The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-27
SUNDAY SHOTS.
A Good Many We're Fired Yes
terday In Topeka.
Three Men Shot at Different
Localities Sunday.
MAN NAMED LINDBLAD
Shot and Wounded In w. ID.
Wards Orchard.
Bert Stanley Shot BY Farmers
Southeast of Town.
Oscar Leechman, a Cook, Shot
By Policeman Long.

Last evening at about o'clock W. d.
Ward, who lives at the north end of Fill
more street, near the river, shot Israel
Lindblad. a timer of 405 Buchanan
street, as the latter was shaking an
apple tree in the Ward orchard.
The Ward orchard is west of the
house on Fillmore street, and quite near
the Rock Island railroad, and the river.
Tramps often prOw1 around on the
premises.
Yesterday the orchard had been visit
ed by a number of people, and apples
were being taken.
Mr. Ward learned of it, and he start
ed for the orchard with his single bar
rel shotgun. Arriving at the east end
of the orchard he saw two men at one
of the trees shaking them and picking
up the apples that fell. He hurried to-
ward them, and when about 100 feet
from them demanded that they leave
the premises. Saying this he raised his
gun and fired at them. One of the men,
Lindblad, was struck and he ran with
all his might toward his home at 405
Buchanan street-abOutt three blocks
distant. The man with him also ran
along.
Mr.. Ward went to a house near by
and telephOned to the police station
that he had shot man who was steal
ing apples from his orchard. Chief
Gardiner, Sergeant Donovan, Detec-
tive Zeller and a State Journal reporter
were taken out to the Ward place in
the patrol wagon. Mr.. Ward was just
returning to his house when the officers
arrived.
Where is the man you shot?" asked
Chief Gardiner.
He ran home, I guess said Mr..
Ward
wen, get in here and we win go and
see how he is" said the chief.
''All right" replied Mr.. Ward, I'm
getting in. I shot him, but gentlemen
l didn't mean to hit him.
The neighborhood in the vicinity of
the Ward place was in a state of great
excitement. Men, women and children
gathered about from several directions,
and the cows in the pasture had to va
cate their favorite places for the
crowds.
The officers went to the house of the
man who had been shot. Here a large
crowd had congregated, and some wO
men were weeping in the yard. Mr.
Lindblad had come to his home and
DR.. Magee. who lives near by, examined
the wounds and pronounced them not
dangerous.
Mr.. LindbIad was very much fright
ened and evidently thought his wounds
would prove fatal He said:
I was coming through the orchard
and he came near to US with his shot
gun and ordered US to get out, and
then he raised up his gun and shot me
I wasn't going to steal his apples
The shot from the gun had lodged in
his neck and arm, but neither of the
wounds appeared to be deep
The neighborhOOd in which Mr..
Lfndblad lives is composed largely of
Swedish people. An excited crowd of
his cOuntrymen gathered about his
house. and when the patrol wagon ap-
peared at the corner they started at
Mr. Ward, who was in it. One of them
said to companion: 'There is the
duffer that shot him" Another drew
near to the wagon and said to Mr..
Ward You tried to shoot me the 9th
er evening, didn't yOu?"
City Physician Mitchell was notified
and he examined the wounds and pro-
nounced them not serious
Mr. Ward, who is familiarly known
as Dick was taken to the police sta
the police register. To a State Journal
reporter Mr.. Ward said:
s'AIl [ can say is that I did not mean
to shoot him | ordered him to get out
of the orchard. He was shaking the
trees for apples and as l raised the
gun, it went off and shot him. I don't
care to say any more now"
Mr.. Ward lives with his mother at
the north end of Fillmore street. Ow-
ing to it's close proximity to the rail-
road the place is often infested with
tramps. The old tramp shack is but a
short distance away
Mr.. Lindblad is a timer in the en-
ploy of Louis Van Dorp, at 619 Jack
son street He is a prominent Swede of
the city and is well thought OF. His
wounds are not serious, but he may be
wound on. the neck might prove more
serious than at first supposed