The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-15
DEAD in STREET.
Fatal Termination of q Family
Feud at Perry.
f. p. Simmons Killed by Broth
er-in-Law j. w. COlley.

Perry, Kas., Aug. 15--Great excite
ment prevails here over the shooting of
F. P Simmons by his brother-in
]. W. Colley, at 9 o'clock last night in
front of Joseph Yandcant's restaurant.
The men were married to sisters. and
the shooting affray last night resulted
from feud that dates back to the
time of their m arriage. Both men are
considered as among the best families
of the town. Simmons was very pop
ular. and feeling is high.
The matter that is more directly re-
sponsible for the tragedy of last night
is the sending of an obscene picture
through the mail as a valentine by Sim
mons to Mrs. Colley. Simmons endeav-
ored to prevent tracing the origin of the
picture to himself, but he was suspected
by his brother-in-law and the matter
was placed in the hands of postofnce
inspector, who spent considerable time
in working on the case, with the result
that the evidence that was secured was
sufficient when put before the grand
jury which met at Topeka in April to
secure the return of an Indictment
against Simmons on the charge of send
ing obscene pictures through the mail.
Simmons was arrested and tried at
the spring term of the federal court at
Salina- He was fined $780,
The case attracted no little attention
at the time on account OF the DroHlln-
eQce OF the persons VINO >sFeFe- TIE RI
dividuals in the photograph. 1t is the
case in which the photograph was stolen
from the grand jury room while the
case was being presented to the grand
jury.
The bitter feeling between the
brothers in-law was only increased by
the valentine day incident. They be-
came more bitter enemies. Last night
when they met in front of the restaurant
a few hot words were passed between
the two men. No one was near them
at the time and no one heard what was
said.
After a short interval of time they
made for each other. cursing each other
as they clinched. They went down and
Colley was underneath. AS they were
arising Colley reached for his gun and
shot Simmons just above the heart,
severing the artery Simmons was un-
armed. He fell back and died without
uttering an Ineligible word.
Colley then walked to his home about
four blocks distant and remained until
Officer Joe Yandcant reached there
arrest. He had a preliminary hearing
before Justice of the Peace Oliver and
was bound over for trial without bail.
He has been transferred to the county
The funeral of Simmons will occur at
2 o'clock Saturda-.
Simmons leaves widow and two
children He owned farm a mile west
or Perry. SOl1oy was employed In Lee s
hardware store and has a wife and one
child
Mrs Simmons and Mrs. Colley are the
daughters of a wealthy Indian family
named Grintor. Six girls and two boys
comprise the family. of children. All
have been highly educated. The father
is dead.
1t is said that Mr.. Colley, who mar
ried into the family. was the confiden-
tial advisor of the members of the fam
lily in all their financial transactions.
The story generally believed around
Perry is that when Mr. Simmons mar
ried one of the oldest daughters the
family turned to him for advice in
financial matters and refused to allow
Colley to have anything more to do with
the business details. This it is claim ed
is the basis of the trouble between the
two men.
1t is asserted by Simmons friends
that in his taking the management Of
the financial affairs of the Grintor fam
lily he was instrumental in saving
money for them. 1t is also believed by
his, friends that he was the object of a
plot in the obscene picture case. 1t is
claimed that he was only technically
guilty and that the package was hand
ed to him ready to mail with the re =.
quest that he send it as a valentine.
and that he mailed it without looking
inside the package.
Colley came originally from Ten
y1aSSea and Si,oy1opS from Ka0t11ckv