Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1905-06-08
SHOOTS TO KILL.

the State Soldiers Hone was enacted
another tragedy which ended the life
of two of the inhabitants of the
home. David Truax. an inmate of
the home, had been at Dodge City
to attend the memorial exercises and
to have good time. He engaged
too freely in some of Dodge City's
prohibition liquor and about O'Clock
Tuesday afternoon started for the
home and on his arrival there he
still had some of this liquor with him
and no doubt kept up his jag. He
became enraged at an inmate of the
bachelors quarters named Stanley
claiming he had stolen one of his
whiskey bottles and got out his gun
threatening to kill him on sight.
About 8 O'Clock in the evening Her
man Lutz an inmate of the barracks
(who had heard Truax threaten to
shoot Stanley came out of his room
and as soon as Truax saw him he
opened fire on him, shooting him
through the heart, killing him in
stantly, John Lee, another inmate,
hearing the shooting came out of
his room into the corridor and said
to Truax, "Why did you shoot
Lutz?" He replied, "'I will immed-
lately give you the same" and i'm
mediately fired, hitting Lee in the
left side, the ball passing through
his body and lodging under the skin.
He Immediately fell to the floor and
by this time other inmates rushed
out and seized Truax and took his
gun from him. Two of the officers
then brought him to Dodge City and
lodged him in the county Jail. John
Lee, the second man shot, fingered
till $3.50 O'Clock Wednesday morn
ing when he expired. He was con-
sclous nearly up to his death. The
singular part of the whole affair is
that the two men killed were person
al friends of Truax and associated
with him more than any others in
the barracks. Truax was man of
very violent temper and very excit-
able. About a year ago Command
ant Thomas consulted with Probate
\ Judge Preston and had him examin=
ed for lunacy. He at times acted
very strange and he no doubt had
one of his strange fits Tuesday even
ing when he killed these two men.
When he asked Commandent Thom-
for leave of absence to come to town
that day. Thomas knowing his fail
ing received a promise from him
that he would abstain from drinking
while in Dodge City. He broke his
promise and had several drinks of
whisky in his pockets when he ar
rived at the home. Had he met
Stanley he no doubt would have
killed him as he did the others,
thinking as he did that Stanley had
stolen his bottles. The affair is one
of those unfortunate occurances
which it is hard TO guard against.
When this man Truax first made ap-
plication to enter the home from
Meade county, Commandent Thorn
as made enquiries about him and
from those enquiries he decided at
that time that Truax would be a dis
turbing factor if admitted and op-
posed his admission but was over
ruled. We understand from some
of the inmates of the home that
there are several more at the home
who are dangerous at times and
should not be there. They should
be rooted out. This is the third
shooting scrape they have had at
the home and the sooner such men
are let out the better for the home
and the inmates. The two unfor-
tunate men who were killed were
buried yesterday. Herman Lutz
was buried in the Home cemetery
and John Lee was brought to Dodge
City and buried in the c.. A. R
cemetery near town.-Dodge City
Sournal-Democrat.
We heard the above report from
Capt. Painter and Judge Plce who
came from Dodge last week. We
learned these facts fromCapt. Painter
; When the officers came in to arres
, Truax he informed them that "thert
t were two dead soldiers and if the,
would get him some rough on rat
: that there would be a third" Every
one regrets to hear of Mr.. Truax'
rash act and are full of sympath.
for his family who reside here ant
who are highly respected citizens.
!