The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-05
STEVE KOHALL NEARLY KILLED.
Former Resident of Leon is Stabbed
and Seriously Injured at
Roberts, Montana.

and Seriously Injured at
Roberts, Montana.
Steve Kohall, former we'll known
resident of Leon, his wife being .
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. w. S.
Chandler, of this city, was seriously
stabbed while performing his duties
as a constable at Roberts, Montana.
a week ago last Saturday night. In
letter received by relatives here it
is stated that Mr.. Kohall is getting
along fairly we'll and unless COM
plications arise will probably recov-
er from his wounds. The following
account of the affair is taken from
the Red Lodge, Montana, Picket, Of
last week.
Steve Kohall, constable at Rob-
erts, last Saturday night received
knife wound across the back which
threatens to end fatally and John
Leckie lies in the county Jail await
ing the outcome of his victims
wounds Meanwhile the officers have
Leckie's brother, Hugh, under sur
veillance. No other arrests are an
ticipated.
Kohall's injuries consist of a slash
across the back which required SO
stitches to close. 1t is thirteen inches
! in length, from point just below
the right shoulder blade across just
above the hip bone of the left side.
His left hand is also cut wide open,
requiring 27 stitches in that wound.
He is in dangerous condition, ow-
ing to the loss of blood, shock and
pain, though if no complications set
in the physicians expect his recovery.
The affair started about 1880
Saturday night at the masquerade
dance at Roberts. The most coher.
ent story available at the time of go
ing to press, from Clyde Schoonover,
is given here:
| Grover Newell declared he would
dance and would not have to pay for.
it and that if he did there would be
a rough house. Jim Barry, manager
of the dance, then sent a messenger
for Steve Kohall, who is constable.
When Steve got there he found Billie
King was carrying a six-shOoter as
part of his mask, but had discard
ed the other cowboy equipment. The
gun was not loaded but he took it
away.
II had seen Pete Tunnicliff with q
gun before and 1 told Steve he ought
to take them all if he took any. He
talked to Pete minute and then
stated out with both Pete and King.
Zone of them were talking loud and
they seemed to be perfectly peace
able. After they went out John
Leckie siezed his cap and started
angrily out. I saw there was going
to be trouble and followed. heard
John tell Steve to throw his gun
away and fight him. 1t looked like
Ia rag-chewing and went backfin the
hall While l was in there they say
Steve took OF his gun and gave john
Leckie good beating. Hugh Leckie
left his partner at the close Of =
dance and rushed out. followed in
time to see him struggling with
Steve for possession of gun. John
Leckie seemed to be little behind
Steve and to his right.
II rushed in and struck John a
blow on the right eye and he let go
of Steve for a minute. went back
looking for a club or weapon to help
the constable out but before could
do anything l saw Steve break away
from them and start to his shop
across the street.
! Il don't know when he got the
cuts, but think it was just after ! hit
John Leckie. Hugh turned the gun
he took away from the constable
over to George Fisher, who also
picked up the other gun which had
been thrown aside"
It seems that Kohall had just put
on his coat and loaded gun after
whipping John Leckie to submission
when he saw Hugh run towards MIN
from the dance hall. He drew the
King gun, which was not loaded ana.
snapped it several times at both
Leckies. Finding it useless he threw
it away and pulled out his own gun.
just as Hugh siezed his arm. It 10
thought that then John Leckie drew
his knife and slashed Kohalls hand.
returning to the work an instant az
ter Schoonover struck him and cut
ting the awful cash in Kohalls back.
A brother of the injured man, G.
E. Kohall, and Clyde SchOonOver
were in the city yesterday to ask that
Hugh Leckie be kept in sight OF the
officers, fearing getaway. The In
jured man at his home in Roberts
and is receiving the best of medicaf
attention.
John Leckie was placed under ar
rest by under-sheriff James Fleming.
a couple of hours after the tragedy,
the officer, with Deputy Walker, Fred
Sell and DR.. E. NJ. Adams going
down in the Carl Fluke car with
Fluke driving. No charge has as
yet been lodged against him but q
complaint charging him with first de-
gree assault will be filed today.
It seems to be agreed that had
Hugh Leckie not entered into the af-
fray there would have been no ser
ious results.
So far the officials have been un-
able to find the knife with which the
slashing was done. The wound in
the back was made through a coat,
heavy working shirt, and heavy un-
dershirt and in one place cut clear
through, laying the lungs bare. A
trained nurse gave assistance before
the arrival of the physician, other
wise the patient would have expired
from loss Of blood. The injured man
, is married and his wife and three
daughters are with his at this time-
So far as can be learned there was