The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-11-14
". c. HAMILTON SHOT
DR.. j. w, Wales Shot Him at Davis
City Sunday Evening. Wounded
Man will Recover.

Davis City was the scene of shoot
ing episode Sunday evening in which
DR.. j. w. Wales prominent citizen of
that town shot ex-mayor VIM. G Hamil-
ton through the right shoulder. The
doctor evidently shot with deadly in
tent and had his bullet gone little
lower Hamilton would probably be dead
instead Of being confined to his bed
with whole through his right shoul-
der.
For some months there has been q
feud existing between Hamilton and
several Davis City parties and it was
only few months ago that DIR. G. p.
Reed of that town drew revolver and
came near using it on Hamilton, after
which both Reed and Hamilton were
placed under peace bonds, but these
were dismissed at the last term of
the district court. Trouble between
Hamilton and DIR. Wales started last
Thursday evening in barber shop and
wordy dispute grew until personal
violence was threatened and only the
interference of other parties prevented
the men from coming to blows. When
sober Hamilton is very peaceable
citizen but when drinking is inclined to
be quarrelsome. On Saturday evening
he was making threats and it is said
that DIR. Wales went to the country for
the purpose Of avoiding any trouble
with him. On Sunday Wales heard
that Hamilton was armed and was look
ing for him SO he slipped his revolver
into his pocket for the purpose of self
protection. About four o'clock the men
met opposite shirley's livery barn.
There were no witnesses to the meeting
h,,k n, No 1oc fc hot hnn Il
Hamilton he commenced cursing him.
He told him he did not want to have
any trouble with him but hamilton
started towards him at the same time
reaching into his hip pocket and draw
ing revolver, but in pulling it from
his pocket it caught on his vest and
quick as wink DR.. Wales drew his
revolver and fired straight at Hamilton.
His weapon was a Al calibre and the
bullet struck Hamilton in the right
breast, a couple Of inches above the
nipple and passed almost through his
body, being lodged under his shoulder
blade, the bullet having struck a bone
and split, one-half of it being taken
from his back.
EsAs Hamilton had also had trouble
with DR.. Reed and assaulted him only a
couple of days before, this left no doc.
tor in Davis City who would attend the
wounded man, and DR.. F. A. Bowman
was summoned from Leon. The wound
ed man was taken to his home and DR..
Bowman dressed the wound. He is
getting along very nicely with pros
poets favorable for his recovery in a
short time.
Just after the shooting DR.. Wales
called p. K. Shirley from his home and
told him to pick up revolver lying in
the road which he said was the one
Hamilton was trying to draw from his
pocket when he shot him.
An information was filed before JUS
tice Geo. P. Campbell on Monday charg
ing DIR. Wales with assault with intent
to kill and he at once gave bonds in the
sum of $4,000, the preliminary examin-
alton being continued in order to allow
the grand jury which is now in session
to take up the matter.
Public sentiment at Davis City is
very strong in favor of DR.. Wales, and
those who profess to know all the Cir
cumstances claim that he will be exon
Grated on the plea of self defense. He
is one of the leading and influential
citizens of Davis City and has many
friends who will stand by him in this
matter