
Thomas. but that is not his right name. |
he also lives on Meade avenue and is
,eighbor OF the wounded man.
Irish is middle aged man who was ap- |
pointed on the police force soon after the |
,hange of administration. He is the |
ailer at the station, but was detailed last |
light to do this work as the other officers |
we're busy and one of the force being sick. |
Dr. St. John was interviewed at o'clock |
his morning and he stated that the symp- |
oms of the mans condition were very I'M
favorable and that he looked for fatal re-
sults