St. Clair County
Remnants Of The Past

Voice of The People
Wednesday, 3 March 1880

The Deadly Revolver.

Cowardly Assault Upon an Old Man For Wanting to Pay His Honest Debts.

Dan. Kidd Empties His Revolver Into the Body of Old Man Flanders.

Intelligence reached here early last Monday morning that Dan Kidd had shot an old man by the name of Flanders. At first various reports prevailed and one to the effect that Kidd had literly blown the old man's head off with a double-barrelled shot gun, but this as is usually the case proved to be an exaggeration of the facts. The true version of the affair, as nearly as we can learn, is about as follows. Some time since Mr. Flanders who, en passant, is a poor man, received a dispatch that his wife's father was lying dangerously ill, and the presence of the daughter was urgently requested at the parental home. Mr. Flanders, not having the money, went to Mr. Kidd to borrow it. He obtained seventy-five dollars, the amount desired, by giving a mortgage on a span of mules that are said to be worth about a hundred and fifty dollars, the mortgage to expire on the first of March. A few days ago, Flanders went to Kidd and tendered him a check for the amount which was refused as payment, and on last Monday morning, Flanders, accompanied by Manuel McCoy as a witness in the transaction, made a tender of the money to satisfy the mortgage. It was refused accompanied with the order for Flanders and McCoy to leave the premises, Flanders remarked that the time designated in the mortgage had not yet expired and that if he did not take the money that he would replevin the mules, whereupon, Kidd seized a neck yoke, and remarking: "I'll replevin you" dealt a blow upon the head of Flanders that felled him to the earth. Kidd then drew a pistol and as soon as the old man regained his feet began shooting at him. After the second shot on the part of Kidd, Flanders drew a small single-barrel pistol and shot once in return, however without effect. He received two wounds; one the ball passing through his wrist and the other in the side.
Dr. McNeil of this place was immediately summoned to dress his wounds. He reports his injuries as quite serious but not necessarily fatal. This whole affair, in which Kidd ostensibly endeavored to take advantage of the poverty of an old man to gratify his cupidity by cheating him out of his team is only another manifestation of the pertidy, cowardice and rascality that has long characterized him in this community. The people in the vicinity where this cowardly outrage was perpetrated, are justly indignant, and it is not improbable that if Kidd had succeeded in carrying his designs of murder into effect, that he would have been disposed of in a most summary manner, as it is, however, we supposed by the liberal disbursement of some of his house cash he will probably get clear of the matter.
A bill of indictment was found against Kidd, and he was bound over in a bond of $2,500 for his appearance.

Osceola Sun
11 March 1880
The grand jury found an indictment against Daniel B. Kidd for felonious assault upon the person of
Lyman Flanders. The court fixed Kidd's bond at $2,500. His bondsmen are Daniel Dillman, Jas. McH. Ledbetter and Jas. P. Landes. The trial of the case will not occur this term of court.