Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-10-28
THE MURDER Of
JAS. RICHARDSON
The Trial of Tom Basket-Convicted
of Murder in the Second
Degree by the
Jury
D. c. CHASE BASKETS LAWYER.
State was Represented by Geo. F.
Tucker, J. L. Kamrar and
M. D. O'Connell
D, C, CHASE BASKETS LAWYER.

From the History Of Hamilton
County by F. @. and ]. w. Lee: June
90, 1888, Ringing Brothers, then
conducting a one-ring wagon show,
visited Webster City and this visit
was the occasion of terrible tras-
edy. Thomas Basket, a local charac-
ter, who was partly intoxicated, shot
and killed James w. Richardson, an
attache of the circus. The following
account of the murder appeared in
the Graphic:
Murder-A shooting ARRAY occur
red at the show ground last Satur-
day evening at about nine O'Clock,
resulting in the death of James Rlcn-
ardson, a man of about twenty-five
years of age and a resident of Provl-
dence, Rhode Island.
From the many conflicting stories
afloat, we gather the following facts:
In the evening Roll Brewer VINO
was partially drunk threw handful
of peanut shells into Tom Basket
window and made an insulting re-
mark to Tom. Tom followed him to
the show grounds, knocked him
down, kicked him in the face in a
most brutal manner. Mr.. Brewer
daughter was present and she to pro-
tect her father took hand in the
fight. Tom knocked her down and
was giving her rather rough usage,
when some of the showmen interfer-
ed. Tom went down town again. lie
either had his revolver with him, OF
went after it and in short time re-
turned to the grounds, threatening
to edo up the show generally.
When he returned to the grounds
one of the showmen told him tc
leave, as they had lost enough by
his disturbance already. Tom refus
ed to go and a fight occurred, the
Snowman knocking him down. Sew
eral others took hand and Tom
was being roughly handled Just
then Marshal Halfway and Deputy
Sheriff Atkinson arrested Basket
and Mr.. Richardson coming up from
the tent. threw himself between thu
officers and the showmen, to stop thu
row, remarking to the officers: "Yol
take care of him, and I'll take care
of these fellows" The officers had re
moved Tom until they were separat
ed from the crowd twelve or fifteel
feet. when Tom, who was resisting
whipped out his gun and fired
Atkinson says twice, but most of tn
others say onCe--shooting Mr.. Rich
ardson In the abdomen He died a
about Z o'clock Sunday evening. Tor
was placed in Jail.
AS soon as Mr. Richardson wa
dead, Coroner McCannon was sum
moned and arrived in the city yester
day morning.
A jury consisting Of c. 7. Fentor
J. NJ. Funk and S. S. Doak was i'm
paneIed and an inquest held, and
verdict as above indicated was rer
dered.,
The whole affair is a most di!
graceful and unfortunate one. Tt
showmen are, SO far as we can SCI
blameless in the matter. Indeed, "
have never seen a more peaceab
and gentlemanly set of men togetht
than they appeared to be, and the
interference to protect the woma
and to keep order upon their groun
was nothing more than they wei
bound, in duty to the public who a
tended their entertainment, to do.
The murdered man was the m
gician, fire eater, and man who LITE
the heavy weights in the circus. 7
was. a man of splendid physical d
velopment.
AS we go to press. the funeral Sc
vices are being held from the Wi
son House, conducted by Rev. Norri
The preliminary examination
Mr.. Basket is set for July 5th.
c. Chase will appear for him. n