Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-08-29

Lafayette Newkirk was murdered
by some unknown party on West Mon
roe street at 9:2O O'Clock Saturday.
night.
When returning to his home and
when within a block Of that place and
two and a half blocks from the square
he was attacked and received a bull
let in the face. Falling forward, three
more balls were fred into the back OF
his head, n shot missing the mark.
He died instantly.
The murder was committed in plain
sight and hearing Of a number Of the
residents in that vicinity. The exact
spot was in front of Sam Morris yard
and but a few feet from the east end
of the foot bridge over the little
branch which runs between the
property Of MI. Morris and W. l..
Rennolds.
Mr.. Morris was seated in his home
playing whist when the shots were
fired and he stepped to the door
after telephoning the police. When
he went out people had begun to ar
rive on the scene, being attracted by
the shots. Joe Cauthorn and Ethan
Howell we're the first to reach the
body and they extinguished a fire
| which had started in the dead mans
vest collar by the powder from the
revolver.
After the arrival Of the coroner the
body was taken 10 Lupton's under
taking department.
From all indications the murder
was carefully planned and executed.
According TO the stories OF eye witness
SEES TO the tragedy and the escape OF
the assassin the murderer must have
watched MI. Newkirk leave the
square and either followed behind
him or on the opposite side Of the
street. About the orner Of Monroe
and Olive streets the man must have
taken the middle Of the street as he
was seer by a party living near as he
crossed the bridge in the middle Of
the road and but a few feet from the
place, where a moment after the fatal
shots were fred.
The assassin continued west nearly
to Western avenue and then, directly
opposite the gate to the Rennolds
yard, he went from the street to the
walk and started back to town to
meet Mr.. Newkifk. Meeting his vic
tim he, without a word, fred the
deadly bullet full in his face and
emptying The revolver Of its contents
into the back Of his head after he had
fallen, the revolver being held so close
to the body that the clothes were
fired.
THE FLIGHT TO SAFETY.
The unknown assassin then turned
and ran west on Monroe street. He
ran a few yards on the sidewalk and
then took to the road, turning south
into Western avenue. Parties hear
the middle Of this block prevented his
escape down this street and he whirl-
ed and turned into Monroe street and
ran west.
One block west Of Western avenue is
a short street or alley which runs from
Monroe street to Jackson street-it
was here that the witnesses state
ments differ, some, the majority, say
ing that he turned south and ran to
Jackson street on which he went east
to within a little over a block Of where
he had killed Newkirk. The other
route suggested is straight west on
| Monroe street to Wade street or
possibly further than that and then
north.
There was no attempt by lookers-on
to catch the man as most Of those who
heard the shots thought that it was
someone who had been killing dogs.
MR.. REYNOLDS SAW THE SHOOTING.
w. L. Rennolds: Gust previous to
the shooting l saw a man coming
down the middle Of Monroe street; he
was coming from the east. l did not
take any particular notice Of the man
until he got opposite my gate, when
he turned and come on the walk. He
then turned back towards town. In
a moment / heard a shot fired a little
over a hundred feet to the east Of me
and looked around In time to see four
flashes and to hear four more shots.
The man who did the shooting then
came running toward me. As Prof.
Moore, Of Vandalia, who was with me,
and 1 started out toward the gate 70
see what was the matter, the man
turned TO the street and cut across to
the corner Of Monroe and Western
avenue. He was turned back from
that street by some person calling
there he goes and another saying;
They've hit him; he is crippled The
moon was shining very brightly and
think that | would know the mar
ne | were 10 see him again under the
same conditions. He appeared TO be
a nan who would weigh about l6t
pounds and looked to be about siS
feet tall. He wore a light brown suit
Of clothes and a light hat. There was
not a word spoken and Eewkirk did
not utter a sound after he was shot
Mr.. Rennolds says that be is sure
the man who did the shooting Has
not Bob Muir.
WIDOW SAW MURDERER RUNEISS.
when seen by a LEDGER reporter
after the murder Mr. Newktrk, widow
of the dead man, stated that she did
mot know Of any enemy Mr.. Newkirh
had who would go 10 the extremity Of
killing him. She said; II was wait
ling for my husband to come home, a
he always did about Q O'Clock. When
iii heard the shots fred down thu
: street ] at once went out to the from
p cate and stood there. l saw the muir
derer as he run past our house HI
| did not seem to be excited; at least h
eldid not run as II he were 50. He wa
lust trotting along. The man l saw