Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1885 — THE DEADLY REVOLVER. [ARTICLE]

THE DEADLY REVOLVER.

A Terrible Triple Tragedy in the Streets of the Illinois State Capital Two Policemen Shot Down by a Ruffian, Who Is Killed by a Return Shot*. . Springfield (Ill.) special. A double tragedy occurred here this morning, horrible in its details, resulting in the almost instant death of two men, one a policeman and the other a ' citizen, and the wounding of another policeman and a negro woman. A man named Leonard Gardner, owner of a candy store and a restaurant, was arrested last night on a peace warrant for beating his wife, and lodged in the city prison by Officers William J. Camp and Fred Gall. Early this morning Gardner procured bail and was released. He proceeded at once to a store and purchased two forty-four caliber bulldog revolvers, saying that he proposed to kill the two policemen on sight that arrested him. To several persons during the day he made a similar assertion, saying as he flourished the revolvers that he guessed the police would not arrest him now. About seven o’clock this evening Gardner took his position in a hallway on Washington street, between Sixth and Seventh, and as Camp and Gall came up tie stepped out and fired at Gall, who received the ball in his groin and fell, but was unable to get his revolver. Gardner then fired a fatal shot at Camp, the ball taking effect near the heart, but the plucky officer returned the fire after he was shot, emptying four chambers of his forty-four-caliber Remington into Gardner’s body before he (Camp) fell and expired in the arms of Officer Jones. Each of Camp’s shots took effect in Gardner’s body—one in the arm and three in the region of the heart—and he expired -on the spot. A stray shot fired by Gardner struck a negro woman who was passing in the calf of the leg, it is reported, severing an artery. Gall was taken to the Leland Hotel, where he could have surgical. attendance, and an examination showed that the ball took a downward course through the right groin and lodged, and hopes are entertained for his recovery. The bodies of the two dead men were conveyed to police headquarters, where a heartrending scene occurred when Officer Camp’s wife entered and threw herself on the inanimate form of her husband. Camp leaves a wife and five small children in almost destitute circumstances, who have the sympathy of the hundreds that have congregated to talk of the horrible affair, but not a regret is expressed for Gardner. Such a tragedy was never before known in Springfield, and never before has a policeman been killed while on duty. Camp and Gall were considered two of the best men on Jhe force..