People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-11-22
JOHN COOK KILLED.
Richard Webster and Cora Block Are Now In
Jail Awaiting Trial.

From Wednesdays Daily.
only too true are the awful cOnse
QuenceS Of last nights terrible expert.
ences. The life blood spilled is the
atonement for the thOughtlesSness of
youth and the haSty a;tiOu induced
by an uncomfortable temper un-
reasonably aggravated. 1t seems
that early last evening a crowd of
young men and boys to the number of
twenty-five or thirty hatched the
scheme of tantalizing and "joShing,"
in the slang vernacular, this man
who is now imprisoned for the mur-
der committed last night. The mans
name is Richard Webster and the
name of the woman who was in his
company is Cora Block. The woman
has very questionable reputation in
this city, and this fact being Known
to the boys, was evidently influential
in causing their unseemly actions
last night.
The regulations of the man or
woman, whether they be questionable
or honorable, is no excuse for the un-
called for actions of those young men
last night. No more were the actions
of the other parties excuSable.
However, il seems that Webster and
this woman had been to the Salvation
Ar ny meeting, as it was their custom
at times to attend. When they
started to leave the ba. racks, they
first met the crowd, who at once be-
gan to throw out jesting. and in some
Instances, insulting remarks, so Web
ster says, and it is corrOborated by
hearers.
This crowd then proceeded to follow
up their victim Of vociferouS annoy
ance Webster claims to have walked
north on Washington avenue to seek
police protection, but that he could
not find an officer. He accordingly
turned about and started south TO-
ward his home, still in company with
the woman, blth followed by this
crowd Of boys. The boys were heard
on Washington avenue to be making
sighting remarks concerning the man
Webster and the woman accompany
ing him, but he said nothing but to
warn them to stop, stating, as he saws.
that unless they did, there would be
trouble.
The couple, followed by the crowd,
continued toward WebSter's home on
South + street, near the Hunter
Mills, and no further developments
were made, says Webster, until they
were nearing his home, when some of
the boys began throwing at him and
one went so far as TO shout a vile ep-
tibet in his face which would not dare
be put in print. Webster also says
they had a rope which s0me Of the
crowd said was to suspend him to a
lamp post. This part of the story is
cOrrOborated, but the rope scare was
only device to frighten Webster the
more. He has the reputation Of be-
ing half-witted. or at least devoid of
ordinary mental abilities. In his In
terview with the reporter this morn
Ing, however, he talked as sensibly as
any man, and though questioned and
cross-questioned, Webster's story was
not in the least contradictory In its
parts.
The mob, still further pursuing, be-
gan to aggravate Webster further. so
he says, by throwing rocks and mis-
siles at him aud his company. He
claims that he had repeatedly warne ]
them that there might be trouble.
and just as he reached a position In
front Of the residence Of Mr.. Ander-
son, the school house janitor, he says
a missile struck him. He turned and
without a second thought, exclaimed,
II will lay you all out" and fired two
shots. The flrstshOt fred was lodged
by Claude Walton, so Claude says,
and struck John Cook in the forehead.
passing through his head.
A second shot was fired and struck
Walton in the lett side OF the breast,
slightly wounding his lung and pass
ing in a downward course, it lodged
in his back beneath the shoulder
blade.
Just then Frank Cousins stepped
to Webster's side ana said to him.
"For God sake, don't shoot any more
Webster" At this, Webster turned
and went into the house, which was
only a few steps away. There he
awaited the officers arrival and sub
mitted to their rorden He was taken
to Jail and lodged in the iron cage