The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-29
IN A DRUNKEN SPREE
John Gorath Is Shot and
Killed Near CoIwiCh.
BODY FOUND IN A WAGON
Alfred Hatfield Held Respon-
slble by CoroneTs Jury.

Gorath, one mile north of Colwich, Sat
urday night Witnesses Of the tragedy
with the exception of Luther Belt, deny
any particular knowledge Of the shoot
who Is charged with the shooting. and
the principal witnesses, Robert Gilbert
Luther Belt and Tim ]. Deegan, are II
jail. and it is understood Prosecuting At.
torney AGnidon will order ali of them held
until the PRELIMINARY trial.
The young men connected with the
tragedy belonged TO q gang of threshina
hands, who were working with a steam
thresher on the farm of Harry Cracker
| Saturday night they received their pay
and went to Colwich to wind up the week
with a spree. They drank heavily, and
started home late at night. john Co
ath, 1t Is claimed by men at Colwich, did
not want to go out with the gang. He
went ITO a livery stable, it is said, and
asked to stay all night, claiming that he
had some money with him ana was afraid
the gang would rob him on the way out.
While there the gang came along and
compelled him to go with them. When
they got to the railroad track Hatfield
got out Of the wagon and began shooting
very recklessly. He is said to have emp
tied his revolver before he quit. Then he
cought up with the wagon again. Luther
Belt says that Hatfield was very ugly and
he and John Gorath quarrelled. Then Hat
field is claimed to have gotten out of the
" Ioo1 tie
volver with new shells. He began shoot
ing again. This time ne shot two times.
After a little while he Is said to have
shot again towards the wagon. Then he
walked off towards a cornfeld, entered
and remained there all night. The Others
of the gang and by this time reached their
shack. They urShitched their team and
soon retired, they say, leaving Gorat1
in the wagon, because they thought him
too drunk TO care. The next morning
when John Belt, assistant cook, arose
early and on going to the wagon to find
Gorath, ne was Mortified to find him dead
He touched his forehead and it was cold
He then noticed blood under the dead
mans head and saw the wound the bull
let had made. He aroused the camp and
the officers there. The city marshal went
out and got there just as Bud Hatfield
came out OF the cornneld in company
with Deegan and Gilbert VINO had gone
in search OF him. The marshal placed
Hatfield under arrest.
Coroner Mclaughlin was notified and
in company with Dick Dodd, turnkey at
the jail. went to the scene OF the tragedy
and held an inquest. The jury, which
was composed of Geo. w. Steinrod O. P.
Barrett, ]. L. Longwell. w. A. Snively,
and o. David. The verdict avs to the ef-
feet that Gorath come to his death from
the effects of wound by apistol shot, i
in the hands OF Alfred Hatfield. The
jury leaves to the courts to ascertain
whether or not the shooting was acct
dental or wilful.
Banker Garcelan Of Colwich, came to
the city and informed the prosecuting at
torney of the facts as he had found them
and Mr.. Amidon ordered the sheriff to ar
rest all of the men and hold them for in
vestigation.
Undersheriff Sy Dunkin and Assistant
City Court Marshal Voss went out and
placed all the men under arrest and they
were lodged in jail Sunday night, each
being given seperate cells.
The men were interviewed yesterday
by n reporter OF the Eagle and their state
ments are as follows:
Robert Gilbert said: MY name Is Robert
Gilbert. My father and mother are both
dead, but my home, If can say that
have home Is at Perryyille, Arkansas.
We were all drunk. going home from Col
witch. did not nave a gun. Don't know
anything about who shot Gorath. There
were several shots fred This Is about
all Gilbert would say. He talks guard
eddy.
Luther Belt IS a boy 16 years old and
seems TO be telling a pretty straight
story. although It is said 10 differ from
what he said before being placed in Jail.
Belt said: my name is Luther Belt. and
my home is near Carthage, Mo- / came
west to secure work with a chreshing out
fit. 1 was with the gang that went to
Colwich. Saturday night. Most OF them
were pretty drunk. especially John Gorath
and Bud Hatfield. AS we crossed the
railroad track Hatfield began shooting
He emptied his revolver. I asked him for
II, but he would not let me have 1t. Then
he went up TO the wagon and he and Co
rath were quarrehng. kept walking on
one side Of the wagon. Pretty soon Hat
field jumped out OF the wagon and ran
10 him TO keep him quiet and try to pre-
vent trouble. He reloaded his revolver.
then tried to get him TO shoot II at a
stump. but he would not do II. Then he
shot toward the wagon twice I tried
20 stop him again but he made me leave
him and get out OF his way. 1 went up
TO the wagon then and busted myself
with The horses. The other boys say he
shot again. making eight shots In all. but
I did not hear but six. He then went into
the ccrnfield and id not come back. I
DIG not hear any more out OF Gcrath, but
thought he had fallen over asleep. II
found him dead next morning. ! had a
pistol which bought In Colwich that day
bat had not loaded II at all. was not
drunk. Had drank only a glass OF beer"
Alfred Hatfield. tho alleged murderer,
was in a cell in the rotary. One eve was
sore and he ~Os tWirling a large straw |
hat IN his hand He said: II don't know
anything about b. We were all drunk, |
and thev say 1 did the shooting. but I |
don't know. ] had never had any trouble |
with any o. Ehe gang. Ny home is in
Lsclete comfy. Missouri"
TIN J. DeeEan is a man without a |
home He Is very quick 20 speak and f.
TRY ALIENS FOOT.EASE |