The Cairo bulletin., 1906-06-09
THE TRUE STORY
OF the Attempt to Assassinate Newton
Riddle at Dexter, Mo-, Last
Week.

shot at Dexter last week by Ned Jones,
is that he Is improving steadily and
will be able to get out In the course
of week. His son says neither he
nor his father had any. intention DC
harmlng Jones, although the latter
had wronged Miss Riddle. He says
his father was on his way to go hunt.
ing in the woods near Dexter when he
was shot, and he had his gun for that
purpose, not for the purpose Of shoot.
ing Jones as has been alleged. He says
the following story in a Dexter paper
is the true one concerning the affair:
"a deplorabe affair happened on the
streets of Dexter las, Friday morn
ing which. was source of regret to
every citizen of he town.
Newton Riddle was shot twice by
Ned Jones, the weapon used being
Winchester repeating shot gun. The
shot used rowever were small and
Riddle is rapidly recovering from his
wounds.
"The affair created intense excite
ment and was the talk of the town
for several days thereafter, The shoot
ing occurred about 8 o'clock and was
witnessed by large number Of people
who were on the streets at the time.
Jones had been absent from the
city for several months and came to
Dexter the evening before. Riddle
came from Cairo few hours later to-
spend two or three days with his fam.
lily, and as he claims to go squirrel
hunting. This was his talk to friend
on the train as he came to Dexter. /.
"The men were known to be bit
ter enemies on account of some fam
lily affair with which the people of
Dexter are perfectly familiar. 1t was
feared that trouble would ensue as
soon as they met. This was the talk
of the town the night before the shoot
ing, The next morning this apprehen.
sion lessened and their close friends
said there would be no trouble.
"They were both on the street an
hour before the shooting, Riddle went
home and returned about 9 o'clock
with a double-barrel shot gun. He
was told by his friends that he might
get into trouble by having that gun,
but he only laughed and said he failed
to Sc how this could be possible, as he
was going down the railroad and shoot
his gun off few times to break the
rust in the barrels and then clean 1t
up and go hunting.
He passed on down the street,
and as he stepped on the pavement
at the Miller, Carter & Co, building
shot rang out and he fell to the pave;
ment This shot was fired through the
window of the Citizens Bank Building,
Ned Jones admits to firing this shot
When Riddle fell he began to struggle
and Jones walked out on the pavement |
in front of the bank building and fired |
another load of shot into Riddle. The |
first load tooff effect In the head and |
face and the second load struck him |
largely in the arm and shoulder. Either |
shot would have produced death If they |
had been large enough, but No. 2 shot |
was used ra m tt
Jones justifies his act by saying |
that Riddle had made threats against |
his life and regarded Riddle having |
the shot gun on the morning of the \
as an indication that he in.
tended to carry out these threats.
Riddle denies that he ever made
threat against Jones' life to any man
and that he was not look
ng for Jones and had no intention
whatever of shooting him That he
Knew nothing of Jones presence in
Dexter when he left Cairo.
After the shooting Jones was
brought before Esq. LETTERS and his
cond placed at $4,000, which was
promptly furnished. His terminating
rial is set for June 18th before Squire
letters, when every fact connected
With and that led to the shooting will
be brought out.
"A word about Jones' gun: When
re arrived in Dexter Thursday even
ng he brought his gun with him and
oOk ii in the directors rom of the
citizens bank. with the request from
Ohm Moore, the assistant cashier that
10 allowed TO remain there until
10 ain This is the reason for the
~ being there. 1t was Jones' prop
'rtv ;Dl did no. belong TO the bank 4,
aay TO- Us directors or officers.
TIC mon in his affair are related
- marriage.
riddle getting along well and {
10 thought that he will be able to
,e out the first of next week. His
on, Fred. was telephoned after the
hooting and came from Cairo last ,
friday evening and has been at home
ince helping to nurse him."