Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-05-31
DESERTER SUICIDES .
To AVOID CAPTURE
WAS CHARGED WITH HAv-
ING OVERSTAYED HIS
FURLOUGH OF 10 DAYS
WOUNDS PEORIA CONSTABLE
Enlisted from Baxter Springs
Last Fall and At That Time
Wanted to Go Straight
To France

Pleasant Burnsides, the. Peoria,
OKLA, young man who killed himself
Monday afternoon by shooting himself
through the head with high power
itle, was a deserter from the natioE-
i army, and it appears committed
he deed after attempting to kill an
'1lcer in pursuit OF him.
Pursides entered the service last
!all, enlisting through Charles Smith,
postmaster of Baxter Springs. He
xAs stationed at Newport News, Va,
Ahen about six weeks ago he obtained
furlough to como back and visit
Is relatives at Peoria.
When the ten days had expired
3urnsides wired and got an extension
>f another ten days. He did not re-
Urn to his regiment when that time
rSpired however, and after a reason
.,ble time had passed his commanding
,ificer began to make inquiry and
inding that he was still at Peoria,
sent orders to Constable Samuel Webb
to arrest and hold the deserter until
IN army officer could be sent after
him.
Monday afternoon the constable
fought out Burnsides and asked him
he had q right to be in Peoria. He
aid he had papers giving him the
right and offered to take the constable
20 the house to show them. When the
.wo got to Burnsides' house, however
he said that he had misplaced them;
but promised that if the constable
would go to the telephone station with
him he would call up an army officer
II Joplin who would explain. The
wo went to the station and Burnsides
put in a call, presumably fictitious
lame. Then turning to the constable
he said, "You wait for the call and
will run over to another place and
zee if the papers are there" While
waiting at the phone a few minutes
ater a man came in and informed
he constable that he had seen Burn
sides with gun in hand going out to-
ward the woods. Constable West i'm
nediately secured two or three men
md started in pursuit. When they
had penetrated the woods few hun
lred yards Webb heard a rustling in
he brush beside his path and turning
% investigate he saw Burnsides
crouching and with his rifle aimed at
the officer.
Exclaiming an kill you now, you
..................... Burnsides fired point
blank. The bullet struck Webb in
the left arm, inflicting a serious
wound. He had evidently aimed for
the officers heart and got within an
inch or two of his mark.
Notwithstanding, the officer gave
chase and fired five times at Burn
sides. By this time Webb's brother
and the other parties in the posse had
come up and all started in pursuit of
the fugitive. They had not gone far
before they heard another shot. Fol-
lowing it up they soon came upon the
PROSTATE body of Burnsides. He had
turned his weapon upon himself and
had sent q bullet through his own
brain, dying instantly.
Constable Webb's wound, though
serious, will not cause him to lose his
arm unless the wound should become
infected.
Burnsides was born and raised in
Peoria. Buck Burnsides, a brother,
lives there, also a married sister. He
used to be a frequent visitor to Bax-
ter Springs.
On examination of the dead mans
body it was found that three out Of
the five shots the officer fired at Burn
sides had taken effect, although Webb
claims he could not see his man when
he fired, but simply guessed at his
position. One Of the shots lodged. in
the mans knee, another in the leg
and the third had penetrated the
stomach.
Burnsides had been despOndent,
presumably over a love affair which
It is thought caused him to enlist in
the first place, since he expressed to
Postmaster Smith the desire to 90 to
France and get in the firing line as
, soon as possible. While at home on
his furlOugh he is reported to have
, told a young lady that he would new
er return to the Sfmy.