The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-06-26
P. WHARTON killed.
Is Shot in the Face by the Accidental Dis
charge of Revolver in the Hands of
L.p. DERRICK.
DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS.

about o'clock Friday morning result
ing in the instant death of James p.
Wharton from the effects of the acct
dental discharge of a revolver in the
hands of MIR. DERRICK.
Mr.. Wharton was one of the best
known and most popular travelling men
who came to Leon, as we'll as having
been born and raised in this city,
moving to Atchison, Kas., about two
years ago when the McClelland Cigar Co.
of which he was partner moved their
business to that city. He arrived in
Leon Wednesday evening on one OF
his regular trips and intended going to
Alton, where his wife and little daughter
were visiting, on Friday, to spend Sun
day with them.
Along in the evening in company
with some friends he dropped into the
restaurant, and about 10 O'Clock that
evening keg of beer was brought in
there and drank, but as there was quite
large party there none of those pres.
ent drank enough to become intoxicat-
ed, the beer being drank within a short
time. After the keg was finished all the
parties had left the restaurant except
six, Mr.. Wharton, Lew Overholtzer,
Frank Bennett, S. B. Johnson, of this
city, Ralph Merrill of Mt. Ayr and Mr..
DERRICK the proprietor Of the restaurant,
who remained, and. for couple of
hours had all been sitting at table,
telling stories, cracking jokes and hav.
ing social good time. About - O'Clock
they secured several bottles of hop ale and
ordered lunch which was served at the
table by Mr.. DERRICK. While they were
sitting there DERRICK took a revolver out
of his pocket which was not loaded, and
had been showing it and handling it in
playful manner, until finally Mr..
Wharton told him to put it up, as some
one might get hurt. He then took some
cartridges which he was carrying loose
in his pocket and loaded the revolver.
placing it in his right hip pocket. This
was about half hour before the shoot
ing. The party continued sitting there,
had paid for their lunch and were just
in the act of leaving, Mr.. Wharton hay
ing just finished telling funny story at
which all were laughing heartily, when
for some unknown reason DERRICK pulled
the revolver from his pocket and just as
he was doing SO, the revolver being
about on level with the top Of the,
table, it was discharged. Mr.. Wharton
was sitting on the left of DERRICK, facing
him, and the bullet, a3S-calibre, struck
him full in the face, half inch to the
right of the lower part of his nose, the
ball going straight in, severing the spinal
cord atsthe base of the brain, causing
instant death. He did not utter word,
falling forward on the table, and then
slid to the floor. Those present were of
course struck with horror, and DR.. Nc
Allaster was hastily summoned, arriv.:
ing in about five minutes, but there
were no signs of life when he examined
the body. Mr.. DERRICK dropped the re.
volver on the table and commenced cry
ing and wringing his hands, saying it
had been purely accidental, and that he
nd no intention of shooting, and there
are none who believe that it was other
than a most unfortunate accident,
Mr.. DERRICK being censured only for
reckless carelessness4in the. handling Of
the weapon, as he and Mr.. Wharton
had always been the best of friends,
there never having been word be-
tween them, and the testimony of the
witnesses Of the shooting, as we'll as
those who had been in the restaurant
dnring the evening was unanimous in
saying there had been no hard words
between anyone during the entire
evening.
Nightwatch Lindsay and Ralph Sigler
were coming up the street, being in
front of Often 4 Wallace's meat mar
ket, only two doors away, and when
they heard the shot ran into the res
hands and crying, saying 1t was acct
dental. Officer Lindsay took charge of
Detrick at once, lie offering no resist
ance and was placed in Jail within ten
minutes of the shooting, where he re-
NAMED until after the inquest was held
the next day when he was released on
bond.
The accident Is most deplorable,
owing to the high esteem in which the
parties were held and the we'll known
friendship which existed between Mr..
Wharton and Mr.. DERRICK, and should
serve as warning to many young men
who are in the habit of carrying re-.
volyers. There is absolutely no excuse
for any person to carry revolver in
this community.
The remains of Mr. Wharton were
removed to the undertaking rooms of