The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-07-09
80 CENT JACK POT CAUSES MURDER
Frank Thompson Killed at Davis City Blow from EneCh Bues
Fist Been Playing Poker and when Thompson Caught
Cheating Fight Followed Ending in Murder

Burrell asked for his 30 cents; told him
he wouldn't give it to him and started
to raise up and Burrell hit him. There
was no blow before this. Thompson did
mot hit Burrell. Burrell struck two
blows. | saw him hit him and then hit
him again. He hit him the second time
iii tile face and kicked him once when
he was under the fence. Thompson
never said anything or made a sonnd
after being hit. Davis BurrclI and
took him off the fence and laid him
down. Burrell had nothing i'm his hand
when he hit Thompson. think ThoInp-
son denied taking the money. All the
parties there We're sober and there was
no whiskey there. There was no dis
putc until the game closed
WILLIAM M'INTOsH
being sworn, testified in substance:
was over north of the park about 5
O'Clock. There We're five or six there.
Enoch BNrrcll, Frank Thompson, James
Barnes, George Martin, Davis Burrell
and myself. We We're having game OF
cards, playing poker. There had been
no trouble until they got into the
trouble that caused the fight, after the
game. heard Enoch tell Thompson to
give him his 30 cents. Thompson
answered but can't tell just what he
said, but he told him he wouldn't give it
to him. The next thing saw was Bur-
rcll hit him With his fist clenchcd. |
am sure he had nothing in his hand.
He struck him on the left check near
the eye. He struck him twice. Thomp-
son was'still on the ground, just raising
up prepared to fight, but was not stand
ing on his feet when Burrcll struck him.
Burrell knocked him down the first time
he hit him, under the wire fence, and
Thompson pulled himself through and
got up on his feet. Burrell went
through the fence and hit him again
before Thompson was entirely on his
feet, just raising up. He hit him on the
right side of the head and Thompson
fell through the fence and lodged. I
was about ten or twelve feet away. /
wasn't interested and stood back. No
body tried to stop them. Did not hear
Thompson say anything. In answer to
a question as to whether he was playing
in the game the witness declined to
answer, saying the question had moth
ing to do with the case. | think Burrell
kicked Thompson. could not hear the
licks very plain. The witness Also
testified that Burrell was not quarrel
some, but that Thompson was very bad.
There was no drinking going on.
JAMES BARNES,
being sworn, testified: Reside in Davis
City and was over north of the park
about 5 o'clock. With me were Frank
Thompson, Enoch Burrell, George Mar
tin, VIM. Mcintosh, Davis Burrell and
one of the Robins boys but don't know
whether he was there at the time or
mot. They were playing cards. was
looking OH. saw Thompson and Bur-
rell quarreling. Heard Burrell tell
Thompson to give him 80 cents, and
Thompson said he wouldn't give it to
him. That was about all heard until
Thompson raised up as | supposed
to hit BurrelL Burrell hit him
before he got up, over left eye,
which was the only lick / saw, and
knocked him back under the fence.
Don't know whether he hit him any
more or not. Didn't see him until DR..
Reed came over. One of the fellows
went after the doctor. Thompson act
ed like he had been drinking.
GEORGE 4. MARTIN
being sworn, testified: ] live mile
and a half south of Pleasanton. Was
over north of the park about 5 o'clock.
Had been playing cards for money. I'd
started to come to town and was a
steppin' along from them and | heerd a
lick struck and looked around and saw
Thompson kinder roll and go under the
fence. started on walking and when
] looked back Thompson was lying
across the wire fence. Did not hear any
more licks, never went back. l just
thought little racket didn't mount to
nothin'. Davis Bnrrell and went over
to the we'll and got a bucket of water
and when we got back Enoch Burreh
said George, go over and get Doc.
He's pretty bad hurt" When Thompson
kinder laughed at Burrell when he
asked him for his money, Burrell again
said, "Youd better give me my 30
cents" Did not see anything in Bur-
relfs hands. Did not see any liquor.
Two Of the fellows there had not been
playing.
DAVIS BURRML,
a cousin of Enoch Burrell, testified after
being sworn: The crowd was across
the park playing poker for money.
Robbins and Barnes were not playing.