The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-25
W. N. ALLEN SHOT
General Agent of the Keeley
Institute
Is Attacked by C. E. Riley, a
X. G. Drummer.
WITH TWO REVOLVERS
Three Shots Fired One Striking
Allen in the Side.
Riley's Wife the Cause of the
Trouble.
WITH TWOR REVOLVERS

City, Kan, who is generally known as
Doctor" Allen, was shot and danger
ously wounded at 1O:15 o'clock yester-
daw morning by c. E. Riley, travelling
salesman for the Schneider Arms
company of this city.
The cause of the shooting was the be-
lief entertained by Riley that Allen had
been intimate with his wife. This be-
lief was founded upon letters written
by Allen to Mrs Riley, which came in
to Riley's possession.
The shooting took place in the Office
of the Keeley institute in the Ports
mouth building, corner of Sixth street
and Minnesota avenue. Riley fired
three shots one of which entered Aliens
right side and another made a wound
IN his own left leg. A few moments
after the affray Allen was taken to St.
Margaret's hospital, where everything
possible is being done to save his life.
lie IS in very critical condition
but the attending physicians have
hopes OF his recovery. Riley was taken
TO police headquarters, where his
wound was dressed by Police Surgeon
Downs.
Allen was retieent concerning the
cause of the shooting. Riley said that
Allen was intimate with his wife and
that he has letters written to her by
Allen to subStantiate his charge. He
turned over a number of letters to the
police, but they refused to divulge the
contents of the letters or even state
positively whether any of them were
written by Allen.
AS near as can be ascertained Riley
mas been Jealous of Allen for some
time. His wife has been living with
her parents at Burlington, Kan. since
the middle of last August, while he has
been on the road for the Schneider
company. His territory comprises Ok
lahOma and the Indian Territory Sat
urday he returned from a trip and went
to visit his wife at Burlington. Upon
his arrival there he discovered that she
had left her mothers home several
days ago and her whereabouts were
unknown to her relatives Riley claims
that he searched his wife's trunk and
found letters which caused him to seek
an explanation from Allen. He did not
attempt to locate his wife, but took the
first train for Kansas City, arriving at
the Union depot yesterday morning
He came uptown and after breakfast
started in search of Allen.
1t was shortly after 10 o'clock when
he called at the office of the Kelley in
stitute and inquired of DR.. Simpson, the
medical director. the Wherea bouts of
Mr. Allen DR.. Simpson referred him
to an adjoining room where Allen and
a friend were cOnversing. Aliens friend
left the room and closed the door. Five
minutes later three pistol shots were
heard only a few seconds apart DR.
Simpson hastened to the room and
found Allen lying on the floor with his
hands clasping the barrel of a revolver
held by Riley. By this time Manager
WadSWOrth, of the institute arrived on
the scene. He was in his private Office
when the shots were fired. He took the
revolver away from the struggling men.
On the floor was found another reFOl-
Yer, which had been broken and the
cartridges spilled on the floor.
Mr.. Aliens story as related to Man
ager Wadsworth, is that Riley. upon
closing the door behind him, instantly
reached for a revolver. Allen grabbed
him, and in the scuff1e he succeeded in
wrenching the weapon from Riley. He
Immediately broke it and caused the
"a n a he
then attempted to draw another revoI-
yer from his coat pocket and Allen
cinched with him again. While scuf-
fling Riley succeeded in getting the
barrel of the pistol pointed at Aliens
side and he fired through the pocket of
his coat, the bullet taking effect in his
right side just above the pelvic arch
and ranging downward.
After Allen was shot he continued to
clinch with Riley, and when Dr. Simp-
son entered the room Riley had gotten
the revolver out of his pocket and they
we're wrestling for it. It is probable
that Riley was shot while they were
Scud1ing for possession of the weapon.
Riley admitted to the police that he
had both reVOlvers, and that he had ia
ken them out of his sample case. He
intimated that he suspected Allen of
being too intimate with his wife and
said he called on him yesterday morn
ing to demand some explanations. He
armed himself with two reVOlVersy for
protection, so he claims. He says that
n
did not go to his office for the purpose
of killing him, and says that Mr.. Allen
attacked him frst-In an interview with
Police Surgeon Downs he stated that
the shooting was a very unfortunate
affair and that he was very sorry that
1t had occurred. He absolutely refuses
to talk to a newspaper reporter about
anything concerning his wife He does
not openly charge Allen with wronging
him. He is very anxious to keep facts
in the trouble from the public. When
asked if he knew of his wife's present
whereabouts he answered that he did
not.
Riley will be detained by the police
pending the result of Aliens injuries.
He is not locked UP, but is being allow
ed to occupy a cot at police headquart-
ers. The wound in his leg is slight and
viii not cause him any particular trou-
bic. He was able to walk around the
station last night.
W. n. Allen is well and favorably
known in the two Kansas Citys. He
formerly lived on this side of the line,
but for the past three years he has
made his home in Kansas City, Kan
His wife died about a year ago. He
has an interest in the Kelley institute
and devotes most of his time travelling
In Kansas and Missouri in the interest
of the institute. He met Mrs. Riley at
Burlington some time ago at a social
gathering, but he declares that their
acquaintance is very slight, and that il
Mr.. Riley is under an impression that
he has taken any undue advantages of
his wife he is positively mistaken Al
len met Riley in Kansas City, No, a
few months ago and at that time it is
claimed that nothing was said concern
ing any suspicious on the part of Riley,
and that Mrs Riley's name was not
mentioned. DR.. Simpson, who had a
long talk with Allen at the hospital
and also with Riley. stated last night
that he felt confident from what he had
learned that the shooting was due to a
misunderstanding between the two
men. Unless Riley is prosecuted it is
not like that all of the facts connected
with the shooting will be revealed.