The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-11-26
THE LINEWLLE TRAGEDY
Particulars of the Killing of Frank
WATSON by Henry VanderpoOl
Last Week.

LIS lolloWlHS PdFGicutdrS VI gHS Kill
ing of Frank WATSON, we'll known cit
izen of Lineville, are CLEANED from the
Lineville papers: The Tribune says:
The Rock Island restaurant on the
east side of the square was the scene of
a fatal shooting ARRAY on Tuesday night
last between 10 and II o'clock in which
Frank WATSON was shot three times by
Henry Vanderpool proprietor Of the
restaurant, the shots proving fatal in
few moments.
The circumstances leading to the
tragedy are briefly told. According to
the testimony before the inquest, Frank
enterered the restaurant about Is
minutes past 10 and was apparently
under the influence Of liquor. He was
shortly joined by DR.. N. E. Wilson, Of the
Rosebud drug store, and the two began
eating lunch at the counter. Frank
soon became disorderly and after running
some boys and young men out of the
room began throwing the stools about
the room and piling them up. Sibbie
Stockwell, who was on duty in the res
taurant, went up stairs and informed
Vanderpool, who had retired, what was
going on below and the latter immedi-
ately dressed and went down. Wander
pool joined Wilson and WATSON in eat
ing oysters and sardines, when the
latter again became disorderly and
quarrelsome. He was ordered to desist
by Vanderpool and few words passed
between them. According to DR.. Will
sons testimony Vanderpool was stand
ing behind the counter and Frank on
the outside Immediately in front of him
and when the witness next looked both
had revolvers in their hands in threat
ening attitudes. Wilson started for the
door in order to get out of range of the
bullets when the shooting began.
-Four or five shots were fired and Frank
followed Wilson out of the door and
sank down upon the walk unconscious.
Wilson again entered the room and Van
derpool ordered Stockwell to shut and
lock the front door and put out the
lights. Wilson, who carried a lantern,
was let out the north door and going
around to the front door found WATSON
unconscious and breathing heavily. He
went to the Workman House and found
city marshal Loveless, and with Neill
Wilson and one or two others returned
to the spot where WATSON was lying in
front of the restaurant. An examina-
ton at once showed that the unfortu-
nate man was dead. DR.. Lovett was
also called and examined the body
life being extinct. He was lying with
his head resting upon his left arm anc
his revolver still grasped by his right
hand.
The body was removed to Hutchinson
& Greenlee's undertaking rooms ane
County Coroner DR.. Ernest, of Sey
mour, and County Attorney Livingston
Of Corydon, notified. The coroner was
unable to get to Lineville and the in
quest was held yesterday afternoon be
fore Justice P. G. Hampton and a jury
composed of N. M. Engle, Jesse Merrick
and H. B. Litton.
The testimony of DR.. N. E. Wilson
Sibbie Stockwell and DR.. I. M. Lovet1
was taken embodying the essential
facts as above stated and the jury after
a short consultation returned verdict
of justiiable homicide.
The deceased was born and reared il
this vicinity and was the son of the late
j. d. WATSON, founder and first presi
dent of the Bank of Lineville He leave!
a wife, daughter, Ruby,15 years of age
who is attending Catholic seminary a
Kansas City, and son, Joe, about
years of age at home.
| With ample wealth and all the sur
roundings and associations that are
supposed to make life happy and wortl
living, possessed of ability, natura
manhood and honor in a high degree, h
f! fell under the blighting curse of stron
drink, from which he seemed unable t
escape and from it's effects perishe,
miserably. Whatever may be the fee
( ing of those who have noted his caree
there can be but one sentiment towar
, the sorrowing wife, children, mothe
and relatives of the deceased--that c
the profound pity and the deepest SYM
! pathy.
The funeral will probably be hel
from the M. E. church, South, this after
noon at three o'clock, although fina
arrangements have not at this writin
been fully decided upon.
\, The Lineville News in it's account
the sad affair says:
Tuesday night our little city was tn
scene of a tragedy that will live Ion
in the minds Of our people. Henry Val
derpool, one of the proprietors of til
east side restaurant, shot Frank Was