The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-05-12
MURDER IS DONE
IN PRAIRIE CITY.
VIM. PORTER SHOT DOWN BY
WILLARD w. BUCK.
TRAGEDY IN PUBLIC SQUARE.
Victim Was Well Known Retired Far
mer, 20 Years old, Father of
Jack Porter, an Iowa
Central Dispatcher.
TRAGEDY IN PUBLIC SQUARE.

Newton, Ia, May 1U.-W1lliam FOR
ter. a well known retired farmer, 10
years of age, was shot five times and
killed by Willard W. Buck at Prairie
City yesterday afternoon. The snoot-
ing occurred in the public park in the
center of the city, and in the full
sight Of the people who thronged the
streets. One of the bullets passed
through the heart of the victim. An
other pierced the feshy part of the
left arm and entered the side,a and two
more entered the side. The shooting
was at short range.
The cause of the murder is said to
have been reports which have been
circulated associating the name or
Buck with that of a woman. Buck
appeared to be under the impression
that Porter was instrumental in cir
culating these reports. The two men
were neighbors and were supposed
to be on friendly terms.
Buck has a wife and child living in
Prairie City. He is a young man,
aged about Is years. He has been
engaged in the business of enlarging
pictures and has also been selling
picture frames and tombstones. He.
is well known in Prairie City and has
always borne a good reputation.
Two Men Met On Square.
Porter and Buck met on the square
at 8 o'clock and entered the drug
store Of Cozad G Freeman, supposed
ly to talk over their difficulties. They
became engaged in an alteration and
on the suggestion of Buck left the
store and crossed over into the
square. They had scarcely entered
the little park when Buck drew a re-
volver and began shooting. His vic
tim was unarmed and had no oppor-
tunity to defend himself.
Buck made no attempt to escape
and was speedily surrounded by the
crowd which rushed to the scene OF
the tragedy. He surrendered his re-
volver and was led away to the city
Jail. The Jail was surrounded by a
crowd of men, women and boys, and
talk Of lynching was freely INDUCED
in, although no leader presented him
self and no attempts at violence Ave-
made. 49,
Deputy Sheriff Fred Panre, accom-
panied by George Feas, made the
eighteen mile drive from Newton, the
county seat, to Prairie City in record
breaking time, and took charge OF the
prisoner. No time was lost in getting
Buck out of the fragile Prairie City
Jail, and he was taken to Newton, and
lodged in the more secure confine-
ment of the county Jail. Ever since
his arrest, Bucks demeanor has been
that of a man who has lost his reason.
He has made wild statements, and
has complained of pains in his head.
When he was brought before the
sheriff at Newton, his first question
was: "Say, have you heard that 1 had
killed Satan?" This he has repeated
to all who called to see him in the
Newton Jail.
A Verdict of WiIlfuI Murder.
A coroner's jury at Prairie City
last evening held an inquest over the
body of Mr.. Porter and returned a
verdict of willful murder. Buck will
be held in jail without bond until the
grand jury takes action in the case.
Bucks family at one time lived in
East Des Moines, and his father now
makes his home On a farm three miles
west of Prairie City. A brother-in-
law was at n time engaged in the
grocery business in Des Moines and
is now in Indianola.
Mr.. Porter was an old soldier, and
was well and favorably known all
over Jasper county. He had retired
from active business and made his
home in Prairie City with an unmar-
ried daughter. He leaves two more
children, a married daughter and a
son, John Porter, who is chief dis
patcher for the Iowa Central railroad
at Oskaloosa.