The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-06-16
SHOT HIM DOWN.
Mayor Richards, of Bunker Hill,
Ill, Is Killed.
wounded I'm an Encounter with Capt.
Hedley, Editor OF the Gazette, He
Dies n Few Hours Later-Trag-
edy the Result of n Feud.

bunker Hill, III, June 14.-JOhn X.
Richards, millionaire and mayor of this
city, was shot and fatally wounded at
noon Saturday by Capt. +. Y. Hedley,
editor of the Bunker Hill Gazette. He
died six hours later. The shooting was
the result of IA political feud. Macoupin
county is excited from one end to the
other by the tragedy. Only the popu-
larity of Capt. Hedley prevented a
lynching. Feeling is running high, and
the prominence of both men has
aroused intense partisan feeling. Ed
itor Hedley is in Jail at Carlinville,
about 40 miles south of here. He sur
rendered himself Immediately after the
shooting and was at once taken to that
0y to await the result of the wounds
Ne had inflicted and to prevent mob vio-
lence.
Both the murdered man and the ed
itor have long been leaders in southern
Illinois politics, and their regulations
have extended beyond the borders of
the state. Mayor Richards was one of
the most popular men in the county, be-
ing widely known for his philanthropic
deeds. He was elected mayor last
spring. on the republican ticket, receiv-
ing the Endorsement of the regular
democratic convention. He lived in
handsome residence, and on his estate
had built an electric light and water
works plant, with which he supplied the
city with light and water free of charge.
He was &c years of age and bachelor.
Capt. Hedley has national reputation.
JIe was an intimate friend of the late
Walter Q. Gresham, and has OF late
been engaged by the relatives OF the
former secretary of state in writing
a book of personal memoirs. lie served
all through the war OF the rebellion
with Gen. Gresham.
The immediate cause of the fatal
Quarrel is not obtainable and the eX-
citement is such that all sorts of stories
are in circulation. The men were po-
litical enemies OF years standing. They
met at noon OH one of the principal
streets. There were a score or more
of eyewitnesses TO the shooting, but
none who heard the words that passed
between them before the editor drew
his revolver and fired two shots at the
mayor. The first shot inflicted small
flesh wound in the right arm. The sec
ond entered the right side, passed
through the right lung and lodged in
the spine. Mr.. Richards was giant
physically. The man who killed him
is pigmy. The murdered man weighed
25O pounds and his assailant tips the
beam at barely 140 pounds. After their
IL N
changed. Richards struck at Hedley
and it is claimed made n move to draw
a pistol when Hedley whipped out his
revolver and fired the two shots.
Mai. Richards fell on the spot where
he had been standing. The shots
brought scores of people out of the
stores and houses and sent them sour
rying to the scene. Richards was at
once conveyed 10 his home and expert
surgeons summoned by telegraph 10
come from St. Louis, 81 miles away,
on n special train. The local physicians
made Il hurried examination and pro-
nounced the wounds fatal. DR.. Mudd,
of St. Louis, one of the best known
physicians and surgeons in the west,
made the run from st. Louis in 80 min
utes He brought a staff of assistants
with him, prepared 10 do all within hui
man power to save the life of the mayor,
but upon arriving at his bedside they
quickly confirmed the opinion of the
local doctors that the wounds were
fatal. AS soon as the decision of the
ST. Louis doctors reached the ears of
the citizens the feeling began to run
high, and threats against the editor
were made on ali hands. Before that
time, however, Capt. Hedley had been
taken into custody and hurried away
TO Carlinville.
One report has it that woman
figures in the case. Richards. though
6s years old, wished, it is said. 10 marry
his stenographer Ella Brown Richards.
1t is alleged he accused Hedley of pre-
venting the marriage, and assaulted led
ley three times within six months.
When another assault was attempted
Saturday Hedley was armed. Another
statement is that Richards upbraidsed
Hedley on Saturday for not speaking
TO him when they met. Hedley's reply
is supposed TO have angered the former,
who struck him, bringing on the fatal
encounter.