Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-10-28
Stranger in Silver Greek and AoOsmpanisd
BY Another Stranger.
GONE AFTER THE SHOOTING
Nan Answering His Description Arrested
Later at Columbus
WOUNDED MAN ALMOST CERTAIN TO DIE
says Father Lives In Fort worth.
Texas, and is Proninsnt Citizen
both of Men Thought 20
he Crooks.

SILVER CREEK. Nsb.. Oct 37.--tspseiAi
Telegram. about o'clock this afternoon
a man was found At the coal house west Of
town yelling for dear life. He was taken
In charge and on examination wac found te
have been shot directly under the left shoul-
derblsde DR.. Stoddard was called and
made sn examination. but refuses TO say
what the outcome will be. although from in
dicRtions be regards the wound az fatal
The man Is about 30 years OF age. gives his
name Hs James J. Francis, says he IL from
Baltimore. but refuses TO talk further. He
is a man with light hair. q stout. husky
fellow and in answer TO all inquiries As
to who shot him refuses to say. stating
1t was none Of the auestioner's business. To
others he said that he was shot by some
passing hunters.
Colts revolver. old pattern. with twc
empty shells, was found within ten feet Of
where be lay under the coal house. Tbs
location Of the wound makes Il apparent
that he could not have shot himself, while
the burned condition of his clothing shows
clearly that the gun which did the work
was held close to his person.
Francis. as he calls himself. was In town
early this morning and visited the saloon.
With him was another stranger. . man
about 30 years of age, with q full. sandy
beard, wearing a cheekered pair Of pants
and oyercost Of dark color and q black
fedora hat The two had some words a
short time before the wounded man was
discovered. 1t is the belief OF those who
have Investigated the case that the red
whiskered man shot Francis. that they are
both crooks and that they both are wanted
elsewhere for serious crimes. for which
reason the wounded man refuses to diyulge
the facts in the case.
Three hours after the shooting a man
boarded an eastbound freight west Of town
and persons seeing him say be answers
the description OF the man who was with
Francis. The authorities at Columbus were
notified and later reported that they had
the man.
The doctor gives little hopes Of the
wounded mans recovery.
Later in the day he stated his name wAs
Ashby and that his father. Albert Ashhy.
I lived at 7O2 West Third street. Fort Worth.
Tex, and that he was prominent man
In the city.
Prisoner VIII Not Talk.
COLUMBUS, Neb., Oct. 27-(spseiAl
Telegram m-)-Chief OF Police Shack received
a description Of a man wanted for a mur-
der committed at Silver Greek this after
3 NUN huu NAAuAu twenty uhQ MS
man in Jail. He was sfterward sweated
by Sheriff 1Burnes. but absolutely refused
TO say a word. When searched he had
q new Smith & Wesson 3s-caliber revolver
and a bottle Of some kind Of acid. Sheriff
Byrnes says he Is confident that this man
and the one who was shot are both wanted
for postofhce robbery at Belgrade last
week. The descriptions tally exactly. The
Merrick county officers will be after the
man tomorrow. He stands perfectly dumb
before all questioners and II he has q voice
the ofhcers have had no evidence OF Il.
! FORT WORTH, Tex, Oct. 27.-Albert
Ashby lives al the address given and has
son who answers the description given
who is at present away from home. The
elder Ashby is old and very feeble and the
people Of the house did not inform him
tonight Of the shooting OF his son.