The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-06-14

Reuben Peachey's body was found in the
Little river at 10 O'Clock a. IN. yesterday Dy
Albert Simmons, q 19-year-old farm boy,
who will receive the horse ana buggy
promised as reward by the parents Oh tie
deceased.
The river fell during the night aud
Albert waded into the stream just be-
low where the hat was fou d. When near
The center he cried out 'I've stepped on
him" And so he had.
The body was lying on the bottom with
the face down and the head turned toward
the east. There were scratches on the face
and two cuts on the neck and knife cut
On one shoulder.
The coroner Immediately summoned a
jury consisting of W. o. Magee, q. +.
Tekron. William Hurt, G. g. Sullivan,
James Tanning and J. c. Erwin and held
an inquest over the body. The inquest
WAS held in the barn and over fifty people
attended A very thorough Investigation
was made lasting all day and the coroner
did poJ return till IL p. N.
The knife cut on the shoulder was an old
wound and was from a quarrel OF week
before but the marks on the face and neck
were recent and were explained by Dr
Hoffman as the result of sna2s In the
river or the probing of those who searched
for the body The evident cause OF the
death said the doctor was drowning.
Owing to a supposition that the
neck wounds We're bullet holes and
10 the fact that VIM. Bradshaw left the
locality for few hours a rumor was adoat
that Bradshaw had skipped town.
1t was without foundation for he was
present at the inquest and testified as fol-
lows:
lam 26 years of age and have lived at
Mr. Peachy's three days, been to Kentucky
and returned Sunday; tied the net Mon
day night TO some bushes 100 feet above
where the hat was founo; Reuben and
got I'D at a. m. and went to raise the net:
we walked north he being on the side next
the river: when we came to the steep bank
j told him to let me get on that side and
he wanted t. know why and l told him TO
see whether tle river was rising and step
ped back ard rot on that side; when we
came to the next high bank he wanted to
get next the river but l said no, | would
stay on that side myself but about five
feet south of the cottonwood tree lie had
stopped and got next the river; | then no.
ticed him get within about four feet of the
river and spring into the water; halloOed
at him calling his name and asking what
he was doing; he had then gone under; l
jumped down the bank by "A cottonwood
tree waited for him to come up and when
he came up, grabbed hold of him trying
to get him 10 the shore, and when l came
to some trees along tho bank, l grabbed
one of them and tired to pull him in to
the shore. | saw l could not. He had
hold of my left arm and had a struggle
to get away from him."
He then states that he looked further
for the body, but it WAS gone, so he went
for Mr.. Peachey, Mr.. Emmart and Fred
Sewers.
Mr.. Emmart testified to bis coming for
him and seemingly contradicts Mr.. Brad
sbaw's testimony about jumping in the
river by saying that Bradshaw's clothes
were not wet.
Joseph Peachey, Jr., brother of deceased
testified that Reuben bad often told him
that he wished so die and had at times
tried to kill himself He said he was not
surprised TO hear of the drowning. as ne
had been looking for it. That he always
watched Reuben when he came to visit
hum whether he was at the house or at the
barn.
The jury for some time did not render a
decision, but when darkness settled down
and the barn was getting gloomy, the
verdict was brought in. 1t contained just
two words. Suicidal Drowning"
The funeral will lake place from the
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Peachey
ut p. m. today, and the body Will be in
TERED in Maple Grove Cemetery.