The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-21
WITH AN AK
AND GUN
He ATTACKED
SingIe-Handed Onslaught on
ChickaSha Jail
70 FREE HIS RELATIVE
He Was Finally Called Off by
Friend.

Ell Reno, o. T. April 20.-New countries
are prolific of much excitement and the
way a western character in a border
town viii take things in his own hands
for a few minutes is an object of terror
to the tenderfoot.
The people of Chickasha Thursday
night had sight of a scene OF this kind,
an enraged citizen attacking the jail
with an AK and a Winchester to release
a relative. The Telegram tells the story
as follows:
"A hot time was on in Chickasha last
night
It began about p m. A shot was fired
in Pete Heffner's place Marshal Hop.
kins went in and found Heffner in an
clubhouse behind the place. He asked
Pete TO allow him to order & cab and
take him home. Heffner declined with
thanks and notified the marshal that he
could not take him anywhere. The mar
shall took six shooter away from him
and took him down the street with him.
Hefner on the way asked for glass Of
soda water. They went into a joint
and ordered a bottle of tin top. After
he flied the glass Heffner squared him
self and struck Hopkins on the cheek.
The marshal then took him to jail. Mr..
Hopkins had his scalp wound dressed af-
terward at Pettyjohn's drug store.
But the trouble had only begun. About
z p. M, Billy Heffner, Pete's nephew,
entered Heffner's place carrying a Win
chester rifle. His excited manner at
tracted the attention of persons who saw
him. Presently he emerged with an ak,
with which with his Winchester he pro-
ceeded to hastily walk to the Jail where
his uncle was incarcerated. By the time
Billy had reached the jail probably three
hundred men had followed within one
hundred yards of him. Tom Jones, how
ever, was looking after a sick man at the
jail and was at the jail when Billy TN
dertook to break the door and release
Pete. Mr.. Jones demonstrated with Bill
ly. stating that the sick mans head was
lying close to the door and to break the
lock with the ak would hurt him. Billy
struck the door few whacks but before
much damage was done the city officers.
Marshals Dave Hopkins, II. .. Gunnels
and Ed Spear were making their way
hastily toward the jail with revolvers
drawn. As they approached the Rock
Island side track which runs up to the
Chickasha Wholesale Grocery company
building, the officers halted behind the
protection of box car and with drawn
weapons commanded Billy to lay down
his rife. As the officers had advanced
upon the scene Billy came out from the
jail enclosure and squared himself at a
distance Of about one hundred yards
from the officers. He at this point exhi-
bited a daring and effrontery that would
have done credit to a more pretentious
adventurer. In spite of the fact that the
revolvers Of the officers were pointing at
him. he raised his gun for a moment as
if TO shoot. Every hystander expected
the officers to pull the trigger at any
time. About this time, J. H. Cunning
ham, whose home is in the vicinity of the
disturbance. approached Billy and induc-
ed him to desist from his attempted as
sault on the peace of the community and
dignity of the law. II. D. Gunnels then
escorted Billy away and it was reported
last night that he went home. At any
rate he was not arrested last night. 1t
was manifestly his intention to break
down the jail door and that he carried
" 4ItHtSNGI SEtIAtN ~ llllAIdAN NlldA nc
was ready to commit murder if necessary
to carry his plans into execution.
Mayor Grigsby released Mr.. Peter
Heffner about $50 on peace bond
Billy Hefner appeared before Mayor
Grigsby today and was fined SIS and
costs. Peter Heffner entered a plea of
not guilty. His trial was set for to-
morrow al 10 O'Clock. Today the beliger-
ent spirit that prevailed last night has
disappeared and all is peace and quiet"