The Washington herald., 1906-12-23

El Reno, Okla. Dec. 22.-The motive.
as well as the identity, of the person who
attempted to assassiaate Capt Edgar A.
MackIin, of the Twenty-ffth United
States Infantry last night in his home
here. has not been developed
Late this afternoon the bloodhounds
that had been brought from Oklahoma
City. in an effort to trail down the as
sailant, were returned to their owner,
having accomplished nothing. They took
a trail at the place where the shot was
fired and went directly To the railroad
station, back tracked. and then seemed 20
lose the scent
II was apparent from the way the dogs
worked that the fugitive must have board
ed a train and left the city. OF else possi-
bly, they were on the wrong trail
Capt. Macklin is resting easily tonight.
and win probably recover. Two theories
for the attempted assas assination are Of
fered. One is robbery and the other re-
venge. Capt. Macklin was the custodian
OF the funds of his company, which leads
to the belief that robbery actuated the
crime. On the other hand. il seems i'm
probable that Capt AIaeklin would have
been called to the door as early as Z
O'Clock while his wife was preparing din
her if this had been the motive
Macklin offers no solution 10 the mys-
terry. The man who did the shooting was
muffled In teamster's clothes
Mystery ShrOuds Shooting.
Capt Macklin was not allowed to-day
been gathered to throw much mystery
over the affair. It IS not generally be
lieved here that the shooting was done
by one of the negro troopers who was
discharged without honor by order OF
the President on account Of the shoot
ing-up" by the negro troops Of the town
Of Brownsville Tex. The testimony of
Capt Macklin shows that he did not put
blame upon sthe men Of his company.
One motive might be robbery.
Another guess is that of revenge grow
ing out of the death of a member. of
Company c. who fell out Of the ranks on
a practice march few days ago and
was found next day frozen to death.
An officer OF Fort Reno said to-day;
"All that is known here is that the
shooting took place just as told by Capt
MackHn last night. There was no sus-
piciOus characters at Fort Reno yester-
day, and we have no knowledge whether
or not the assailant is a discharged sol
dier. The troops have joined in the
search
Not Harsh TO His Men.
Leavenworth, Kans., Dec. 22.-Oficers
at Fort Leavenworth. many Of whom are
personally acquainted with Capt Mack
lin, say they are unable TO find any mo-
tive for the deed. Capt. MackIin was not
harsh to his men. but, on the contrary.
had a reputation for kind treatment
There was no information given by Capt
Macklin against the soldiers who were
discharged without honor that could have
caused any desire for revenge.
The War Department late yesterday
afternoon received a report on the shoot
ing Of Capt. E A. Macklin. Twenty-fifth
Infantry. from Mai. Charles W. Penrose,
commanding at that post Capt Mack
lin was hit twice, once in the cheek.
breaking his jaw, and a second time in
the side The latter wound is not serious,
the bullet merely penetrating the flesh.
He will recover His assaiiant is a
negro, but was not recognized The Of
fetal reports do not say whether the
man is thought to be one of the dis
charged members Of the Twenty-hfth In
fantry.
Cen. James Z. Macklin, L. s. A, re-
tired, and Mrs. Macklin, father and
mother Of the wounded officer, who live
III Washington, left yesterday for Fort
Reno in response TO a telegram to Gen
MaCklin from Mai. Penrose.
Soldiers Did Not Fire Shots.
Capt Macklin is under charges Of neg
lect OF duty in connection with the raid
on Brownsville. Tex, by members of his
command in August He is captain Of
Company c, one of the companies impn-
Gated in that affair.
The War Department telegram says:
Capt Macklin shot twice last evening
by unknown colored man; once in face.
breaking jaw, and once in side. which is
only flesh wound. Neither wounds pro-
nounced serious by surgeons, and ulti-
mate recovery assured. If complications.
which are not expected. do not set in.
An satisfied. after rigid investigation.
shooting was not done by any member of
this command. Neither Capt. MackIin nor
his cook. who witnessed shooting, can
give accurate description of man."