The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-11
THEY WON'T SHOOT.
ONLY SLIGHT GROUNDS FOR THE
REPORTED BIRD-ADAMS DUEL.
Col. Birds Irish is Partially UP, But
Not TO the Dueling Point-The SO
Far Bloodless Controversy IS
Over the Hagerman Will
Case-COI. Bird Talks.

There has been no blood shed yet in the
Bird-Adams controversy.
The fact is there was not much ground
for the startling report circulated yester-
day that Colonel Nicholas Bird had sent a
challenge to Attorney John w. Adams to
fight duel.
The report had it that not only the chai-
lenge was sent but that the weapons had
been agreed upon. the seconds selected
and the ground located on the island south
of the Wichita AMI Western railroad
bridge The readiness with which the
report was given credence was due no
doubt to the well known fact that Colonel
Bird is very spirited gentleman, ana
cnce sent q challenge to Judge Reed OF the
district court of this county
A reporter for the EAGLE called upon
John Adams first and found him in the
United States court after a long search.
NO" said he, 81 have not yet received
any challenge from Col. Bird and do not
think that he has sent or contemplates
sending me any. The fact is, SO far AS
know, there ia not even cause for COM
mon scrap between us, much less bloody
duel"
What will you do if he sends it!'
81 never cross bridge before coming to
it. j can't say what would do in such
an event. The fact is. | have had no duel
ing experience First find whether L am
going to be challenged and then see me.
Col Bird was found in his law office IN
the Biting block and there was not the
least sign of blood in his eye. In fact, ne
WAS in his usual good humor.
No" said he, II have not challenged
Mr.. Adams to a duel and l don't intend to.
] an not DESTROYS of having the repu-
tatlon of fighter, although | will admit
that am provoked sometimes aud feel
like demanding the satisfaction OF gen
tleman. am sorry that such report
gained currency. 1 have no objection to
telling you personally the facts concerning
the controversy between Mr.. Adams and
myself, but l don't care to have them pub
lished, as the courts, and not the papers,
are the proper places to try legal cases"
From a third party it was learned that
all the trouble between John Adams and
Colonel Bird arose over the will of the late
John Hagerman. About three years ago
the deceased made a will and it was
drawn up by Colonel Bird and signed in
his presence. Along in September last,
John Hagerman died and as there WAS no
will TO be found Mrs. Hagerman was made
executrix of the estate. By former wife
Mr.. Hagerman became the father of eight
children and they are now living In
Virginia. Being heirs to one half of Mr..
Hagcrman's property they employed
Ben Bailey as their attorney,
and by some means Bailey found that
there WAS soma 81, 500 among the items of
the estate that was not accounted for.
During the panic last summer MIR. Hager.
man became afraid of the banks, with
drew the money and buried it in his cellar
in stone jar. 1t was afterwards discov-
cred by the wife. Bailey asserts that this
money is part of the Hagerman property
and that consequently half of it belongs
to the heirs. On the other hand Mrs.
Hacerman, it is alleged. claims that the
money belongs to her personally and that
it 10 not now or never was part of the
Hagerman estate.
Shortly after the death of Mr.. Hager-
man Colonel Bird found in his diary that
he had written a will for Mr.. Hagerman,
and after searching for it in the
probate court and in every other
place where it was liable to be
placed for safe keeping he finally
found it among old papers in his Office
that were slowed away in remote corner
of closet. As be and his wife were wit
nesses to the will, Colonel Bird thought it
proper and his duty to have it filed in the
probate court, and this action is what John
Adams is resisting on behalf of Mrs.
hagerman.
1t Is alleged that John Adams made
some statements about the will that
wounded the pride of Colonel Bird.
The colonel does not deny that his Irish
is up, but thinks he eau get ample salts
faction without fighting duel. although
it could be seen in the fash of his eye that
if he WAS twenty years younger il would
be unsafe for one to wound his pride as
much as John Adams did if the story told
Of the affair is true.