Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-01-29
A SAD TERMINATION.
The Phillips Difficulty
ends in the Killing of
Wash Philips by Fred
Eiklor and two Sons.

| klutuS Oh one OF the principals, Vast
Philips. Though the shooting occur
red on Wednesday, the death of Philips
was not generally known untilFriday, ir
fact the body was not found before tina,
time, but the family and friends of the
deceased became alarmed and suspect
ed his murder when Mr.. Philips failed
to return home on Wednesday night
On Thursday the neighborhood was
aroused and diligent search instituted
but night came and no trace of the
missing individual was found. In the
meantime, George Philips, son of the
murdered man. came to this city,
through the instruction of Sheriff Mills
who had gone to Aetna the day before
with some Kansas City parties to re.
ceive cattle under mortgage in the pos.
session of F. b. Eiklor, for j. b. Gano
to assist in searching for Philips and
also to assist in making such arrests
that would be found necessary. The
search was continued until about noon
on Friday when Philips body was
/ found about 145 feet south of the south
fence OF the Brownback pasture, bear
ing four bullet wounds and one Inflict-
ed by shotgun. One of tile bullets
took effect in the neck, about an inch
below the ear, another on the point of
the chin and lodging in the back of the
lower extremity of the head, and two
near the pit of the stomach ranging up
ward and making exit at the left
shoulder. The shot wound was inf1ict-
ed on the arms and breast but was not
| serious, being fine shot and lodging be-
meath the skin. One of the South BOYS,
| VIM. Maze and another party whose
name we have not learned, were the
ones who first discovered the corpse.
Immediately after the finding of the
| body messenger was sent for Coroner
| Cushenbery, and Sheriff Mills went to
the residence of F. l.. Eiklor and ar
rested Mr.. E. and his two sons, Sidney
and Arnell. This occurred at 1 O'Clock,
p. m. on Friday. The coroner's inquest
was held on Saturday night in the pres
ence of large crowd of people. Dur
ing this time excitement ran high, es-
pecially when Eiklor and his sons ap-
peared to testify before the coroners
jury and it was only by the utmost
caution by the officers that violence
was obviated. Geo. Philips was natur-
ally very nervous and very much in
furiated as he stood opposite his dead
father and as it seems, was prepared to
avenge the murder. AS Mr.. Eiklor was
giving his evidence before the coroner's
jury, bystander called Mr.. Gano's at
tention to the peculiar and unusual
way in which Mr.. Philips jr. handled
something which was evidently hid in
his overcoat pocket. Mr.. G. at once
advanced to the side of the dead mans
son and asked if he had a gun in his
pocket and received an affirmative re-
ply at the same time refusing to give il
up, and it required a positive threat tc
arrest before George handed over his
gun. When he did so it was found tt
be cooked and ready to do its work
when chance offered. But for the in.
reference of Mr.. Gano, it is hardly
probable that Mr.. Eiklor would be in
the charge OF the officers at this time.
The EIklors plead self defense and
their evidence before the coroner's jury
is substantially this: That the imme
date cause of the killing arose Over
some cattle claimed by Eiklor and IL
charge of Philips, the latter refusing
to leave the former in possession
Words ensued and from that to the
shooting, that the first shot was fired b,
one of the Eiklors with shot gun, hit
ting Philips on arms and breast, tina
Philips returned fire with his Winches
ter without effect, thatSidney Eiklor free
with Winchester hitting Philips on tn,
chin and dropping him to the ground
that E. b. Elklor advanced and took
Philips gun and shot him in the aldo
men twice. The wound in the necl
was not accounted for.
AS usual in such cases there are 9th
er circumstances connected with tn
affair, but trial will take place an,
therefore we will refrain from anythin,
that might tend to prejudice the pub
lie.
After hearing. the evidence of tn
Eiklors and various other parties as t,
previous threats, ETC., the coroner's ju
ry returned the following verdict:
That the said G. W. Philips came to b
death by gun shot wounds inflicted by Ere
, B. Eiklor, Sidney Eiklor and Arnell Eiklor, O
) the 22nd of January, 1895, feloniously an
with malice aforethought.
seS g. A. HIBBARD,
FRANK KINCAID,
l ROY 81. HALL.
WIN. MAZE,
t ARTHUR MoRLETr,
4 ], B. JOHNSON,
Coroners Jury.
The prisoners we're brought to tow
: ! on Sunday afternoon and jailed. tt
preliminary hearing was set for MOI
day next. February 3rd, before Justlc
Morris. A request by F. B. Elklor ,
be admitted to bail was denied so +;
as it relates to him and his son, Sidne
The younger son. Arnell, was admitte
to bail in the sum of 81 600, but up
this time he has not succeeded in Or
curing bond.
During the intervening time betwet
now and Monday, County Attorn,
Beals will endeavor By the assistant
of the county attorneys Of Woods al
Woodward counties, Oklahoma. al