The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1903-07-30

llaI TSjNE of the most remarkable
ISoGt characters OF the border
days of The Western States
IReI is now under arrest at
y9l Ainsworth, Neb., charged
with the murder of David o. Luse,
who was killed on April O., 1901. The
defendant is Fred NJ. Hans, known
throughout the West and Southwest in
the early days by the sobriquet of
Lone Star" This name was be-
slowed upon him by the Indians be-
cause of the fact that in all of the cam
paigns against them In which he par
tlcipated; in all the raids made upon
outlaws, cattle rustlers and train rob
bers in which he took part he always
separated himself from others engaged
in the conflicts and fought his way
alone. 1t was this characteristic which
has gotten him into his present trouble.
No character of the West has exhib-
tied more of bravery; none-and there
Is no exception to be made to this state
ment-has passed through the vicissi-
tudes, participated in as many battles,
received so many honors from Gov
eminent and States, saved more lives
from destruction during Indian massa-
cres. broken up more gangs of cattle
rustlers, outlaws and desperadoes than
has Fred NJ. Hans, Lone Star" now
facing a charge Of murder, alleged to
have been committed more than two
years ago.
The murder which is charged against
Hans was the result of as thrilling q
situation as ever novelist imagined.
Hans claims the killing was done In
self-defense. OF the killing Of Luse by
Hans there Is no question. 1t is for the
jury to determine whether or not the
killing was justifable. These are the
particulars, as related by both sides:
According to the States position,
Hans, who has been for several years
chief of the secret service Of the Ere
mont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley
Railroad, laid a trap for Luse. Hans
sent his brother-in-law, one Duquette,
to the Luse ranch, situated not far
from Ainsworth, to ingratiate himself
with Luse and learn whether or not
Luse was, as Hans suspected, the
leader of or a member of a gang of
train robbers, which. according to In
formation obtained by Hans, was about
10 hold up an Elkhorn train. The
State claims Duquette reported to
Hans such information as to lead Hans
TO believe, or profess to believe. in
Luse's guilt. Hans obtained a war
ant for Luse, charging him with cattle
stealing, as a blind, and, accompanied
by DuGuette and n man named Hill,
,tarted toward the Luse ranch on April
,. 1901. When some distance from the
house Hans ANNOUNCED hat he would
proceed to the house alone to arrest
Luse, and he left the other two men In
the buggy. He shortly afterward re-
turned and reported that Luse had re-
sisted arrest, and had drawn his shot
gun upon Hans. In order to save his
own life, Hans reported, he had killed
Luse, firing two shots, as the first
failed to wound Luse sufficiently to
prevent his further attempting to STAY
Hans. Hans story was believed. and
little more was heard OF the story until
the recent session of the Grand Jury.
The State claims that relatives of
Luse have followed up the case, how
ever, and now have sufficient circum-
stantial evidence to prove that Hans
killed Luse without just cause. 1t is
asserted that Luse's hands were up
when Hans shot. This contention is
based upon the medical proposition
that if a man is shot while his hands
are raised the skin will slip back over
the hole maGc by the bullet and that
this happened In Luse's case. 1t is
furthermore commended that Hans
claim that he fired two shots in quick
succession is disproved by the fact
that the two bullet holes in Luse's
body indicate that the shots were fired
from two different points In the room.
Hans story, told a. the time and
later repeated by him, is this: That
the authorities of Brown County want
ed Luse on the charge of cattle steal
ing; that he had such q reputation as a
bad man. that the authorities were
afraid to attempt to arrest him, and
that Hans offered to Go the trick. BE
said that when he approached the
house he did not want his companions
placed in danger, so he advanced to the
house alone. He knocked at the door,
and Luse opened it. Immediately rec
ognizing Hans, says the detective, Luse
sprang into n bedroom md emerged
with a shotgun. which he drew upon
Hans, Hans thereupon fired the shots
which took Luse's life.
Hans was born in Bremen County,
Iowa, July II, 1851. His father was a
German minister; his mother an Eng
fish m
The family moved to Omaha In 1874
and to the vicinity of Blair, Neb.. in
1876. Here began the troubles which
resulted IN Hans, the younger, becom-
ing a Government scout, Indian fighter,
outlaw pursuer and terror to the West
ern evildoer. woman living alone
ann ~ tI4 f,0w. A. ~ n