Description:
Centerville Citizen, Centerville, Iowa, September 22, 1897, page 5.
Retrieved from Community History Archive on 12/17/2017.
http://centerville.advantage-preservation.com/search/site
transcript:
From Saturday's Daily.
ENDS IN A SHOOTING
The Wakefield and Wailes Feud Results in Bloodshed.
Wakefield is Badly Hurt
Wailes Shoots His Old Time Enemy, Breaks Two of His Ribs With a Club and Injurs Him Internally - Wakefield's Story - Wailes Gives Himself Up - Trial Set for September 23.
Johns township can now rival the famous Rowan county ot Kentucky for a family feud. Yesterday the climax of the Wailes-Wakefield feud was reached, and as a result G. G. Wakefield suffers from what may possibly prove mortal wounds, For some time there has existed between these two persons an old feud which has resulted in numerous lawsuits, quarrels and serious encounters. It will be remembered that some months ago W akefield, upon complaint of Wailes, was put under a penal bond to keep the peace and the demand that the bond be continued by District court for another year was denied by Judge Roberts at the beginning of the present term of court.
A message was received by Sheriff Silknitter last evening that Wailes and Wakefield had again had trouble in which Wakefield was seriously injured. The sheriff, in company with Marshal Davison, started at once for the scene of the fracas and from Mr. Davidson the CITIZEN gets its account of the trouble as related to him by Wakefield. As Wakefield's story goes, Wailes was cutting corn on his farm yesterday afternoon and about 4 o'clock came out of the field and met Wakefield in the timber close by. Wakefield claims that when he was met by Wailes the latter demanded of Wakefield that he retract certain things which Wakefield says he did to avoid difficulty. But trouble followed. Both men had revolvers and Wakefield in addition had a knife. Wailes wrested Wakefield's weapon and means uf defense away and then Wailes turned upon his adversary and shot at him five times, one bullet striking him in the back part of the head, clipping off a portion of the skull. Wailes then having discharged all the cartridges in his revolver jumped upon Wakefield with his club and beat him severely over the back and head. Wakefield grabbed a club to protect himself but his club was rotten and broke easily, leaving him at the mercy of his enraged foe. Wailes used his club severely upon his victim leaving him lying in the timber as though dead. He then started down the road where he met some parties and told them be was going over to his father's. He was not there last night. Wakefield, with great difficulty, walked about two miles to Plano and then back to his brother's house about one mile southeast ot Plano where he is now in bed and in a probable oritical condition.
This is Wakefield's own story of the trouble and no other account is obtainable. He contends that he was always afraid of Wailes and carrieda revolver for his own defense. He says that he had no part in begining the difficulty yesterday and tried in every way to avoid it. He said he had always tried to keep out of Wailes' way, and all their personal encounters have come about by Wailes following him around and beginning the quarrels.
Dr. C. S. James was called to see Wakefield last night and this morning said to a CITIZEN reporter that he, Wakefield, is probably severely wounded. The bullet that struck him in the head chipped out a piece of the skull and left besides a bad scalp wound. But the greatept injury is from the club. Two ribs are broken and there are internal injuries that appear to be very dangerous. One lung is severely injured also.
Wailes came to Centerville this morning, accompanied by his father, and gave himself up. He made appearance here too late to obtain his side of the story for publication. Taken before 'Squire Henderson he plead not guilty and gave $800 bonds to appear for trial September 23, at 10 o'clock.
From Monday's Daily.
W. S. Wailes says there is another side to the shooting affray at Plano Friday night. Wakefield told his story Friday and after Wailes had surrendered himself to the law Saturday afternoon he told his side. He says Wakefield is the man who started the row. His story is to this effect: Wailes was cutting corn on his premises Friday afternoon when Wakefield suddenly appeared with a revolver in his outstretched hands and with a curse he sent a bullet in close proximity to Wailes' head. Wailes clinched Wakefield and took his revolver away. During the catch as catch can that followed Wailes shot Wakefield in the back of the head inflicting only a scalp wound. The corn field lays in a timber and each grabbed a stick and an exchange of blows followed, Wakefield getting the worst of it. According to Wailes, Wakefield then inaugurated a lively sprint toward town, outrunning Wailes. Wailes says he went to his father's house and from there to the depot to give himself up but missed the train. The next morning Wakefield's brother went to Wailes and demanded his brother's weapons. Wailes wouldn't give them up and words lead to a quarrel and blows and young Wakefield had Wailes arrested for assault and battery. After this case was disposed of Wailes came to Centerville and gave himself up. He brought Wakefield's revolver along and turned it over to Sheriff Silknitter. Two cartridges were exploded. Wailes' revolver has also been given up. It contained one empty cartridge. Wailes says he isn't sure whether Wakefield shot once or twice. Wailes' trial will be held before 'Squire Henderson Thursday morning, when the particulars of the case will probably come out as they were. Through an error in Saturday's e paper it was made to appear that Wailes had been under a penal bond to keep the peace. It was Wakefield who was under the bonds which was discharged by the District court.
Type: Public Announcement
Date: 1897-09-22
URL: http://www.etherton.net/S1253 - 1897georwake.png
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