The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-06-02
RUNS AMucK At 50
One Dead, Three Wounded, as
Result of Farm Tragedy
Near Chanute.
FEARED LOSS OF PROPERTY
After Killing His Daughter and Fatally
Wounding Nelghbor, George Becker
Was Shot by Posse.


George Becker, SO years old, a
wealthy farmer, who resided ten
miles northeast Of Chanute, recently
shot and killed his daughter, Lena, Al
years old; probably fatally wounded
Dan Miles, a neighbor, who ran to the
scene; burned his farm buildings and
was himself wounded probably fatal
ly in running fight with posse.
Becker killed his daughter because
he believed she was trying to gain
possession of his property, an applica-
ton having been filed for the appoint
ment of a guardian for him. The
hearing was to have been held the
next morning before the probate
Judge of Allen county. ..E
Miss Becker was cleaning a motor
car when her father appeared in q
door of the garage, armed with shot
gun. She fed and he shot her in the
back. Paul Ditmer, is years old, OF
Independence, Kas., who was in the
car, fed to a field and summoned John
Becker, the woman's brother, who ran
to the garage. Becker fired at his
son, who fell to the ground, feigning
injury. The younger Becker then fled.
The aged man then set fire to his
farm buildings-a large barn, grahary,
poultry houses, garage and other
smaller buildings. Bert Miles and
Dan Miles, brothers, were attracted
by the flames and ran a quarter Of a
mile to help fight them. When they
approached, Becker shot Bert, most Of
the charge entering his left eye, in
flicting wound that afterwards
proved fatal. Dan Miles then sum
moned a posse and the pursuit Of
Becker began.
Seeking the cover of dense hedge,
Becker engaged the posse. The shot
gun he carried was 12-gauge weapon
and he had box of shells containing
buckshot. One of the posse members
was slightly wounded before Jesse
Bennett, deputy fish and game war
den, shot Becker in the head with a
rifle. The aged man also was wound
ed slightly in the legs and body.
X X X
Fish Hatchery Threatened.-State
Fish Warden Tegmeier and force Of
men worked all night and day in an
effort to save the state fish hatchery
at Pratt from the rising waters of the
Minnesota River. Several levees along
the Saratoga Millrace, which supplies
the hatchery, and the Bell Hunter and
Travis lakes, have given away.
X X
Fell from Table to Death.-The body
of Marie jeanette Scott, month-old
baby of Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Scott,
farmers, was taken to Salina recently
from Minneapolis. The child fell from
a table, striking head foremost on the
floor. 1t died almost instantly.
X X
Crushed to Death.-L. r. Gilbert,
who came to Salina from Wichita re-
Gently, was crushed TO death when a
ton Of lumber fell on him at the
Weber yards.
X X X
Crowned May Queen.-Miss Mary
Poison of Fredonia, Kan, was crowned
Queen of May at the annual fete
which was held at the Kansas State
Agricultural College at Manhattan re-
Gently. Miss Poison is a member Of
the Delta Zeta Sorority and has al
ways taken an active part in student
affairs and in debating, having rep
resented the college in inter-cille-
giat debates the last two years.
X X X
Little Car Wrecks Big one.-A rae
ing car weighing 1900 pounds,
driven by L. ]. Dopps, was knocked
over by smaller car weighing 1000
pounds at Pretty Prairie, when they
collided. Miss Ella Demoret and AL
Collingwood, passengers with Dopps,
are in Wichita hospital, suffering
from broken bones and bruises. Miss
Demoret has a broken shoulder blade
and internal injuries. Dopps escaped
injury.
X X X
Has sol More Motor Cars.-An un.
usually large number of motor cars
have been bought by Marshall Coun-
ty people in the last six or eight
months. The licenses issued there
now number 1861, against 800 for
the total of last year.
X X X
Brooklyn Pastor to Columbus
The Rev. Ralph A. Waggoner OF
Brooklyn, N. Y, has accepted call
to become pastor of the First Pres
byterian Church at Columbus and will
take up his duties next month Wag
goner is a native of Nebraska and
is a graduate of both Park College
and Princeton University.
| X X,
Normal Teaches Kite Making-Kite
flying is part of a course at the State
1 n Ifrx--- ~