The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-02
is OUT.
Wealthy Man Who Shot HaIloW-
cen Reveler Gives Bond.
Otto Boyd Will Probably Recover
From Injuries.
FATHER WILL SUE.
To Bring an Action for Damages
Against Assailant.
Stories Told of Threats Made by
Fletcher.

| II. Z. Fletcher, the wealthy Shorey
MAN, was arrested today on state
warrant for the shooting of Otto Boyd
Fletcher's grief seems only to have
started. The criminal charge against
/ Fletcher is to be followed by civil
/ action for damages and the Shorey
man may pay dearly for his nasty
Halloween performance
! Boys, who were with Boyd at the
/ time of the shooting, declared today
! that neither Boyd nor any of the party
had tresDassed on Fletcher's premises
nor molested his property and that
| the shooting of the Shorey boy was
without prOVOcatiOn. William Nc
CURE. 1878 North Harrison street, was
within a few feet of Boyd When the
shot was fired. He went to the court
house today with D. H. Boyd, father of
the injured boy. and told a story that
/ looks bad for the rich German farmer
I'VE had Just upset an outbuilding
some distance from Mr.. Fletcher s
hOme.' said Mcclure, land We're run
ming down the road. As We passed the
Fletcher place, Otto and 1 We're behind
ditch. AS he did this / fell fiat on
my shoulder and saw Fletcher rise
from some hiding place. light from
a window fell on the barrels of a gun
which Fletcher held in his hands l.
was almost scared to death when l saw
him put the gun to his shoulders.
think / yelled to Otto and he seemed
TO run to one side Of the road to get in
{, ditch. AS he did tins l fell fiat on
the ground.
Just as fell down, Fletcher shot.
I saw Otto put his hands to his head
and he staggered toward me- At first
I thought he was joking, but as ne
came close to me, could see blood
streaming down his face. Fletcher
fred at close range and more than
dozen shot struck Otto in the right
side Of the face and head and in his
reck. We managed to get him home,
but he was awful sick and weak when
when we reached the house
After the shooting Fletcher never
came over the fence to see how badly
Otto was hurt. I saw him take the
gun from his shoulder and start Tor
the house. Before he opened the
door, he shouted. Now, you little --
guess you will be good think
Fletcher must have been waiting for
us as he rose from a position almost
in the middle Of the yard when I
saw him; and he appeared to have
been hiding
1t is reported that Fletcher has
harbored i'll feeling toward the young
men of Shorey for sometime. Sew
eraI days before the shooting he is
said to have remarked that he would |
shoot the first - head off, |
who came around his place Halloween
night This statement is also said |
to have been repeated by Fletcher's |
son the day of the shooting
Boyd Still in Hospital.
Young Boyd is still in st. Francis |
hospital Unless complications arise, |
he will recover from his injuries All |
but a few OF the shot have been re- |
moved from the boys face and head |
One shot entered the right ear and |
has not been located. 1t is feared |
that this shot may destroy the boys
hearing His face, head and neck are
also badly lacerated from the nu-
nervous wounds from the heavy charge
Of shot.
D. H. Boyd, the injured boys faith
sr, stated today that he would bring
a civil action against Fletcher for
damages. The firm of Carver a
Carver is now in charge of the civil
action and may file a suit in the next
few days
Fletcher is one of the wealthiest
farmers in the Shorey district. He
owns three or four valuable farms
much property in Shorey and has eN-
.ensive interests in Shawnee county
rhis is the first serious trouble in
which Fletcher has ever figured and
he assault on the boys promises to
,ost him heavily. Fletcher is about
80 years old and has lived in Shaw
zee county e number of years.
He has given bond in the criminal
prosecution filed by the county attor-