Kimball County NeArchives Obituaries.....Stratton, W. D. January 30, 1907 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ne/nefiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Debra Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467 May 24, 2018, 8:20 pm Omaha Daily Bee Sat Feb 2, 1907 CARPENTER QUARRELS AND IS SHOT Ranchman Arrested and Held Until Coroner's Jury Says "Accident." Sidney, Neb., Feb 1.--(Special Telegram.)--W. D. Stratton, a carpenter of Kimball, was shot Wednesday by John Bower a successful ranchman living about 3 miles south of Dix. The coroner's jury returned a verdict tonight of "accidental shooting." Strattong had been building a ranch house upon Bower's homestead and the latter claimed it was not good work, discharging Stratton and seeking better workmen in Kimball. According to Stratton's statement, Bower had failed to pay him for work done. According to Bower's statement in Kimball on Tuesday, he had not only paid him, but refused to put up with what he considered poor workmanship. Wednesday morning Stratton, who is known to be of a quarrelsome nature, armed with a rifle and liquid refreshments, drove to Bower's ranch and demanded an immediate settlement. Bower parleyed with him for some time and upon Stratton's seizing the gun from his buggy turned and went into the house, bringing out an old double-barreled shotgun filled with buckshot and proceeded to turn its contents loose in Stratton's abdomen. It was a fearful wound and through the efforts of Bower and neighbors the wounded man was carried to the section house at Dix. Dr. Mockett of Kimball was telephoned for and was by the wounded man's side until he died. A warrant being sworn out, Sheriff Bartholomew and County Attorney Kinney drove to the residence of Bower and also took an ante-mortem statement from Stratton. Bower claims that the shooting was done in self-defense and those familiar with the situation consider his claim justifiable. Both the dead man and his assailant are married men and have children. An inquest was held at Kimball today and aftr an exhaustive review of the circumstances the jury, in the absence of other direct testimony, rendered a verdict of "accidental shooting." The verdict, while somewhat peculiar, has the endorsement of the general public, inasmuch as Mr. Stratton was always inclined to be quarrelsome when under the influence of liquor. In this instance Mr. Bower had hired Stratton, believing him to be a carpenter, the dead man having so represented himself. His work, it is generally thought, justified Bower in discharging him. There were no eye witnesses to the shooting, but sufficient evidence existed in the minds of the county officials to cause Mr. Bower's incarceration awaiting the verdict of the coroner's inquest. Bower has livedfor the last two years in Kimball county and is looked upon as a successful ranchman. The funeral of the dead man will take place Saturday afternoon. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ne/kimball/obits/s/stratton16nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/nefiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb