The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-01
INNOCENT
BYSTANDER
WAS KILLED.
Two Men Are Laid Out inI
Shawnee Fight.
TROUBLE WAS OVER GIRL
Report of Girl Being Killed
Was Not True.
TROU8Lt WAS OVER GIRL

Shawnee. 0. T. Dec. Silt was stated
in yesterdays Eagle in a dispatch from
here to the Oklahoman that a man and
a girl were killed in an ARRAY in this city.
This is mistake, for there were two
men killed ana no girl present AZ the
shooting ar ALL The Democrat has
these paragraphs on the direful tragedy:
This city was the scene, Saturday night.
Of another tragedy, that for horrible de-
tails and deadly consequences stand al
most without 2 parallel in the history Of
killings in this part OF the territory. ana
a. once causes the blush OF shame TO
tinge the cheeks Of every citizen Of
Shawnee that stands for good morals and
the good order OF the town: for on that
fateful night at q few minutes past II
o'clock. two young iren, Leonard
Simms and James C. Hufstedler, both
lay stretched out on the floor OF tne
club room in the rear Of Belts saloon on
Main street. dead
1t is reported that at about the hour
named, while quite a crowd of men were
present, Leonard Simms walked into The
place. seemingly very much under the
influence OF liquor, and began an attack
on Charley Mcknight. one Of the men
employed at the club. with a knife, cut
ting his clothing and inficting a bad
wound IN his arm. which he threw up to
ward of a stab that would evidently
have killed him had it struek vital
spot.
At this juncture Mcknight who was
between the faro table and the wall. and
with no chance to escape. drew a revoi-
yer and fired at Simms. who at that in
slant grabbed hold OF the muzzle Of the
gun, the ball passing through his hand.
injuring one of his fingers. and passing on
struck James Hufstedler, in the left
breast. tearing a hole through his heart
and lodging in the muscles Of the back.
The unfortunate young man dropped
dead on the floor.
The struggle between simms and Nc
knight was then furious, but brief. As
soon as Mcknight freed the gun from
simms' grasp he fired the second shot.
which struck Simms over the left eve,
penetrating the brain and lodging in the
back part OF the head. Simms fell 70
the floor. dead. his knife dropping by
his side in the large pool Of blood that
gushed from the bullet hole IN his head
Leonard Fl Simms was young man
who came here few months ago from
Arkansas. and bought out the Silver King
saloon which he has since conducted
His father resides at Chester, Arkan-
sas. and 10 that point the remains were
shipped yesterday for burial
James c. Hufstedler, the victim Of the
stray shot. was the son Of Mr.. Hufstedler,
the nurseryman. residing in the eastern
portion of the city. and was only 20
years old. His funeral took place yester-
dav afternoon at o'clock, from the resi-
dence. conducted by the Modern Wood
mon Of. America.
Charles Mcknight IS also young man,
a gambler. well known here and having
the reputation OF being peaceful at an
times. and every may who witnessed the
tragedy says that he only killed simms
IN defense Of his own life.
Immediately after the killing Mcknight
surrendered himself 10 an officer and was
taken 10 Jail at Tecumseh-
The trouble between Mcknight and
slmms IS reported TO have had its ori-
gin in both paying attention TO the same
Girl here. and it is stated thar when
Simms began drinking Saturday even
ing. ne went 70 the place where he ex-
nected to meet his rival and provoke
him 10 fight, which the sequel shows cost
him his own life. and thar also Of an
Innocent bystauaer