The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-11
{. R. TIERhAk, RAILROAD
MAN, INNOCENT VICTIM
Tragedy Follows Series Of Er
menis CausedBy Rdlding
Of Alleged Joints

Jim PoteeI. who spent the night
in the city jail was this afternoon re-
moved to the county jail at his own
request, after having been informed
by the officers of the important cir
cumstantIal evidence connecting him
with the attempted assassination OF
Enforcement Officer Priest at the
Alamo hotel last night and which re-
suited In the serious wounding OF
Fireman Tiernan. The officers now
believe that Pott = II he committed
The crime, was nL. alone concerned,
and that other parties knew that II
was TO be committed.
The physicians attending Tiernan,
the victim OF last nights shooting,
slated this afternoon that he Is get
ting along better than could be ex-
pected, and that unless pneumonia
sets in he has fair chance to recov'
ef, as the bullet passed through the
lings without injuring any of the
arteries nor fracturing any bone.
While Il. P. Tiernan. Frank Ker.
kow Edward Deem, r. W. Boyd, Jo-
seph A. Duree, the hotel proprietor
and John r. priest were seated around
and by a table In the office of the
Alamo hotel, corner Villas and South
First street, fifteen minutes before
ten o'clock last night, some one sta
toned across the street, hidden by
irlck piled there for paving purposes,
sent a bullet from a 44-calibre revolv.
ef crashing through the window TIE
ball struck E, P 1leman just above
the heart. passing through the body
and large plate glass mirror, being
later extracted from the wall in the
back of the hotel office.
Men Were Playing Cards
All OF the men were playing cards
at the table, save Priest and the
proprietor. The thud of the bullet
striking Tenan was plainly heard,
but 1t was not until he declared he
had been shot that his associates
realized they had been present at a
tragedy that within an hour had
aroused Guthrie TO high pitch and
had caused every peace officer in the
city to declare the assassin must be
caught at once.
Bullet Hole Above the Heart
When Tiernan had been carried TO
a sofa and his shirt torn omen, a bui-
let hole was found just above the
HeA nd hnH M
and 1t was not until Drs. Sharp and
Hin arrived and commenced an ef'
fort TO save him from death that pain
was experienced
Priest, who resides at Sallisaw,
knew TOO well the bullet had been in
tended for him, and walked to his
room on the second floor, locking the
door, but remaining dressed.
Tiernan told his friends that he han
no enemy and that he knew no reason
why he should be murdered. He gave
instruction 10 send for his wife at
Purcell upon being told that his M
iuries we're grave.
Officers Get A Clew
When news OF the attempted muir
der reached the officers, Sheriff Ma
honey and Chief of Police Mitchell
detailed their entire working forces
IN the case. Constable Muxlow gave
clew 10 effect that Priest had been
sent 10 the Alamo (known for many
years as the Daily, and that Priest
had said he was being followed
about prior to going to the hotel. The
officers went to Priests room, who
opened the door and declared ne hau
been followed to the corner by man
whose first name was jim.
James poteet Taken into Custody
On the strength of his assertion
ana description given the sheriff and
CHIEF OF police dispatched officers to
the residence of James Poteet. III
Fast springer. where they found hun
In bed. He was brought to the city
iajl and the officers went back 70
The hoase TO search for weapons IA
44-calIbre Smith & Wesson revolver,
of an old pattern was found under
the front porch. Officers declare tnat
one chamber OF the revolver had oeen
recently discharged and that me carr.
ridges II carried correspond with ina.
which plowed through the body oi
Ed Tiernan. The officers also stated
that the odor Of powder was distinct.
" noticeable when they unbieacheu
the weapon found under the porch
supoosrJ Csvse OF Shooting
From the moment they we're ap-
orised that Priest belonged to me
rrew Of enforcement raiders which
invaded alleged io,uts Thursday night
officers contended the shooting was
caused because OF that raid ana
easily found how Tiernan came 70 ps
sbe v5ctim. lie sat facing the First
ssrees window. with priest facing
him the angle being such as to make
:. ennssr 10 one with good aim 70
shoot priest with little danger "a -
iuriue others. The bullet. me Or
slssaia sn.. axnlain was deflecIed BY the