The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-10
HELD UP THE TOWN
INSANE COWBOY Is CAPTURED AT
BEAVER CITY.
He Rides Into Town and Into Livery
In Sight-Then Tries a Drug Store and
Follows it up by Kidding the Windows
of Grocery-Uuder sheriff Crawmer,
With the Assistance of Some of the Cow
boys, Captures Him When His Revolvers
Were Empty.

Yesterday afternoon Under Sheriff
Tip Crawmer of Beaver county, o. L,
came in over the Pan Handle branch,
having in his charge Al Reddick, whom
he was taking to the Oklahoma insane
asylum at Norman. Reddick was
prosperous cattle owner over in No Mans
Land, and for some reason became IN
sane. Nothing could be learned as TO
the cause or his malady but he was n
sane without doubt.
a few days ago he rode into Beaver
City, which IS the county seat, and prln-
cipal city in Beaver county. Riding UP
the main street he at once proceeded 20
capture the town in true frontier style.
Whipping out two six-shooters, he
dashed I'D the street and into livery
stable swearing that he would XIII every
person in town. He rode about IN the
stable in search of any one Whom ne
could find, shooting and shouting Vloieht
oaths at the top OF his voice All the
occpants OF the stable lef. as soon as ne
appeared and after looking the stable
over, he left, swearing and shouting.
Up the street short distance ne en-
countered a drug store. and without dis
mounting he fred into it without ceTe-
money. Every one within disappeared
as quickly as possible, and ne soon turn
ed his attention to a grocery store across
the street. This store has large Plate
glass front, and he opened fire upon IL
Immediately He soon had Gemonsneo
the glass completely, and those IN the
store dropped to the floor al the nrst
fire and thus avoided injury. A few or
Them came very near being struck by the
fying bullets which were spatter-ng
about Ia rapid succession, but luckily 10
one was injured, but the damage cone
TO the plate glass was the real damage
done.
AS a matter Of course considerable eA-
element prevailed while the shooting
was going on, and no one knew JUST
where the trouble would END Ohuer
Sheriff Crawmer was on the spot IN
iiffv but he was cool headed enough 10
use his Judgment. To have gone AFTER
mis- man would have meant certain
death. and to have dropped him out OF
the saddle with a Winchester would
have been little short of murder except
in the eminent danger of his kllilhS
some one else. He considered that every
one had heard the shooting. ana were
nrepared to keep out OF his way 50
watching his chance. he with two cow
hovs counted the shots fired, until ne
knew his siX-shooterS were empty, then
they slid into their saddles and dashed
ont ,1non him before he could reload and
thus captured him and prevented any
further damage He fought violently
for. release but he was quickly hand
cuffed and taken to place of safety.
Eleven bullet holes were left in the
livery stable and six or seven were hred
into the drug store. The glass IN the
front of the grocery, however, was com
pIetely riddled. Reddick owns quite
bunch of cattle and has lived in ana
about Beaver City for some time. He
has been a young fellow who Wouid go
out with the other cowboys and have a
generally good time as cowboys usually
do. He is spare built, smooth faced and
wears the usual garb of the westerner.
When they alighted from the train a
large crowd gathered about him and
Under Sheriff Crawmer. He talked con-
stantly to the officer. telling him all
kinds of things. In the patrol wagon he
begged to be liberated.
SAY" said ne. 81 can kill everybody
in this town. Now. III show you II
you'll only take these things off my
hands and lend me your siX-shooter; l
can kill 'em all. See that street over
there with all those people on it? Say,
please let me have your six-shooter,
can use it, even with my hands tied"
He begged piteously for the officers
gun, and there is no telling what he
would have done had he an opportunity.
He was taken 10 the city jail 10 await
the southbound Santa Fe. upon which
he was taken to Norman TO the asylum.
While in the city Mr.. Crawmer took
the opportunity to visit his mother and
sisters who reside at ODD North Main
street Mr. Crawmer is an efficient Of
ficer, and Is as cool and collected a any
one could wish. and handled his prison.
er very carefully-with f1rmness and as
gently as possible. The case is indeed
sad one. ami had il not been for the Of