Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-03-18
A WILD VEST" ACT
Leonard Smart got into the Lime.Iieht
In Kansas City Last Week. Detec-
tiYe's License Saved Him

Last Wednesdays Kansas City Times
contains the following account of the
movements Of Leonard Smart, Of Nippa-
walla township. who was in the western
metropolis;with loaded revolver. The
paragraph, however, which states that
Smart went to Kansas City to take
Charles Page home from the hospital is
all fabrication. Mr.. Page says he did
not know that Smart was in Kansas City
until he met him at the Union depot.
Smart was working on the Page farm but
even the family did not know Of his 60
ing to Kansas City.
Leonard has been over bit Of the
world in his time and has had several
thrilling adventures, but this one is out of
the ordinary and marks an epoch in his
life. The Times says:
odd timers at the Union depot last
night thought that they were in border
town shooting when the loud report of
Colts As revolver was heard and the
smell Of powder smoke was waited
through the waiting rooms. And it was
the gun Of real COW puncher, Leon
ard Smart, Of Kiowa, Barber county,
Kas., which caused the commotion. He
wasn't shooting anybody up, though.
The explosion Of the pistol was accident
al. In addition to being cowboy, Mr..
Smart, although little more than 20 years
old, is detective and carries the proof in
the shape Of star and a commission
furnished by detective agency always
with him.
"Mr. Smart grew tired Of spurs and
saddles, mavericks and fence riding some
time ago. He read an advertisement of
detectives made to order and he answer
ed it. For So he got bright nickel star
and for only So more a commission which
licensed him to be detective anywhere.
He bought As calber automatic Colt s
revolver.
Then Smart came to Kansas City.
Charles Page, on whose ranch he work
ed, between Kiowa and Hazelton, was
operated on at the Missouri Pacific hos
pital SIX weeks ago. He sent for Smart
to come to take him home. All went
well until they reached the Union depot
last night. The two men sat facing the
alley in what is known as section G of
the womens waiting room. Just opposite
them, about three feet away, were three
negro aunties' Of the old-fashioned
Southern type. Every seat was taken
and many persons were standing. Smart
revolver was resting, muzzle downward,
IN his right side trousers pocket He rose
to his feet, and suddenly there was a
loud explosion.
Lord a mercy, mistahl cried one
of the negro women. Look out what
your doin'. That burnt my laigI'
In reality the ball had missed her
head only about SIX inches and lodged in
a window casing eight feet from the floor
There it is said another Of tn,
women, older than the rest, as she pokec
it with her cane.
You better get away quick, some.
one shouted, and Smart picked up tn,
revolver and walked slowly down the al
aey. Lee Mitchell, the depot master
stopped him;
Then brother sleuth, David Brad
ley. depot detective. pushed his wa,
through the crowd that gathered from al
parts Of the depot. Every face in tn
crowd was pale and excited.
What's the matter2' shouted Bra d
ley. Smart showed him the revolver.
90. dropped on the floor and wen
off, he said.
What were you doing with it o
yOua
'ShI I'm detective, and he show
ed the card that cost So. But, say, L,
rather you wouldn't say anything abou
that.
He explained his case and was nc
arrested, but Bradley kept the revolve
and the card as being unsafe in the po.
session Of the Young SIeuth Of Barbe
county. Smart went with Mr.. Page
Kiowa last night.
"'Sa-ayr exclaimed a man as he lool
ed at the revolver. Just suppose th'
bullet had got started sideways. VIII
il might have gone through seven peop
before i stopped.