The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-20
STAbBING FRAY ON
SANTA FE TRAIN
Boy Arrested for Assault with
Intent to Kill.
PRISONER IN COUNTY JAIL
Thomas Blunt and Homer Pratt
the Participants.
PRISONER IN COUNTY JAIL

W. S. Hawk. deputy city marshal, re-
turned from Valley Center last night
where he arrested and later placed
Thomas Blunt in the Sedgwick county
Jail. Blunt is charged with assault with
intent to kill Homer Pratt. also of Valley
Center
The offense with which Blunt is charged
occurred early yesterday morning on San
Ia Fe passenger train No IS. between
wichita and Valley Center Blunt Pratt
Bruce Carpenter and Herbert Koble made
UP party OF four from Valley Center
who attended the spring carnival Ac-
cordIng to witnesses Pratt and Blunt en-
gagged in an alteration while on the way
home. in which Pratt was the aggressor
Pratt, 1t is said, was slapping Blunt about
the face when the latter drew a pocket
knife and cut Pratt about the right Shout
der In terrible struggle which ensued
Blunt again stabbed Pratt that time
three blows in the breast The wounds
extended 10 depth of several inches and
Pratt's lungs were penetrated. Pratt was
cared for the best possible until Valley
home and medical attendance was sum-
moned- He had lost great quantities Of
blood, and due TO that coupled with his
severe wounds, ii is feared that he will
never recover. 1t was reported yesterday
afternoon that Pratt was in dying con-
dltion. Late last night however he was
reported as showing an improvement and
theiattending physician thinks he stands
a little better show for recovery.
Homer Pratt, the injured man. is about
. years of age and member of one of
Valley Centers most prominent families
Thomas Blunt is about three years Pratt's
junior He is said to bear good reputa.
ton and was never before known to have
been in trouble. He is an orphan his
parents having died some time ago. Prior
TO about one year ago Blunt was resi-
dent of Wichita. He was employed as a
farm hand by a family named Remlow.
about two miles west of Valley Center.
when placed under arrest.
The warrant charging Blunt with as
sault with intent to kill was sworn out
last evening by oscar Pratt. a brother of
the injured man. When Marshal Hawk
arrived al the farm where Blunt was en-
ployed last evening he found the young
man engaged in blowing corn. Blunt
made no attempt to get away and showed
no fear at being arrested He does not
deny the charge, but claims self defense
Il sorry the trouble happened
said Blunt, but it could not be helped.
had no desire TO fight with Pratt, but
he would not let me alone. | only cut
him in self defense. | hardly thought
that l would be arrested although l have
no fear of coming clear
on his arrival in Wichita last night
in custody of the officer. Blunt carried
with him the names of several Newton
people who witnessed the fight Blunt
says they all volunteered to give him
their names and agreed to appear at the
trial as witnesses for him should he be
arrested.
The pocket knife with which Blunt cut
Pratt is of an unusually large pattern.
The blade with which TIE stabbing was
done is fully three inches in length. Blunt
had the knife in his possession when ar
rested and it was later taken charge of
by the deputy marshal who took the
young man into custody
The party of four from Valley Center,
who were all together when the fight oc-
CURED. had spent the day visiting the
spring carnival in Wichita. They board
ed the Santa Fe train due to leave here
at 1920 p. m, but which was late and did
not leave until Y for their return trip
home. The fight occurred while the train
was passing through North Wichita.
News Of the fray did not reach Wichita
until yesterday morning.