The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-23
HIS COMPANIONS
ARE INDICATED
Ransom Woodruff Killed by
Two Unknown Men.
SAID C0R0NER'S JURY
Bowman and Sims Story Ac-
copied at Inquest,

At the coroners inquest held in Au-
gusta TO fix the responsibility for the
death of Ransom Woodruff, who was
killed in the attempted holdup near the
city, at about Il o'clock Thursday night.
Woodruff's two companions, Alpha Bow
the murder. These two and young man
named ]. D. Chitwood, who joined them
at Kildare. o. T., are the only ones who
were present at the shooting, and the
coroners jury accepted their version of
the affair.
In the minds of some of those who read
Of the attempted robbery and murder
yesterday there was a doubt as to
whether the companions of the dead man
might not have been implicated in the
shooting. In the talk on the streets yes
terday a number of people said that
there might have been a possibility of
this They argued that 1t seemed a little
strange that the three robbers who are
alleged to have committed the deed could
have disappeared so completely. Since
the crime was committed all of the trains
have been closely watched and it is
thought that the ehree men could not
have escaped far.
They also said that the story as told
by Woodruffs companions seemed a lit
tie out OF the ordinary, as 1t would seem
a very foolish thing to do, TO sleep with
three men who had the appearance of
being such bad men as the three robbers
are reported TO have been, with over 5000
and gold watches on their persons. The
fact was also mentioned that Il robber
will seldom shoot man when he is run
ming from him. Another thing which
those who held this view of the shoot
ing thought ought to be explained was
that the town was not alarmed sooner
and posse started in pursuit of the
robbers as they walked out of the town.
The six men on the coroner's jury took
altogether another view of the shooting
and Woodruff's companions were entirely
INDICATED of being in any way response
BILE for the murder. Bowman and Sims
were cousins OF Woodruff and their ac-
tons after the shooting and stories of
the affair proved conclusively TO the
people OF Augusta, who have become ac-
quainted with them, that they could not
have been in any way implicated in it.
They have a good appearance and their
stories are told in clear. straightfor-
ward. convincing manner. and no con-
fiicting statements were made.
The story of the robbery as learned
yesterday agreed in all the important de-
tails with that printed in the Eagle yes
terday. 1t was further added. however,
that the young man Chitwood was sleep
ing a short distance from Woodruff and
his companions when he heard the rob-
bers order them to hold up their hands
Bowman and Sims and Chitwood hid
until they heard the robbors leave, afraid
to make noise until they heard them
walking away. Woodruff was then
found MORALLY wounded and was taken
to the Fifth Avenue hotel, where he died
at about 9 o'clock. as was stated yester-
day.
The coroner's jury met at 2:3O In the
afternoon and their verdict was an ao-
solute vindication of woodruff's compan-
ions II was as follows:
THAT said Jurors. upon their oaths'
do say that the said Ransom woodruff
came to his death from a gun shot
wound from the hands of two parties de-
scribed by the witnesses in the case
and whose names are to US unknown
The Jury was composed of w w. Peck
ham. 0. A. sisco, n. C. Doering, H. d.
Hill. J. II. Hartup and John ward
Woodruff's body is 10 be taken TO his
home In Indiana for burial.