The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-07
Trial of Will O. Hummer Fol
Attempted Murder
BEGINS HERE TO-DAY
Testimony of Witnesses of the
Mysterious Shooting
Which May Send Hummer to
the Penitentiary.

! the evening of Saturday, August Is,
! was commenced in the district court
! shortly before II o'clock this morning.
! The specific charge is shooting with
intent to kill. The penalty is from one
! to ten years in the penitentiary.
The shooting occurred about 1880 in
I the evening near the western outskirts
: of ShOrey, the settlement west of North
/ Topeka Two bullets took effect in Mrs.
Runners body, one at the hip and one
in the head. For several days she was
/ in dangerous condition, and since re-
covering from her wounds she has been
/ in a nervous state bordering on hys-
/ terra.
Since the shooting Hummer has been
| confined in the county jail. He is a big
man with a ford complexion and a
/ heavy reddish brown moustache. When
he was brought into the court room
this morning he was accompanied by
his mother, who remained seated i'm
mediately behind him during the prog
ress of the trial He is being defended
/ by Attorneys A. H. Vance and w. l.
/ JamisOn, While Attorney Thomas H
] Balm is aiding County Attorney Jetmore
and Deputy County Attorney Nichols
in the prosecution
During the trial Mrs. Hummer, or
Miss Lucinda Hendricks. remained
seated in the hall outside the court
room. In appearance she has entirely
| recovered from the effects of the shoot
ing and her face is plump and her
cheeks rosy.
Hummer is altogether rather a wild
looking sort of man, and it is probable
that his attorneys will endeaVor to
make out that he was temporarily IN
sane when he committed the shooting.
This seems to be the only hope or saw
ing him from a long term in the pen1-
tertiary, as the evidence this morning
went to prove conclusively that he shot
the girl.
Mrs. John Yost, Ross Heller and
George N. Holmes were examined this
morning. Mrs. Yost and Heller saw hte
morning. Mrs. Yost and Heller saw the
scene of the shooting a few minutes
after it occurred. Mrs. Yost was asked
on direct examination by County Attor-
ney JetmOre to tell about the shooting.
She was driving near the scene OF the
affair. She said:
A.-As turned south coming in the
road to North Topeka I saw man and
a woman near a buggy and horse
hitched to a post. The woman was
walking toward the fence where the
horse was hitched. The man was
stan ding near the hind wheel of the bug
gy and as she walked toward the fence
he stepped out and grabbed her. She
started to fight him with her fists and
they fought together until they reached
the hind wheels of the buggy. Then
saw the woman grab his right arm with
both her hands, and he tried to shake
her off. He shook her backward and for
ward and finally got his arm around
and pushed her away and then he
shot. He pointed the revolver at her
hip and fired and SIC dropped her
hands. Then he pointed the revolver
up and fired again and then she threw
her hands up and he then shot her In
the head She fell on her side, face
downward in the road, and he turned
the revolver to his own head and shot
himself.
Q-You saw him shoot himself?
Ayes, sir.
O-What did he do then?
Ale fell down beside the woman
and then he rose with his face towards
US and started to load his revolver.
thought he was going to shoot himself
again and we turned around and started
to drive back.
Odd you meet anyone?
Ayes, sir. I met two colored men
and a man and two little girls and 1
told them about it.
Q-Then did you drive back?
Ayes, sir.
Q-Was there any one there then?
Ayes, Sir, Mr.. Holmes and Mr.. Nv
Cormack were both there.
Q-Did you hear the man say any
Al heard him call her Mamma
and saw him kiss her.
Cross examination.
Q.-Where were the couple when you
first saw them2
A-They were behind their buggy.
Odd you see any one else?
A.-Not just then. 7 did afterward
see a rig turn the corner OF the road
and come north just as Mr.. Hummer
was shooting.
Odd you know then who was in
the rig2
A-No, sir.
Odd you know aftefWardY
Ayes, sir. Mrs. Skinner.
Q.-When you saw the couple first
you were too far away to hear any con-
versation?
Q.-Where did he take hold of her?
A.-By the shoulder.
Q.-When he took hold of her did they
stand still?
Ale did but she drew back and
struck him with her fist.
Q.-How many times did she strike
him?
A.-Several times.
Q.-What was he doing?
Ale was fighting back. He struck
at her face with his fist.
Q.-Do you know whether he struck
her in the face?
A.-No sir, I couldn't tell.
Q.-Had they hold of each other when !
they were striking at each other?
A.-NO sir. They were fighting with !
both hands just like a regular fight.
Q.-When they got to the buggy wheel /
what happened2
A.-She grabbed his arm.
Odd he pull away from herr
Ayes sir, he tried to.
Q.-Then what happened?
Ale pushed her away with his left /,
hand and drew a revolver from his (
right hip pocket
Odd you see him point and fire !
the revolver?
Ayes sir.
Q.-Was he in easy reach Of her
then?
O.-Where had he the revolver point
ed?
A.-Toward her hip.
Odd he fire again right away?
Ayes sir. He pointed the revolver
Q.-What happened then?
A.-She started to fall and he grabbed
her by the arm and pulled her toward
him and shot her in the head /
Q.-Then what did he do2