The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-17
HAD RECORD
FOR KILLING
HIS ENEMIES
Joe RunneIS and His Adven-
turouS Career
NOW HEADED FOR THE PEN
HIS Last Victim Was officer
Salisbury of Guthrie.

nelIs OF this place, who was sentenced
Friday at FL Reno for the murder of
Jasper Salisbury here last summer, to
twenty-five years in the penitentiary,
has the distinction Of having killed six
men and wounding number more. The
affair which caused the death of Sails
bury, member Of the Guthrie police
force, was most vicious fight and oc-
CURED neal. the front of the Bank of the
Indian Territory. Runnells for some
time had been member of the police
force and was held on his promise Mat
he would refrain from drinking Whine in
the service Of the city. In his daily
rounds, RunnelIs was in the habit of
frequenting SALOONS and occasionally he
took drinks as they were offered him.
This led on to hard drinking and one
day, Runnells got very drunk and the
members of the city administration fear
ed that he would be dangerous in such
a condition, especially so as q. police
man, and after having such a record in
the past. An investigation was made at
a city council meeting and on the evil
dence given by Salisbury, who was con-
neus lost his position on the police
force. He blamed Salisbury for It and
one day they had fstic encounter,
which resulted rather unsatisfactory to
Runnells. RunneIls swore vengeance on
Salisbury and proceeded to drink until
he became in such condition that it
was considered dangerous for him to be
on the streets. Mayor Berkey and other
city officials were called on to take
charge of Runnells and they persuaded
him to leave for the mayors home. In
going past the Bank of the Indian Ter
ritory, with Berkey and a member Of
the police force, Runnells say Sauls-
bury and Immediately started for him.
Salisbury was sitting down at the time
and in getting on his feet drew his re-
volver. Runnells saw the action and
pulled his gun, firing one shot, which
took effect in Saulsbury's mouth, rang
ing downward. A fight ensued in which
Salisbury had the best of it until the
men were separated. Three shots were
fired in all, but only one had any effect
and that was the one which resulted in
the death of Salisbury thirty-four days
afterwards
Runneus first affair occurred in Mis-
souri,. He was born in that state. and
in some trouble, his brother was killed
by a neighbor. The young man, Is years
of age, decided that it was only proper
that he kill the man who shot his broth
er. He pursued him to Texas and one
day shot him in a fight, because Of his
brothers death. RunneHs was arrested
and taken back TO Missouri He was
tried but could not be convicted. Pub
lie sentiment was for him and after his
release from custody, he went back to
Texas. For two years he was a cowboy
and then became a deputy United States
marshal. In his work he was a witness
which caused the discharge of a deputy
marshal. who Immediately swore ven
geance on him.
In one of the chases of a posse of
deputy marshals after band of des-
peradoes toward Old Mexico, Runnels
left the posse and started for his home
on a ranch in Texas. The deputy mar
shall whose discharge was caused by
Runnels ascertained that ne was bound
for the ranch, prepared to meet him and
shoot him on sight. On the road to the
ranch, Runnells saw the man some dis
lance away At 200 yards both men.
simultaneously dropped from their
horses and sheltered themselves behind
their animals. Some forty shots were
fred, which resulted in the death Of the
deputy marshal and. the wounding Of
Runnells. 1t was then a fight for his
life. The deputy marshals took the mat
ter up and gave chase to him. Runnels
left Texas for New Mexico and later
went to Colorado. While in that state
he was in a mining town and was mixed
up in a quarrel concerning the shooting
in Texas. The fight which ensued was
one of the fercest encounters known of
in that country. Runnells was shot
through the lungs and afterwards re-
covered. The man in the encounter died /
from the effects oE his wounds. Run
nels was never arrested on the charge /
of killing this man and afterwards went
back to Texas.
on his return to the Lone Star state
Runnells gave himself up to the officers I
He was afterwards released from Gus
tody, proving that the deputy marshal
killed by him threatened his life and
that the shooting was done in self de-
tense.
Runneus resumed his work as deputy
United States marshal in the Indian
Territory district. In pursuit Of Chero- /
kee Biu's gang Of men he killed an In
dian and the members OF the band stat
Cd that they would kill Ruunells if they
ever had an opportunity. ITO avenge the 1
death of the member Of their gang Run /
nells concluded that ne could NOT afford I
to stay in that part Of the territory, so I
left there and came TO this part Of Okla /
homa He was stiu a deputy marshal, (.
but did not work in that capacity at 4
that time. In common parlslce. Run 1
nels engaged in the whisky business as I
.boot-legger" and at Cimarron Bluffs. +
hve miles north of Guthrie. had a tent .
whore he sold the forbidden article. This /
was previous to the opening q this /
country that ne conducted this busi- 4
ness. but be managed 70 escape arrest I
Being forced 10 desist IN the whisky 4
business. he became p special officer IN
der Bill Walker. D1ring his career un- 4
der Walker he killed a member Of BIZ +
Dooian gang lie was with a posse ~ 4
rnarshals AT this tine aad two members
of the band were killed. but Ru1neus
was only responsible for the death ot
one man
Later OF Rznueils had a fght with
train robbers at Dover and severely
wounded one member Of the hand. who
is now serving q term in the pe1lters-
tiary. Bunnells was mixed I'D IL . dEhs
twelve miles southwest 81 Guthrie with
Bui West aad Rad an arm Badly shat
terod az tllat tine re had Al encounter
with West. t.'s desQerado. AID Vas