The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-11-07
Attempted Murder and Suicide.


and f. W. Mann stating that David,
the Is year old son of Mrs. Nancy E,
Slrckler living FIVE miles northwest of
this city had been shot in the back of
the neck with a shot gdu loaded with
number four shot in the hands of John
Prock, and was in a critical condition.
The information created much ex-
cilement throughout the town, until
about 10 O'Clock when the doctors re-
turned and stated that the wound,
though an ugly and jagged hole extend
ing from the base of the neck on the
night side downward and toward the
left shoulder, was not necessarily very
dangerous. Prock had been IN town
The greater part of the day starting
home at about three O'Clock badly un-
der the influence liquor. AS was sub
stquently s. learned when nearly home he
met bis daughter, Miss Katie, in COM
pany with young Strickler, to whose
attentions Prock, It Is said by some, had
previously objeeed though this is
denied, They were going to the ru-
raj delivery mail box some distance
south of her house. Just what, if any
thing, be then said Is not known.
Prock passed on home, but shortly
thereafter was seen returning with a
shot gun Strickler having been IN
formed by Benjamin a son Of Prock IS,
when be asked him to go duck hunt
ing with him shortly before, that there
was no ammunition oD the place, paid
little attention to him, Y hen Prock
rode up and declared he was going
10 kill him. He raised his gun which
Stricken thinking to be unloaded
grasped by the barrels. A struggle fol-
lowed. He finally let loose and dodged
behind the horse just as Prock fired
the shot taking effect as stated above,
Strickler fal ing to the ground and
Prock again going home. Shortly a.
ter this Prock was seen coming back
and Strickler after telling Miss Prock
to hide pretended to be dead, When
be came up, Prock told his daughter
be had good notion to kill her too,
bu. was persuaded to the contrary by
the young lady suddenly presenting
s Ticklers gun both barrels cooke d
and telling him TO shoot as soon as be
pleased as she was prepared and able
to defend herself, and he again left this
time going south, trying at Y, Wright's
Jr, and other places along the line to
get shells for his gun. The two he had
that day were used in shooting Strek-
Ter, and The other still in the gun at that
time, we're be told his wife when be
got the gan, hid by him for special
purpose some time before. He came 10
within half a mile of town, was seen
to 60 south on the road just west of the
the German church property, and
nothing more was heard from him un-
til after night, when he went to the
home of u. W. Wright where he told
he had killed Dave Strickler, and 10
whose company he had started to
Lexington TO surrender himself, but
later be backed out and going back to
Mr.. Wright's got his horse and traded
his gun for pistol, saying he thought
mob was following him and that be
wanted to defend himself, left, be said
to 90 TO friend near Lone Jack, but
IN reality going back home where he
arrived at about two O'Clock Sunday
MOI ming. He found no one in the
family room, the family being in the
upper rooms. He took off his hat, coat,
vest ana boots, and after calling his
wife's name twice, lay down on the
bed and taking the pistol in his hand
fired shot into his brain, the ball n
lering the skull one inch above the
right ear. Mrs. Prock heard him
call and was starting down stairs
when she heard the shot and came
down Immediately only to find him
dead with the pistol still held in his
hand. Prock was noted character
during the Civil war being memI er
Of Quantrelrs band. The remairs
we're inferred at the Greenton cemetery
Monday. Dave Strickler was an ex-
emplary young man, well liked in his
neigbborhood and his prospective re-
covery is source of Joy to every one.
L.
Bankers Meet Here.