The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-01-14

~~sAOSNN~A
long list of crimes for which Decatur
county has to answer last Friday shortly
after noon when w. q. Bracewell, a
prominent farmer of Morgan township,
living about thirteen miles southeast of
Leon, was shot and killed by his neigh
Dor, John r. Hayden, in a quarrel over
some of Bracewell's cattle getting into
Hayden's field.
The story of the shooting is not a long
one. Bracewell and Hayden were
neighboring farmers, Mr.. Bracewell's
farm adjoining that of Mr.. Hayden on
the east. About two weeks ago Hayden
had public sale at which Bracewell
purchased some SO tons of hay and it
seems that Hayden thought he bought
it too cheap. With his farm hand, Fran
els Peck, Bracewell was engaged in
hauling the hay from Hayden's to his
own farm, and in order to save time had
taken the wire down from the partition
fence that separated their farms and
was hauling the hay through the gap in
the fence. When they went to dinner
Mr.. Bracewell noticed his cattle coming
toward the gap and threw off some hay,
thinking they would stop and eat it and
not go through the fence to Hayden's
field. While they were at the house for
saw that the cattle had gone into Hay
den's field and that he was driving them
toward his barn. Telling his hand,
Francis Peck, that they must get their
horses and drive the cattle back, the
two men went out and mounted their
horses and started for the cattle. Peck
was the first one to get to the cattle and
when he started around them to turn
them back Hayden stopped him and said
he could not take the cattle. That he
had nothing against him but that the
man that owned the cattle would have
to settle with him before he got them.
About this time Bracewell came up and
Hayden at once came toward him curs-
ing him and using profane language.
When Hayden came up Bracewell said a
Few words to him and finally told him
that If he wanted to fight all right.
Hayden said he did and Bracewell dis
mounted from his horse, took of his
coat, threw his cattle whip to the
ground and started toward Hayden. AS
he did so, Hayden who had also taken
off his coat, started running away and
Bracexell followed after him. Hayden
retreated some 40 or SO feet, all the
time fumbling in the pocket of his coat
which he carried on his arm and he fin
ally drew out a revolver.
IS Upon seeing the revolver Bracewell
stopped and as he saw Hayden point it
toward him turned sideways with the
evident intention of presenting as small
mark as possible to Hayden. Hayden
fired twice, the first shot passing over
Bracewell's head, but the second one
which Immediately followed struck him
in the left side, passing through the
stomach, spleen and liver and lodged
just under the skin on the right side.
AS quick as he was shot Bracewell fell
over on his face without uttering a
word. Hayden started toward his home
and after going short distance stopped
and shouted to Peck or man named Fl
O. Petty, who was passing in the road
but was out of sight when the shooting
occurred, "You had better take care OF
your man.
Peck and Petty, assisted by Mr.
Bracewell's s brother-in-law, A. A. Snow
who lives about $50 yards from the
scene of the shooting, picked up the
wounded man and carried him to his
home a little less than a half mile away
phoned to Lineville and Drs. Glenden
ming, Lovett and Calbreath, of Lineville
were hurried to the scene as fast al
horses could take them. They fount
Mr.. Bracewell in an unconscious con
dition, and realizing that he was bleed
ing internally, preparations were a
once made to perform an operation il
4 the hope of saving his life. He wa
practically dying when the operation
was commenced and nothing could b
done for him, he passing away fe,
minutes after five O'clock.
News of the shooting was phoned a
over the neighborhood at once and tn
neighbors came quickly, most Of thel
armed with guns and revolvers, as
was known that Hayden was a danger
Gus man, and would probably resis
arrest. But it seems that as quick 6
HAYDEN reached his home he hitched u
his team and putting his revolver wit
q which he did the shooting and a she
gun in the buggy, started toward Lee
ais fast as he could drive his horse
Word OF the shooting had been phone
rs Sheriff Tom Wallace and in compar
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