Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-11-03

caliber. This he leveled at VIM, and b.
fore any Of the numerous hands that were
extended could grasp him he fired. The
heavy bullet struck Winn in the abdomen,
tore hole entirely through his body and
ripped up the carpet on the platform of
the judges bench. Winn reeled, but did
not fall. He was unarmed, but seized q
chair and made an effort to reach his enc
my. Reed fired two more shots before he
was overpowered. The second shot broke
Winn's right arm and entered the wall a
few inches from Judge Herndon's head.
The third shot missed its object and en-
tered the woodwork Of the judges desk.
For q few moments there was pande-
monium. A dozen guns were drawn and
q wholesale slaughter was imminent.
Judge Herndon stood up and pounded for
order. The sheriff and his deputies did
not lose their heads, and in a few mo-
ments partial order was restored and the
courtroom cleared. Winn sank to the floor
in front of the chair in which he was sit
ting. Reed stood coolly waiting for the
officers to arrest him, but refused to give
up his smoking gun until guaranteed pro-
lection from the vengeance of Winn's
friends. Then he submitted and was re-
moved to Jail.
"A JolAtOh tiiC OAOOu AEOuu tuc SiODT
and sprinkled sawdust over the dark
stains. Winn, mortally wounded, but VOW
ing vengeance against Reed, was carried
to the residence of a friend. Within half
an hour after the shooting Judge Herndon
ordered the attorneys to proceed with the
trial, and Cross resumed his argument.
With the plaintiff dying and the defendant
in jail for murder the hog case went to the
jury and verdict for the defendant was
returned. Vim never lived to know that
he had lost the case aftor having won il
twice.
At the .pril term of court, 1896, Reed
was brought to trial on q charge of Inur-
der in the first degree. Over 800 witnesses
testified and the trial lasted ten days. Reed
set up two pleas-defense of his attorney
and self defense. After considering Al
hours the jury returned a verdict of guilty
of murder in the second degree and fixed
the punishment at 80 years in the penitcn.
tiary.
But Reed was still game. He appealed
to the supreme court and was admitted
to bail in the sum of s22, 500. Reed per
sonally assured the court that he would
make no attempt to escape. He was on,
on bond until January, 1897, when the
supreme court affirmed the Judgment o.
the lower court. At this time Reed wa.
in Kansas City. One of his lawyers telc
graphed him the decision of the suprcm,
court. The next morning Reed deliverct
himself up to the warden of the peniten
tiary at jefferson City.
But his servitude was to be shorter thar
he dreamed. From the day he SURRENDERED
Wat Reeds health began to fail. His pow
erful physique seemed to waste away ant
| the physicians were powerless. He was ap
parently Indifferent whether he lived a
died. In fact, many of his friends though
that he welcomed death. He had not lon,
| to wait. In just four weeks from the da,
he voluntarily entered the gate of the hi.
prison he was carried through it in coffin
The body was taken to Clinton count,
and buried in the same cemetery that hel,
all that was mortal Of Newton Winn. An,
the men who were such warm friends an,
l bitter enemies in life now sleep within
few yards of each other.
| The case of VIM versus Reed still grind
| along in the courts. The verdict in favo
| of Reed found an hour after the murder O
VIM was set aside by Judge Herndon
As both plaintiff and defendant are dead
the cause is being carried on by admins
traitors.
The original issue has long been los
sight of. Both sides would be glad to lie
the case drop did not such action entai
the payment of the costs, which no,
amount to many thousands Of dollars. S
the fight is now waged over the costs.
The two families are still living on tn
home farms. But there is a wall betwee
them higher than the prison wall at Jeffel
son City or the marble shaft over New
Winn's grave.
And q hog built 1t.