The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-06-26

the residence Saturday afternoon at
o'clock, conducted by Rev. w. II.
Ilsley, the remains being taken to Alton
for burial. The X. P, lodge of which he
had been long member accompanied
the remains to the depot in a body,
an escort accompanying them to Alton.
Many beautiful floral tributes attested
to the love for the departed, prominent
among them being handsome emblems
from the K. P. and M. w. A. lodges
and the Ratbbone Sisters.
Coroner's Inquest.
Coroner B. r. McAllaster held an
inquest over the body Of Mr., Wharton
Friday morning, the inquest being
held at the DERRICK restaurant where
the accident occurred, the jury being
composed of H. Farquhar, l. N. Beard
and j. A. Harris, before whom the
following testimony was taken, being
the testimony Of all the witnesses present
at the shooting except Ralph Merrill,
of Mt. Ayr, who was compelled to go
home on the six o'clock train to open
his store, but the story told by him to
the coroner at the time of the accident
was the same as that of the other
witnesses.
FRANK BENNETT
being sworn, testified: reside at Leon.
Iowa, am Al years old and am employed
by Dug Roberts. first saw j. p. Whar-
ton early last evening, and met him
several times during the evening, on the
street and in DERRICK 8 restaurant. Was
with him from about 10 O'Clock until his
death. | went to the restaurant
about 8 or 10 o'clock and remained a
while and went out. Returned to the
restaurant about II O'Clock and
remained there until the accident,
There was no quarreling or.threats made
by any one during the evening. Lew
DERRICK, Ralph Merrill, ]. P. Wharton,
Lew Overholtzer, Syl johnson and N.Y.
self were sitting at table and had lust
eaten lunch, settled for it and were in
the act of leaving when the accident
happened. The lunch consisted of ham
and cheese sandwiches. l saw the gun
just as the shot was fired. Saw the
revolver prior to that time 1t WAS a
So. DERRICK took it from his pocket
Think it was empty, but did not ex-
anime it. Saw DERRICK put loads in the
gun and put it in his pocket. Prior to
this time heard some one make some
remarks about him putting the gun up.
that he did not need it. | was present |
at the shooting. We were all lust ready |
10 get up. DERRICK sat to the right of |
Wharton and was at the left of Whar.
ton. Did not see the gun the last time
until the shot was fired. 1t was in
Detrick's hand and was held Just about
as high as the top of the table. When
the shot was Sired Wharton Just dropped
his head over on the table, and a mo-
ment later slid off the chair to the floor,
Derrick dropped the gun or laid it on
the table and commenced wringing his
hands and saying it was an accident.
that he had no intention of doing it.
DERRICK had been with the crowd about
an hour. Earlier in the evening there
had been q keg of beer in the res
taurant and all of Us had been drinking
from it. Drank nothing else, no whis.
key. DERRICK was sober. He had sery.
ed the lunch and waited on the table.
He had been playing with the gun.
There was no i'll feeling existing between
any of the parties. The gun was not
aimed and he was holding it down low.
Wharton had just finished telling
funny story and all of us we're laughing.
After the shooting heard Derrick saw
My God. what have 1 done, or words
to that effect.
y, L. G. oEERHoLTzER
sworn, testified: ann 80 years old, reside
in Franklin township, and am farmer.
was acquainted with ]. p. Wharton
Was with him two or three hours last
night. First saw him about 6 O'Clock.
and was with him for an hour and a
half or more before the shooting. We
we've sitting at table, telling stories
and had eaten lunch. There had been
no quarreling of any kind There were
present Frank Bennett, j p. Wharton.
Lew DERRICK, S. B. johnson, Ralph
Merrill and myself. We had been drink
ing hop ale from bottles. Saw Derrick
have IS revolver. He had been fiaring
it around. Saw him load it about so
minutes before the shooting. Heard no
threats at all. Wharton had told him
he had better put that thing up and
DERRICK put the gun in his pocket. |
Wharton was on his left. Saw Detrick
as he drew the gan from his pocket.
He took no aim with it, and the gun
was not higher than the top of the table
when it was fired. Wharton fell forward
to the table and slid to the floor. l said,
"My God, Skeet, what have you done
He replied 'slt was purely accidental"
The gun was then lying on the table.
S. b. JOHNSON.
sworn, testified: am 81 years ole, by
occupation hotel porter and reside at
Leon, Iowa. KnowJ. P. Wharton, and
was present last night when the shoot
ing occurred. Had been there two and
a half or three hours. Went to the
restaurant about ten o'clock. We we're
sitting at the table, cracking jokes, tell
ing stories and having good time.
There were six of US present. Several
boys came in who had been to dance,
and after standing around a few minutes
went out. We had been drinking hop
ale. There had been no quarreling or
hard feeling, and no threats made by
anyone. DERRICK had a gun, 50. Saw
hin, Load IL Hn roll, tIo Nod,