The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-23
SHOT IN THE DARK
UNKNOWN MAN ATTEMPTS TO KILL
JOHN HERMAN.
Young Man Of Good Reputation Goes
Out for a Drink at Night and is
Shot in the Dark-PoSSe of En-
ragged Neighbors Hunting for the
Would-be Assassin.

John Herman was shot By an unknown
assassin Sunday night, and was seriously,
if not fatally wounded.
On Sunday night John Herman, aged
% years. returned to the place where he
working, S. L. Scoviles. two miles east of
Bur ton car works, at 1890. He had at
tended church during the evening at the
Wesley chapel, and was accompanied
home by Mr.. aud Mrs. Robb, neighbors.
He had prepared his bed and removed his
clothing, with the exception of his pants
aud shirt, when he concluded to 60 to the
wind pump .about 100 yards. northeast OF
the house. Without putting on his shoe 5
he started down the path in the direction of
the pump. During the day the milk trough
used by Mr.. Scovilie for cooling the milk
for his dairy had overfiown and a muddy
place was made by the water. When John
was going to the pump it was necessary to
cross this place and in the darkness be
stepped into the mud with his bare feet.
He then gave jump towards the pump
and came against a man who was standing
there holding a horse.
Herman surprising this was Mr.. Scoville
said: "Why. Sep, what are you doing
I'D at this time of the night" The man
made no reply, but drew his revolver and
fired, hitting Herman on the left side OF
abdomen, and the ball passed backwards
and is supposed TO have lodge against the
hip bone.
Herman fell to the ground and the as
sassin and MS companion made their es-
cape. After crawling to the house Her
man woke Mr.. aud Mrs. Scoville and poti-
fed them of what had happened Mr..
Scovlle Immediately informed his neigh
bors. and II messenger was sent for Drs.
st. John and Ingalls,.
The physicians found that the bail had
entered the abdomen near the waist band
of the pants, but that by striking the
front button OF the trousers it had been
turned to the left, and thus missed pass
ing through the jntestines. That the
young man was necessarily very weak
from the loss of blood. bnt believed that
the patient while seriously wounded was
not necessarily fatally injured, unless in
ternal hemorrhage should occur. The
physicians stayed with the man until
morning, when they left him resting easy.
but with "A low pulse.
In company with DIR. st. John an EAGLE
representative visited the scene of the as
sassination last evening and learned from
Mr. ScOville the following particulars:
"Johu is a son of Charles Herman, who
has lived in this neighborhood for thirteen
years. IIc - ~ yOuuS DudH STU
gle bad habit as far as | know. He has
lived with me for the past three years and
has not a known enemy. His family ID
one of the most highly respected in Sedg-
wick county. He never had firearn
about him since have known him, and
never heard of him having an enemy. Sun
day night he went as usual TO church and
returned about 10 o'clock. | did not hear
him when he came in but my wife did. He
has a cot in the kitchen which he pre-
pared, and had hung up his coat and vest
and removed his shoes. My wife heard
him go to the water bucket for drink OF
water but upon finding il empty started
to the we'll. As you will see, the path is
plain, aud being down hill he started to-
ward the pump, as he said, running.
When he came to the place where the
overflow of the water is, / could see.
when l brought the lantern, where
he had stepped with his bare foot
and jumped. The place where he landed
from the jump could be plainly discerDed.
Here he jumped against man whose foot
marks were plainly seen and was shot.
did not wake until he came to the door.
carried him into the house aud went for a
neig hbor, who at ouce went for doctor.
Other neighbors came and we began a
search for the assassin. We could plainly
see the foot prints OF two horses. One was
shod with plates or trotting shoes and the
Quiet uOISc WAS uueEOd- VIC iOlAc"Cti
the tracks to the public road where they
turned north. The horses We're running
when they left the pump, as we could see
by the track. My opinion is that the men
had come to the pump for the purpose OF
water AS | cannot believe they were reEu-
lar thieves as The shot was with a % calaber
revolver, and that the moon not being up
Johu had come on them unexpectedly and
in the excitement they shot The man
must certainly have had the pistol in his
hands rs John had no sooner touched him
than he fired. 1t is probable that they
heard John as he WAS running down the
path. and believing they were about TO be
jumped upon, were scared and fired.
When they found they had shot him the y
mics or firearms an d Is held in the highest
esteem by all"
On arriving at the house Dr.. ST. John
had finished dressing the wound. but was
unable to definitely locate the ball
Young Herman was asked for a statement
and made tie following with great diff
Guilty:
1T was so dark that did not see any
| body. When | stepped into the mud,
| jumped aud came against the man. | sup
| posed it was Mr.. Scoville aud asked him
what he was doing up at that time of the
night The man fired and l fell to the
ground. i thought / was shot in the leg
as my leg tingled as though | had struck
| the crazy bone. The pistol set fire 20 my
shirt. l crawled to the house and called
| Mr.. Scovil!e. have not an enemy that
| know Of l think the man who shot me
| was scared worse that | was, and would
come and own up, if he thought he could
do so in safety. / am satisfied that had il
| not been for the button on
my pants the bullet would have
D. ssei through me- As 1t is | am
| very sore, but think will get out. | never
| owned or Carried Ia firearm in my life
| had been TO church that evening and wa:
going to the pump for drink. l hay,
! lived in Sedgwick comfy foc thirteen
wears: in fact since ! was twelve years Of
/ age, and you will please say there was nC
| woman in this case.
Tue entire neighbnthond, and. in fact
| almost every farmer in hechi township
were callers yesterday TO see the wounded
man. He was universally popular with all
! and although DR.. ST. John gave positiv,
/ orders that no one should be admitted &C
| the sick room aside from his father anC
mother aud Mr.. and Mrs. Scovi.le. thel
anxiously awaited every bulletin from th,
/ sick room.
The assassin is not known, but there is
large posse on the trail, aud il was the gen
erai belief last ight that the mau who did
! the shooting would be Tua down. Tn,
| shoes on the horse were OF 4 peculiar m h
aud The mans footprints IN the soft grouuo
by the pump are very plain, and tue To-
! will be closely followed 10y q determined
| set OF men.
| Almost like electricity. DR.. Prices Bak
ing Powder, because il works so quickly
No other works 50 fast.