Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-12
BUEHLER SHOT IN THE BACK
William Leonard Inhicts a Probably Fatal
Wound on His Friend
WAS JEALOUS OF FLORENCE FEDAwA
Well Known Thieves Fail out About
Woman who Had Lived with
Both and Murder May
lie the Result.

LINCOLN, Oct. 11.--(Special Telegram y
Paul w. Buehler, alias Harold, an Omaha
housebreaker, well known to the Lincoln
police, was shot in the back with a 81
caliber revolver at close range this afternoon
at the notorious Fedawa house Forty-frst
and Vine streets, by another equally well
known crook named william Leonard, alias
"Frenchy."
The ball entered the body about three
inches below the point Of the shoulder blade
and four inches from the spine singeing the
flesh at the point of entrance. DR.. Hol-
yoke was called, and instantly probed for the
bullet, but failed to locate it, owing to pro-
fuse hemorrhage. DR.. Finney, city physi-
clan, arrived shortly afterward, and also
made an attempt to trace the ball, but
could do nothing in the present condition of
the victim. Both physicians say the man
has a chance to recover, but may have a
relapse from Inflammation or hemorrhage.
At the best, his chance of life is slight.
Buehler, alias Harold, completed a six
years term OF imprisonment in Iowa in
June last and had only arrived in Lincoln
a few days since. From his ante.mortem
statement, drawn out tonight by City PLY
sician Finney and City Detective Routzahn
at Tabltha hospital, where he was removed
Immediately after the shooting, II appears
that Jealousy was the actuatiug cause
Buehler at first appeared reluctant to talk
but when told he was in a very bad way
consented to tell the whole story. His ante
mortem statement was taken verbatim by
Bee reporter, stationed behind a screen
at the foot of the wounded mans cot In
answer to specific questions he told the
following story, punctuating almost every
word with groan and splitting blood pro.
fusely. Asked first by DR.. Finney who did
a oh inn ,rb1
BUEHLER'S BRIEF STORY.
"You know him, Frenchy, Florence's man.
Thats the fellow He invited me out him
self He tried to break in the door first.
! saw he was desperate and tried to run.
l seen him coming and said TO Florence:
There's that man of yours. He came right
In and pulled his gun. run out in the hall
by another door and Florence run too. |
didn't fall when he shot, and don't know
how many shots he fired. Didn't wait to
see nor look around. but run three blocks
and got into a cornfeld. Then | looked
around for house. until / found the one
where / was when you found me. He was
just crazy jealous of his wife. used to
live with her before he married her, and
told him If he didn't want me there he could
say so, as | was just going out from friend
snip. First got acquainted with Frenchy
about three or four years ago Hadn't seen
him lately, since last June When Frenchy
came in the hail. all he said was: You get
out of here now, get out He is crazy,
Frenchy is, with using cocaine.
Jay Fedawa, Florence's brother, was
along with him when he came in. and prob
ably told him | was in there with Florence
The girls had sent Jay up town for four bot
ties of beer, and he had Just got back /
never said word out of the way to his wife
Florence is straight in the sight OF God |
respect both girls for being as good as they
are In such company, though they bear a
hard name.
"Frenchy weighs about 100 pounds His
home is in Denver. My mothers name is
Mrs. Il. NJ. McNair. She lives at 1924
North Twenty-seventh street. Omaha"
MURDERER GETS AWAY.
Leonard. alias "Frenchy" has not yet
been arrested. Immediately after the
shooting, and before the police arrived.
Frenchy and Florence, his wife, were driven
away from the Fedawa house by the boy
Jay They drove a gray horse. Frenchy
is Canadian bv birth. about SS years old
five feet six and one-half inches in height
and weighs $50 pounds, dark complexion,
brown hair and mustache, hazle eyes, and
Is sharp featured. He wore dark suit
and is desperate criminal, having been
frequently arrested from the St. Charles
hotel, together with his victim and other
members of their gang
Buehler's chances for life or death are
about even at midnight.