The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-13
Captain Shoots Self Follow
ing Orders to Have Finger
Prints Taken.
L. r. WHISTLER FIRES
BULLET,INTO BRAIN
Finding Of Body Writes Final
Chapter in Army Bank
Robbery Tragedy.

Nuhnp T uHSNOu Nds's Jdii. - w WI
the finding late today of the body of
Captain Lewis r. Whistler of Salina.
Kas.. in his tiny office at the National
army cantonment here. the last chap
ter was written in the bloody story Of
the looting last night of the army bank
and the murder of four men and seri-
Gus wounding Of fifth. The mur-
ders were committed with hand axe.
Captain Whistler killed himself fir
ing two shots from a regulation army
service rifle into his head. The first
bullet glanced downward through one
cheek, but the other lodged in his
brain. The suicide followed a general
order instructing all captains at the
cantonment to report and have their
finger prints taken.
Room Bloody Scene.
The room in which Captain Whisler's
body was found was smeared with
blood spots, where he had washed him.
SELF apparently after the murders.
Two blood soaked towels were found
in the room and the table was spotted
with 1t. Captain whistler borrowed
two hatchets from 4 supply company
ycSVcIuASs AGCoEuluk " OAtIltdiS, duu
he borrowed two more today. Army
officials declined t0-say whether any
OF the money which the robber IS sup
posed to have obtained was found in
Whisler's room.
Climax TO Day Of Probing.
The suicide Of whistler was the ell
max of day of investigation by the
army officers, who were confident that
the murderer had not left the reserva-
tion and that his detection was assured.
Their most definite information was
furnished by Kearney Wornall of
Kansas City, the fifth man attacked by
the robber, and whose condition to-
night was said to be serious. Wor-
nall, who recovered consciousness to-
nay, said that the murderer was an
army captain whose face he recognized
and who, he said, was a close friend of
G. Fuller Winters OF Kansas City. head
of the army bank. one of the men
killed. AS a result OF the Wornall
statement, it was ordered that all cap
tains should report and have their
finger prints taken.
intruder Recognized.
Wornall, in describing the murders,
said a man came to the door of the
bank last night and raped insistertly.
He was admitted and. covering the
five men with his revolver, forced
wornali TO tie tiN hands of the four
men. after which he tied Wornali's s
hands. The man then proceeded to
loot the bank safe and had reached
the door when Winters said to wor-
nall. You recognize him, don't YOU"
Normal answered that he did. The
murderer turned to Winters and said.
You know me, do you?" Il sure do,
you black scoundrel" was Winters re
ply.
Kills With Hand Axe.
Wornali says at this point the man
leaped at them. swinginaois hand axe.
He struck the helpless men down. ono
by one. wornall was the last struck.
When he recovered consciousness. he
managed to unite his hands and made
his way into the open air. where he
was discovered by sentry.
Relatives and friends of Captain
whistler were unable tonight to ad-
vance any theory an to what imrelled
utti " NotutA4A tISS uluIuetS anu FoD.
berry.
Who Whisler 10
CAPTAIN whisler's former wife. from
whom he was divorced about a year
ago. and son, Duane. II years of age
reside In Salina. Kas. Captain whis-
ler fought in the Spanish h-Americar
war and later saw considerable serv.
ice in the Philfprinoe, During tn,
Mexican border trouble he attempted
to form q r@giment In Kansas and offel
it to the government. but the plan wa.
not carried out. When the war will
Germany came, he entered the officers
training camp at Fort Riley. Kas. an,
was commissioned captain.
He WAS about 10 years of age Mrs
whistler today received n letter from
her former husband in which he sal,
he was in good health and spirits.
The letter. she thought. was WRITER
yesterday. although 1t vas undated.