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FARMER FIGHTSFOR LIFE. SLAYSIn Gory Strugle, J. T. Sledge Kills Chas.Strebel.FRAGEDY IN NIGHTAssailant Shoots ThroughWindow First, Then Killed After Fight.i)0GSap-leyketitlien-un-athilt;r * *hatateIso‘erredtheashteeSoled.hat00.ave)Talcn-‘astrheatre.ngsieldng,aheslistmt-andal-atAGiBSenaPre:STOOfficiaF reeit1-an.EIDA.sain g\\. T. Morton, M. ( . Fit /* raid ami It. Milled were impanelled thjs afternoon as men l»er of the coroner's jury to investigate the case. The jury went to the hospital to take the testimony of Mr. Sledge and hisdaughter. It has I teen diseovered that the 38-10 revolver carried hy St?eld helonged to Mr. Sledge and may have heen stolen last Sautrday night, when Strehl slept at the Sledge home.Fighting bitterly for his own life and the safety of his family, J. T. Sledge, tenant on the Nels Jensen farm four miles northwest of Mitchell, last night shot and killed Charles Strebel, a former employe who had attempted to slay him and possibly his daughter. Chloe Sledge.The tragedy is one of the most stirring that has ever been brought to the notice of the people of Mitchell. Only by a struggle, literally to the bitter death, did Mr. Sledge save himself and the other members of his family from being murdered.It is a story of the father, weakened by two bullet wounds and the loss o/ blood .struggling against a veritable maniac.Shortly after 10 o’clock last evening, Mrs. Sledge and her daughter. Chloe, were standing over a hot-air register in the dining room of their home, preparatory to going to bed. Mr. Sledge was seated in the north end of the room, with the two women near a bed room door on the east side.Shoots Through Window.Suddenly without warning four ♦ shots were fired into the room from .a window on the south side. One bullet, steel-clad and from a 32-calibre revolver, struck the daughter close ! to the shoulder in the right arm, shattering the bone and inflicting i a dangerous wound. Two other bul-jlets took effect, one in Mr. Sledge s left shoulder and the other penetrating his left groin, coming out at the i back.L The two women immediately grab-i bod quilts and turning out the lights started for the barn find hid tbem-i selves. Mr. Sledge was weak from the loss of blood and managed to walk into the kitchen. He could still hear his unknown asasilant prowling around tlie house and after 30 m inminutes an attempt was made to force the kitchen door. Mr. Sledge attempted to hold it. but he was weak from the loss of ilood and fell to the floor. A shot was then fired through the door just about his head.As Mr. Sledge struggled to his feet the stranger forced the door and rushed in, with a blue bandana handkerchief about his head and a re volver in each hand. The fa'her did not hesitate, but immediately grappled with the man. It was a struggle for life, with a coward pitted against a man defending his life and home. The would-be murderer attempted to shoot Mr. Sledge in the back as they grappled, but the weapon was fired in the air. Round and round the room they tumbled, till the floor and walls were covered with blood and the furniture was wreckage.Attempted to lt;lull.Finally, the man with the mask • resorted to using one of the guns j he carried, a big 3S-40 calibre Colti revlover, as a club on Mr. Sledge’s I head. He pounded until the weapon was covered with blood and finally it was wrested away. He then jumped through the glass. Mr. Sledge seized the big revolver and fired■ three times. The bullets■ were pointed with a -oft “nore of llead. Two of them went throughthe walls of the house, one striking Ithe man and another going through the window.Mr. Sledge then started for the nearby Miller home. Here he telephoned to Sheriff K. E. Owens, who secured Dr. *C. S. Bobb and started for the Sledee home about midnight. Cpon arrival, they found Mr. Sledge in his house, still waiting for his assailant to return. Neighbors were about and upon their statements that they had heard moaning in the yard, the sheriff started to. investigate.With the aid o: a flashlight, lie found Charles Strebel, employed on the farm during the fall by Mr. Sledge, lying in a pool of blood about 50 feet from the house. He still wore ! his blue bandana mask. A worn black velvet cap he had left in the kitchen. A shot through the left lung and another in hjs hip showed how he had met his death.Victims Brought to City.Mr. Sledge and his daughter, withWashlicationday of t respoiuh States i speeding terest \\ course will pur cial inteThe com men absorb orally bwill be tion.Senatlt; ternatioi sed the stronglyWashi son indi a strongthe Unit the actilt; allies in to the n on its b\ just issuSenau thrity oi of the alt; defense purchase the pres had com other su tion pro blockademind.AAs he Walsh st preceden an unusi be made general that be' journed the pres on expoi the belli that hedent wo that purOfficii order in mitted I British it frompatches,whet her charade contents and tlie their di give An interfen tral conCHA$.-00,00lur\lCham a time ness d brought structio $500,00 High age rod the fire building aided 1 nearbyDAWJorthe,isliMrs. Sledge ami their 12-year-oldson, were brought to the city about 4 o'clock this morning. The man and the girl, the latter about 16 years of age. were taken to hospital. Miss Sledge was put upon the operating‘ Continued on page 4 »SoutThursd
Newspaper Details
Mitchell Daily Republican
Mitchell, South Dakota, US
Wed, Mar 17, 1915
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Bob R.
CA, USA 31 Jul 2017
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