The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-20
: SHOT AN EDITOR.
Then the Marshal of Wilson Took His
Own Life.

Wilson, Kas., Jan. 20.-J. H. Till
man, city marshal, shot and killed c.
s. Hutchinson, postmaster and editor
of the Wilson Echo in the latter S
newspaper Office late Thursday. A
few minutes afterward, when threat
ened with violence by a crowd of
Hutchinson's friends, Tillman shot and
killed himself
III feeling between the two men
dated from last Thursday night, when
Tillman found Hutchinson's young son
on the streets after the curfeW bell
had rung. It was said that the mar
shall used greater violence than was
necessary in taking the boy to his
fathers home. In Thursdays issue of
the Echo, which is a weekly news
paper, the elder Hutchinson printed a
sarcastic account of the alleged mis-
treatment of his son, and in another
column printed the statement: "a
man who cannot or VIII not support
his own family should not be placed
in authority over others. Beware of
such characters; they are bad citizens
and should never be preferred" Mrs.
Tillman obtained a divorce some time
ago, and the marshal interpreted the
newspaper statement to be a reference
to him.
Tillman read the two articles, and
then walked at once to the Echo Of
flee. He fired one shot at Hutchinson,
the ball entering the editors heart.
Tillman then hurried to the house of
]. H Baum, where he lived. A crowd
of men, armed with guns and revolvers
soon surrounded the building, and
many threats against the marshal were
made. Tillman sent word that he
would be out soon- ScarceTy had the
was heard inside the building and
Tillman's body rolled down the inner
stairway. The bullet had taken effect.
The Echo's account of Tnlman's al
was printed under the heading: "Chief
of Police Assaulted. Ruffian Attacks
Wilson'S Great Chief and Is Worsted
in the Fight. A Brave Officers Deed"
The account was as follows;
Seldom, if ever, in police annals
has an officer covered himself as thick
with glory as did the chief of the Will
son police last Thursday evening.
Shortly after the ringing of the cur
few that guardian and protector of our
lives and our property was v1ciOusly
assaulted by no less a ruffian than
Roland A. Hutchinson. The chief, who
is by no means a large man, being no
more than six feet tall and weighing
not to exceed 175 pounds, seemed en-
dowed with superhuman strength for
the time. He threw off his aSsailant
as if the latter had been a mere child,
seized him and shook him and brought
the trouble to an end by giving the
rash young villain a kick with his lit
tie boot that sent the offender into the
air. It was a close call for the chief,
ana If we were not sure that the days
of miracles are past we would have no
hesitancy in giving it out as our opin-
ion that the deliverance of the chief
from what for while looked to be his
certain fate was a miracle if there ever
was a miracle. And our readers will
agree with US when we inform them
that the rufiian Hutchinson is almost
four and one-haIf feet Lau, that he is
not month less than IL years of age,
and that he would tip the beam at 6 0
pounds
1--WE take off our hat to this brave
officer and most heartily congratulate
the city fathers upon their good for
tune in securing the services of so
courageous and efficient a guardian of
the peace and dignity of our city"