The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-09
HTS lips SEALED.
w. r. Powell Of Pratt Refused
to Divulge Slayers Name.
In His Dying Moments He
Sought to Avoid Scandal.
MURDER is A MYSTERY.
Presence of Unknown Woman
at Shooting Unexplained.
Governor Stubs Requested to
Increase Reward Offered.

Pratt, Kan, Sept. 9.-W. T. Powell
died with his lips sealed as to the
identity of his assassin and the nature
of the trouble that led to his murder.
If he knew who was his slayer, he
kept silence, in order to shield his
wife and his child from possible dis
grace.
This is the opinion of Sheriff Bur-
nett and others regarding the shoot
ing affair on the streets of Pratt Sat-
urday night, which resulted in Pow
ellis death in a Hutchinson hospital
Sunday morning.
offered 5000 reward for the arrest
and conviction of the murderer. w.
B. Hess, county attorney, has written
to the governor, asking that an ad-
ditiona1 $500 be offered. 1t is prob
a BILE that the Rock Island railroad
also will post a reward.
Since he has lived in Pratt, Powell
has been looked upon as a model
man. He stayed at home nights and
very rarely was seen on the streets
after working hours without his wife.
A few days ago Mrs. Powell with their
little child went to visit her mother
at the old home at Bucklin. Since
then Powell had not been seen with
any woman or other companion. He
was noticed on Main street early Sat-
urday evening alone.
The woman who was seen obscure
ly at the time of the murder and
whose screams were heard. has never
been heard from since. The sheriff
and others, who have been following
the case, acknowledge that they have
no idea who the woman might be.
The woman'S voice, heard just after
the first shot was fired, by Mrs I.
Devaul. Herbert Smith, Miss Lee
Briggs and AL Hobson, alone furnish
ed the sole sensational detail. The
woman, so Hobson says, appeared ag
itated. She was walking west from
supposed to have been shot, and Hob
son caught but a feeting glimpse OF
her.
Herbert Smith and Miss Briggs the
latter the daughter of the mayor of
Pratt, were sitting in a hammock on
the front porch of the Briggs resi-
dence, block from the scene of the
shooting. Both heard the woman's
screams They too saw her momen-
tarily and they describe her as being
stout of build and about five feet, five
inches in height. They say the wo-
man walked east and was followed
by man on horse.
The doctor, who attended Powell
and took care of him until he went to
the hospital at Hutchinson, says that
Powell told him the story, so far as
he knew. Il was going north at the
corner of the Briggs residence" Dr.
F00I says HOWeIl LOIQ MIN. L heard
a shot, which was followed by anoth-
er, which hit me. It came from the
south-about a block, I think. I don't
know who 1t was that shot me-
was up town Saturday night but had
nothing to do, as my wife was away
from home. So concluded to walk
around town.
The testimony given at the
coroner's inquest. discredits Powell's
story. The testimony is positive that
he was not at the corner of Fourth
and Jackson. or the Briggs corner, as
he told the doctor. It is to tho effect
that he was further west
The bullet entered the abdomen on
the left side. This would have been
an impossibility of a shot from the
north. AS nearly as he can find the
man who fired the shot was standing
almost a block west of the Briggs
residence, across from the school
house, which was dark and secluded.
1t is believed one of the shots was
meant for the woman and one for
the man. The woman screamed at
the first report OF the gun. Although
Powell says it was the second shot
that took effect. the evidence points
to the fact that It was the first shot.
Sheriff Burnett has given up the
man on horseback theory. which was
at first thought to be the solution of