Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-09
HUNT MAN WHO
SHOT OFFICER
KENOSHA POSSES STILL SECURING
COUNTRY FOR WOULD-BE MUK-
DERER OF POLICE CHIEF.
VICTIM IS NOW RECOVERING
No Vital Spot Struck by Bullet in Sen
satlonal Shooting Late Sunday
Night.
NO NEW CLUES HAVE BEEN FOUND.

hENOSHA, Wis, July 6.-I Special. I
While the KenOsha county authorities
have discovered no new clue that would
lead to the arrest of the mysterious
stranger who shot and seriously wound.
ed Chief of Police Owen O'Hare late
Sunday night, posses are still securing
this section of the state in hopes of
running down the would-be murderer.
There were no new developments in
the sensational affair today. The vic,
TINS condition is decidedly encouraging.
1t was found when the wound was
probed that no vital spot had been struck
by the bullet and the only real danger
at this time is that infection may set in.
A man, supposed to have been the
thief wanted for the crime, was seen at
Union Grove early Monday morning. Ii
is said that he was heavily armed and
was first seen in the cornfields about that
place. The Kenosha authorities were no
titled, but before their arrival, the man.
who had been followed by a dozen PEG.
people from Union Grove all afternoon,
was lost trace of just north of CorhSs
about O'Clock in the evening.
Story of the Shooting.
Sulel Oh L OllCe owen " hare was
shot early Sunday night by an unknown
man, who escaped after the shooting
The mysterious assailant was pursued
through the business section of the city
by a crowd of more than 300 persons
whom he kept at bay by one shot of his
revolver. He finally disappeared among
the freight cars in the 4umber yards OF
the Balm Wagon company.
The shooting occurred in the doorway
of the stairs that lead to the office of
Chief O'Hare. The man was a prisoner
arrested as a horse thief suspect. At
the time of the shooting Market square
on which the chiefs office fronts, was
we'll filled with people going to church
The noise of the firing was first attrib.
uted to the celebration of the Fourth of
July. Not until the chief, bleeding heav-
lily from a wound in the chest staggered
into the street and began firing at the
man. who Immediately commenced tc
run, was it known what had occurred
Then the chase began.
Hundreds Join in Search.
Tonight hundreds of men joined in the
search for the fugitive. The man hunt
was directed by citizens in automobiles
and the wealthy men of the town have
already posted a reward for the mans
capture.
The man who fired on the chief came
here from the direction of Evanston al
about s o'clock. When he left his horse
and buggy at Munven's livery stable on
Wisconsin street his actions aroused the
suspicious of Harry Munven, who was
in the barn at the time. The horse was
lathered with sweat and from it's heavy
breathing gave evidence of having been
driven at high speed for several miles.
Munven formed the conclusion that the
stranger was a horse thief and tele
phoned for Chief O'Hare. At the same
inn no Of HI TO ALL
the man who went to the City restaurant
on Main street. O'Hare followed him to
this place and notified him that he was
under arrest.
Fires Without Warning.
The man took his arrest quietly. With.
out even asking the charge he got up
from his seat at the table and walked
az the side of the chief through the street
to the office on Market square As the
two entered the doorway the stranger
suddenly dropped a step behind OHare
and fired. The bullet, which is of a
heavy caliber, entered the officers chest
on the left side, few inches above the
heart, and plOWed its way through his
body, coming out on the other side.
After firing the stranger gave O'Hare
push against the stairway and fled.
At the first shot fired by the Chief
Frank Harmon, an electrician of the fire
department. caught the wounded man III
his arms. With the words. Never mind
me, get that thief" the chief. revolver
III hand, started after the fugitive.
For nearly 800 yards the officer led the
chase, despite his injury. He dropped
at the entrance of the lumber yard. Then
the fugitive faced around and, aiming
low, fred again at the PROSTATE officer.
The bullet barely missed Deputy Sheriff
John Crieger, who had joined in the pur-
sniff IF also had the OBJECT of checking
the advance of the crowd with the ex-
ception OF a couple of men who were
close to O'Hare.
Reaching up, the chief grabbed a re-
volver from the hand of the nearest,
Victor Fonk, and emptied it at the
stranger who was racing among the
freight cars.
The next moment the man had disap-
peared under a car and was lost in the
black shadows that night closed over the
place.