Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-07-27
A STREET TRAGEDY.

Sensational Shooting In Kansas City, Kan
Lawyer B. Edward Johnston Shot
Dead by A. w. Little, q Prominent Busi-
ness Man.
ward Johnston. an eloquent lawyer,
was shot down and instantly killed by
A. w. Little, president of the Kaw
Feed & Coal Co., ex-president and di-
rector of the Armourdale bank and a
director in a Guthrie ok bank, in
front of Holzmark's furniture store, $50
Minnesota avenue, at $50 last night
The shooting was the outgrowth of
coal mine deal in which Little. John
ston and other Kansas City, Kan, men
were engaged last winter, and which
terminated unsatisfactory.
When the shooting occurred Johns
ton was standing with Eugene E.
Towner, clerk of the Wyandotte coun-
ty district court. and DR.. c. L. Van
Fossen, dentist. johnson had joined
Towner and DIR. Van Fossen only few
moments before. He had just lighted
a cigar in Connelly's drug store near
by and was smoking it complacently
with no thought Of impending death.
DR.. Van Fossen had one arm about
Johnston's shoulders, The three men
Johnston inquired, according to the
statements of DIR. Van Fossen and
Towner:
isn't that A. w. Little crossing the
street2'' He pointed to the corner of
Sixth and Minnesota avenue.
DIR. Van Fossen thought it was Little
Towner thought not, and offered in a
joking way to bet dollar on it, and
w. ~ L. IL
they were discussing the matter John
ston told them of a rather stormy
meeting with Little in the afternoon.
He said that he was passing Little at
the Western Union Office on Minnesota
avenue when the latter saluted him.
In return for the salutation Johnston
said he remarked to Little:
81 don't want you," using an ugly
epithet, ''to speak to me at any time. -
Meanwhile Little was approaching.
When he had crossed the street h was
joined by C. J. Hanks, an eX-justice of
the peace. Little and Hanks were
chatting in an ordinary manner as they
approached. When within twenty feet
of the group, of which Johnston was a
member, Little suddenly stepped for
ward two PAGES and a revolver seemed
place of concealment.
Johnston glanced around and look
of surprise was manifest in his face.
Without word of warning Little
fired. The bullet passed through John
ston's heart and he fell dead in the
gutter with the look of surprise still on
his face.
Soon after the shooting Little sur
4
mission to be taken home to see his
wife and children, which was granted.
He was then taken to Jail The body
of Johnston was taken in charge by
the coroner.
The coal mine deal, out of which
primarily grew the trouble, was entered
into last winter. George Douglass, N.
D. Carskadon, A. w. Little, J. r.
Quarles and B. E. Johnston were inter
ested. The mine was at Huntsville,
Mo. Early this spring Johnston &
Carskadon withdrew from the concern,
sold their shares and the enterprise
proved a losing one. Little was often
heard to accuse Johnston of causing
him to lose $4,000 in the deal
Johnston, on the other hand,
told reporter two weeks ago
that he felt that he was being entrapped
into some scheme, and that was the
reason, he said, that he pulled out. His
withdrawal from the concern, he fur
Their explained, was fastened because
he saw that Little and another of those
interested intended to beat him in the
matter. Much talk has been caused in
Kansas City, Kan, for long time over
this mine controversy.
Johnston was about 40 wears of age
Besides his wife he leaves two children
one 3 years of age and the other &c
months old. Little is about the same
age as Johnston and has three children
IA, IL and 10 years of age respectively