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KILLED IN A HOT.Joe Sullinn, a Bioter, la Shotby Harley Gave.HE SHOT IN SELF-DEFENSE.Coroner's Jury Completely Exonerates Cave—He Wes $tt at Liberty Monday—The Testimony of Bye Witnesses.KJoseph Sullivan, a butcher in theemploy of the Pawnee Bill show, was shot and instantly killed Saturday night while leading a mob of showmen in an attack on Harley Care of Cor-rectionville, who fired the shot The shooting took place in the Petty hotel, where Cave had taken refuge. Officers rescued Cave and took him to Sioux City.It was about eleyen o’clock Saturday night The sky was cloudless and the moon bright The show'train was standing on the Northwestern side track, the horse cars and flat cars being to the east and the passenger coaches pretty well to the west, leaving the depot crossing open. The loading of the show was proceeding quietly and methodically. Quite a number of town people were on the depot plat-, form and on the north side of the track watching the work. Scattered about the coaches, on the platforms and on the grass, on the ties and rails were grouped the performers and other employes of the show who were off dutv.Suddenly there were loud shouts and the sound of running feet from the west and soon a young man broke into the circle of light where the work was going on and swung down the street for town. In full chase were a number of show people calling the war cry of the circus man, “Hey Bn be! Hey Kobe!” and “Look out, he’s gota gun.” From the very ground the mob seemed to spring and before the young man was across the track it seemed that the whole show was after him with blood thirsty cries of “Kill him,” “Get your guns.” The cars vomLed forth their contents; Mexicans and cowboys rode up from the horse cars; the roustabouts dropped the work of loading cars; teamsters dropped their lines; and all joined the whooping, howling crazy mob trailing after a poor scared boy.Down the street toward the business rt of town the boy led his pursuers, ne block, two blocks, three block— and he turned into the open door of the Petty hotel office. He had led them a staff chase. Only one follower, an Indian, gained on him. Bat the mob was close. As he entered the office they followed. Bushing to the dining room he pulled the door partly shat and turned at bay.“Don't follow me,” he cried as the leaders of the mob straggled in, “Go back! Leave me alone! I’ll shoot the first man that comes for me.”And a big Colt’s revolver covered the leaders. All the time the mob was surging into Hie office. Still holding the gun in a shaking hand the boy kept pleading with the mob to go back. “Leave me alone. Go away. If you touch me Fll kill yon.”And those behind in the mob were crying “Let me at him!” “Kill him !** “He's a coward, be won't shoot.” Giye me a 22 and Til chase him all over town.” But those ahead were looking into the eyes of a boy defending his life. And they stood back, wolves cowed by their qnarry.Suddenly one slightly in the rear dodged under the man ahead and reached down for the boy's legs.His body fell to the floor with a crash at toe feet of the man he would have killed, Harley Caye, in defense of his life, standing alone before a mob mad with the thirst for (flood and drunken with the lust of the manhunt, had sent a ballet from a M Colt's crashing through the brain of the leader.The mob fall back an instant and then surged forward to the body as it lay in the dining room door.“It's Butchr “He's killed Batch!*’ And they burst into frantic cries and ragings. It was a terrible mob. Met-leans, cowboys, Indians, gancbos. Cossacks, canvasmen, freaks—desperate and reckless characters of the world, sniged back and forth in the office or ran through the street, howling and yelling execrations.At hist the mob was for the most part naarmed except with dabs and sach things as they coaid grab on the way, bat one by one they began returning to tbe cars and securing guns and knives.Having checked the mob Gaveto the kitchen to escape bat the rear of the hotel was patrolled by mounted men and be ran upstairs from the kitchen. He was joined here by He put* Sheriff X. E.Thompson and Ed. H. White, a deputy marshall.The rooms above the kitchen do not commamkate with the rest of the upper rooms. The mob surrounded toe lower stairway but the three men were well armed and the men below had ghastly and convincing evidence that those arms would be used. They did not attempt to go up the stairs.knowing ten well the fate of toe first head that should come in rightMiss Millie Petty, who sleeps there, came down the stairs to escape to her home. The mob attacked her but with a coolness one would not have expected from one of her temperament sue soon secured permission w aspen.Her father,-A. H. Petty, who had gone to her at the first disturbance, came down a little later. The mob began to yell and seised him. Most of tbe mob bad not seen Gave. They were after a man and here came one from the hiding place of their victim, lit* position was dangerous in tbe extreme but he was finally permitted togo.Others of the mob were in tbe street in front of the hotel and were making all sorts of wild suggestions. “Burn the hotel!” “Shoot them out!” “Get your guns and come on.”The men finally left the foot of tbe stairs and joined those in the office and on the outside. The three men. Cave, with his guard of Thompson and White, came down and eluded the guards at the back of the hotel and in the street and secured positions among tbe outbuildings in the rear of the Thompson and Adams residences. Prom here they were taken by team and driven out of town and by a circuitous route to the Sioux City road.In the meantime citizens and officers had entered the mob and were endeavoring to pacify it by saying the man they wanted was in the hands of the law and could not be had by them; that more deaths would result if they attempted to take him; that they should go back to their cars and justice would be done. This had some slight effect. Major Lillie—“Pawnee Bill”—appeared, accompanied by a number of his managers and foremen. The mob soon recognized their masters and like whipped dogs slnnk back to their kennels m the' railroad yards. The loading was hurriedly finished and the show train pulled out for Missouri Valley.Origin of the TranM*.The beginning of the trouble is best told in the words of Ed White, in his testimony before the coroner’s jury Monday. Mr. White is a young man of twenty-two, a soldier of the Span-ish-American war, a graduate of tbe Correctionvitle high school and now studying dentistry in Hr. Randolph’s office. He said:Ka White's Story.1 was appointed a special police in the evening. I met Jack (Varner, a telephone man) and went np to the cars. He told me he wanted to see a fellow. Jack was a little intoxicated. We went up and walked along tbe track and didn’t see any one he wanted to see. We came down town again and were going to the merry-go-round bnt when we got to the City hotel it seemed to have closed up so we came np town and in front of Hardedbrook's barber shop we met Harley (Cave) and I asked him to go with us. He said he was going to bed but I persuaded him to come along. Another of tbe linemen joined us and we went np to the Northwestern depot and sat down on a pile of planks *Jack knew I had a gun and asked me for it. I toid him he couldn't have is. Then he wanted to sea it. I took it out and he reached over andBubbed it and put it in his pocket.a started np the track. That would be west. I told Harley and this Sam it wasn't right to let him go np alone so we followed Mm. We started np the side track and met him jnst as we came to one of the coaches. I asked him to give back my gun and he didn'tdo it. Than he started on again and we ^walked the fall length of ears, turned around and came back and on toe last coach next to the caboose were those girls Jack spoke to. I was too far away to hear what he said to them. They told bun to go on. Then Harley walked over to the car.Jack was leaning against the steps. Harley leaned against the car with one hand and with toe other took the gun out of Jack's pocket and put it in his own hip pocket and pulled his sweater over it. Then one of the girl’s called into the car and all I could distinguish was “Babe.” Harley took Jack by the arm and started him off toward toe main track. We got on the main track and with one of ns on each side of Jack started down the track. We went perhaps SO or 75 yards when there was a big fat fellow in his shirt sleeves came thundering up behind us with a mob after him......away and told Harley to take his hand gun. Hartojr^ turned aroundoffHe stopped not over ton yards l Had!startled and polled the gun out Thenthis big fellow yelled Hey Babe.”Then I told Harley his chance was in running.We were jnst west of the depot so he started across them vacant lots and through the weeds by those corn cribs for the main road leading down town. He hit the main road ahead of those fellows. They followed behind yelling Hey Ruber and “A man with a *T Then the cowboys and those commenced to puss Jack and I. They had guns and knives and revolvers and everything they could get their hands on to shoot, cut or mill with.I saw the crowd following Harley and beard the cry and followed down to the hotel, pushed my way through the crowd until I saw the feet of toe dead man and I thought it was Harley. Then I elbowed my way and saw it wasn't.SlowsIn the meantime Emerson (M. K. Tbompwu. deputy sheriff) got there and was standing with a light, a big gasoline tamp. In the door over this dead man. He stopped oyer Mm andweal into the dining room looking for whoever shot him. J, followed. Went into the kitchen and saw an open door. Emerson went upstairs. Quite a few fellows had followed in fey this time. They go* between Emerson and myself. I pushed my way through this crowd up to where he was and there we had our fracas. Don stairs they were crying, “Bring him outf We want to MH him!” “Haag him!” Shoot the--— —ml all such thingsa* that.It was dark down below and 1 couldnot eat what tbe crowd looked like, moetly roustabouts, I thought. Inthe meantime Mr, Petty’s daughter, who had been asleep up there, went down and there were four men in the stairway. Three of them had guns. They told Emerson they had a bead on him and he had better bring tbs man down. The other fellow bad a knife, Emerson told them the? could not have tbe man and then I persuaded them they didn’t have a beau on him. How? I put my gun down over theedge of the floor, got the old boy toit and t up. Then they went out.look up intotold him to put hisk up• TtThey commenced to throw rocks and t hings tike that through the windows. We went into the other room and piled the bedding and furniture against the door and made ready to scrap them if they came through.There was a partition on the west side that I thought lead into another bed room. I kicked through it but it was just below the dining room ceiling and I kicked through into the dining room. We used it as a port hole and to talk to those fellows until tbe manager of tbe show came. He was not a very large man, had a mustache, (This was Gilhgham, press representative.) He told the fellows outside that they should go to tbe cars and they minded him and went With him were Pawnee Bill himself and two or three others. They got the crowd away. Then I came down looking for a team.tfifl Deputy SherifTi Part:Mr. Thompson’s story corroborates Mr. White's in almost every detail. These two men displayed a nerve and readiness which stamps them as heroes. Mr. Thompson said in substance:I was coming up from the grounds after the show got all its stuff away,about eleven I should think. When Igot up by the postoffice 1 heard a shot fired up there to the hotel. A crowd seemed to be gathered there. I went up and asked some one, a stranger to me, what the disturbance was. I guess be was a showman for he said, “some one has shot one of our best men.” He says, “Have you got a gun?” and I told him I presumed I could get one if I needed it.I went into the hotel and pushed through the crowd of uien and found a mao lying dead there in the door of the dining room. I got a light of Mr. Anderson, the hanging lamp that was over the counter, and stepped over the man that was lying there and went through the dining room and rato tbe kitchen.The stairway door to the chamber over the kitchen was open and I went up and found Mr. Cave.There were two or three attempted to come up and I told them to keep down and then Mr. White came up and Mr. Petty came np and got his daughter Millie who was sleeping up there.There was a crowd came to the stairway but we would not let them up. There were ftfbr men in the stairway at one time. They had three revolvers drawn ou me at one time. One roustabout had a knife. Theytold me I might as well fetch him down far they were going to have one man or three. I told them the? might as well go on* We three were together there and intended to stay there.Then White got range of toe worst man in the bunch ana says to him “Old man, I guess you better ptri your gun away.” They went outside and commenced throwing rock, t had sent a kid far Pawnee Bill and he came with some of his men and the rest happened iust as Mr. White said.The object of the mob seemed to be to get Mr. Cave and to kill him.Bridnmaa', Enoyc.Beside the dead man, the only person to receive physical injury was Thomas Peavey, a bridge carpenter on the Northwestern. He had heard the commotion and entered the hotel bnt soon concluded it was no place far him and went to get oat. Some one called oat that he was the man they wanted and the mob turned on Mm. Fortunately two ‘foremen and Marshall Furgason were near him and assisted him to keep back his assailants. Cries were raised of “Shoot him!” ‘ Put a knife into him!” “Kill him?” “Let me at him!” “I’ll killthe - —j -!” He wasstruck on top or the head with a club and knocked down, bnt got to his feet •gain. A knife was drawn and a lunge made bnt the bridgeman was drawn beck in tame to escape. Another stroke with a long knife in the hands of a granger went over his head, cutting his hat and leaving a mark on the baric of his neck.1Phm liiiwt.Immediately after the affair a corners jttty was impaneled by Justice L. P. Adams. The jurymen were A. Welch, A. H. Petty, Charley Hepburn. After viewing toe body they adjourned to ten o'clock Sunday and then to two o'cloek at which time the depositions of three members of the show were taken. Those who testified wete W. J. Swain, who said he was manager of concessions bnt will be better indentified if we say he was manager of side show far men only.” The other two were girls who ride in the show. Their testimony accorded mainly with that of Mr. White. Swain is the man who was called out by tbe girls and who raised toe eiy of Hey Rube” as note! in White's testimony. It is well this was not known to toe people Sunday or Mr. Swain would in all probability have found bis stay here much more unpleasant than it was. After taking those depositions the imprest adjourned to Monday forenoon when F. G. Stated, Jack Earner, Ed. White, M. E. Thompson and Forrest Anderson were examined. Mr. Varner's recollections seemed rather hex? but the statements of the others tallied well with each other.After due conrideration tbe jury returned a verdict in accordance withtoe facte already stated and completely exonerated Mr. Cave from any blame whatever. The verdict meets the hearty approval of every one. It is perfectly evident that Mr. Cave not only endeavored by every means to escape but that he was not to blame in the first place and instead of having annoyed any of the show women or drawn a revolver on them, a* was stated by them, he had protected them from annoyance by his friend and was taking that friend away when 8wain called out his swarm of toughs. Mr, Cave and his mother have the sincere sympathy of the people in their trouble and his action is unanimously approved.Later—Swain appeared before the grand jury Tuesday and stated bis desire to have Cave prosecuted for drawing a gun on one of the girls. He was informed that the testimony of the girls and Varner would be beard and case considered some time in a couple of weeks.Harley Cave is a quiet young man, 21 years old, a graduate of the Cor-rectioaville high school, champion allround athlete of tbe high schools of Iowa7 son of Edson Cave who is now at Bonners Ferry, Idaho.Cave lives here with his mother. He is a painter by trade and has been making every effort to accumulate enough money to attend school at Ames. His trunk was packed and he was ready to start Monday. During the day he had run a refreshment stand. He was the victim of circumstances, and was forced to take the life of human being, but if he had not done so his own would have been forfeited. The News reporter talked with three of the show people—Dr. Swam, Major Lillie’s private driver, and his hostler—and all concurred that the shooting was not only justifiable but imperative. Maj. Lillie is said to have expressed the same opinion.Harley is retiring in his manner and is very popular among tbe people of the town and his young associates.F. C. Stetzel of Waterloo, a travelling man who was writing in the hotel office when the mob entered, said to a News reporter that the scene was terrible. F. H. Anderson, proprietor of the hotel, was sitting in front on the porch. The clerk was behind the counter. Not more than fifteen or twenty men were in the office when the shot was fired. They kept rushing in and the office was soon fall of excited, cursing, blood thirsty men of all nationalities from Cossacks and Arabians to common roustabouts.Com pari lively few town people knew of the disturbance until next day. Although the yelling was heard at first when the mob started all those at a distance from the hotel thocght it a little racket incident to the loading of the cars and paid no attention.Those near the hotel, however, saw a sight that will remain with them all their lives.Charley Hepburn said: “I saw the mobs in New York doing the war when the Irish would parade the streets and hang every nigger in sight, but I never saw so ferocious and ugly a gang as this.”The body was taken to Undertaker Butler’s where it was cared for by Mr. Wilson. Nothing was found on the body by which it could be identi-fie or his residence or friends discovered. All the record the show had was bis name, age and occupation and the fact that he joined toe show at Minneapolis. Swain told a reporter thatthe expense of caring for the body and the funeral had been paid by the show. The interment took place Monday afternoon.Advertising; the Shew.A couple of columns appeared in the Journal Tuesday morning consisting of interviews with Swain, Gillig-ham and Lillie. Of course they are the showmen’s version, touched up to give the best possible appearance to the affair from their side. The three stories do not agree. Swain’s story does not agree with his sworn testimony before the coroner's jury. Swain in his interview threatens to prosecute Cave for threatening to kill him or something of that sort but after having a whole day to do so had not approached the county attorney or the grand jury. Most people understand the bluff that was made by these peo-people, but to those who did not it is only necessary to point out that this is all fine advertising far a wild west show and toe longer they can keep it in toe papers the better for toe show. Among other things they state that the town marshal was not on the ground during the entire fracas. Thefact is that Marshal Fergason was present right after the shooting and considerably before Pawnee Bill and his assistants arrived. The marshal rendered alt assistance possible and was in the midst of the crowd until it dispersed. Tbe bridgeman who was attacked undoubtedly owes bis life to Mr. Furgason’s assistance.At this writing no action has been taken by the grand jury and none will he unless it is taken np from outside. Cave was released from custody Monday. He had been a voluntary prisoner.Clare returned home late Tuesday evening, being driven across from. Sioux City by Harley Bvarts. He leaves far Ames Thursday.It is the opinion of many that instead of having a grievance, Mr. Lillie and his assistants may think themselves lucky if they are not prosecuted for inciting a riot, made defendants in | a sail for damages, and a large number of their employes placed under arrest. for their part in the affair.1ST£M*tt-*MI **MDon't neglect to take a look overthe column of notices beaded Wants.” There are new ones every week and you may miss something valuable if you neglect that column.
Newspaper Details
Correctionville Sioux Valley News
Correctionville, Iowa, US
Thu, Aug 29, 1901
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Larhee H.
USA 21 Dec 2021
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