The following newspaper article was submitted by L. Morgan

Howard Courant, June 11, 1886
Submitted by L Morgan

SHOT AND KILLED

Dr. Sylvester Lucas Comes To His Death
By A Revolver Shot at the Hands of J. J. Graham

Howard’s First Case Of Fatal Shooting
Report of Coroner’s Inquest Held Wednesday

Last Monday evening, about half past eight o’clock, our citizens were thrown into a state of considerable excitement by the report that Dr. Sylvester Lucas has just been shot by Under Sheriff Jesse J. Graham and that the shooting took place at Lucas’ residence on south Wabash Avenue. In a few minutes a large crowd of excited people had gathered at the scene of the tragedy and found that Lucas has just breathed his last. By examining his body it was found that he had been shot through the body, the bullet passing clear through him. Graham came up to town at once and gave himself in to the Sheriff. The Coroner was almost immediately on the ground and empaneled a jury of the following citizens: W.S. Lambert, J.B. Dobyns, Z.W. Kirby, J. M. Walker, N. Momma, W. L. Strachan. A recess was taken till Tuesday at 8 a.m. at which time a further recess was taken till Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday afternoon the remains of Dr. S. Lucas were interred in Grace Lawn cemetery, Howard, and notwithstanding the constantly falling rain, they were followed to the last resting place by a large concourse of people. The funeral services were conducted by the Masonic Order, of which Mr. Lucas was a member.

At 9 o'clock Wednesday morning, the inquest was called by Coroner F.S. Olney. J. B. McDonald was appointed reporter; the State was represented by Luther Scott, County Attorney.

The inquest was held at the skating rink and the following is the summary of the proceedings had:

The jury was not called until 10:30 a.m. at which time they promptly took the seats provided for them by the Sheriff.

County Attorney Scott opened the proceedings by announcing that it was a court of inquiry presided over by the coroner to investigate carefully into the cause of the death of Dr. Lucas and he cautioned the jury to leave aside all prejudice and to try to discover all the facts in the case and to discover if a crime had been committed. The jury was cautioned not to pay any attention to outside pressure. Also he cautioned the citizens not to express in any manner any opinion to influence the jury.

Dr. J.F. Lewis was then called and sworn and testified substantially as follows: He gave his residence as Howard, and occupation as surgeon and physician. He stated that he saw the deceased, Dr. S. Lucas on the evening of June 7th, at his residence in Howard, in a dying condition, was there during his dying moments; I examined his body and found a bullet hole in his right breast: 1 1/2 inches below the middle of his right collar bone, also found that it had passed out through the back on the left side at a point I think 1 1/2 inches above the left shoulder blade and through the shoulder blade. I have further examined the wound by making a post-mortem examination and measurement. I found that the ball penetrated the chest at a point 5 1/2 above the right nipple amd ten inches from the left nipple; it passed into the chest between 2d and 3rd ribs, through the upper or superior lobe of right lung, struck the spinal column at the junction of the 5th and 6th dorsal vertebra passing through the body of the 6th dorsal vertebra, wounded the back of the upper lobe of the left lung, passed out between the 6th and 7th ribs through the left shoulder blade and out of the body at a point 1 1/2 inches above the point of shoulder blade. I found no other wounds than that described, which of itself would necessarily produce death, but probably not instant death. It would have almost the same effect as shooting through the brain, first from injury to spinal cord, second from injury to the lungs. After I reached the doctor's house it was about 3 minutes until life was extinct."

At this stage of the inquiry Mr. Carr wanted to ask some questions which were in the interest of the person who is supposed to have shot the deceased. The Attorneys for the State objected, saying the proceedings were altogether exparte and up to this point no one has been accused of anything. The coronor's inquest was simply an effort to find out whether or not a crime has been committed. The coroner decided that the defence could not come in. To a question of Juryman Walker, witness stated that a wound as described by him would not have completely paralyzed the subject receiving it. The person having received such a wound would necessarily fall immediately, and in my opinion he would not be able to commit any overt act. The person receiving such a wound might possibly speak but quite improbable that he would. At this time the witness signed the record and was dismissed.

Wm. R. Dunn was the next witness sworn. He stated that he lived in Howard and was by occupation a day laborer. "I saw the deceased on the evening of June 7th. I was at home standing by my gate when I heard a noise at deceased's residence; the first noise I think was a woman hollering; the next thing I heard some revolver shots, I then heard a noise that I supposed to be parties scuffling, and then I heard some more shots. I think there were three shots at first before the scuffle and I heard two shots afterward, being five shots altogether. I didn't see anyone in the house nor did I see any lights in the house; I could not see well enough to see anybody come out of the house. I heard someone come out of the house and thought they broke the front door getting out and the person turned north up the street; about three or four minutes after this I went over to Dr. Lucas' house in company with Mr. J.W. Hall, who lives opposite the deceased's residence. When I got to the house I didn't see anybody but Mrs. Lucas. The deceased was just inside the door of the second room back from the street. I was not there at the time the jury was sworn. He was lying on the floor upon his back with his head to the west, his feet near the door pointing to the east. I remained in the house probably about five minutes. I did not hear the party who came out of the front door speak but he went up the street pretty lively. I think he ran. There was no light in the house. Mrs. Lucas was in the second room where deceased was lying . I am positive I heard some one holler in the house before the shooting. The shooting occurred, I think, just before 9 o'clock. I saw a good many different people in the house while I was there and there was a great many questions asked. The question was asked if he shot himself. Mrs. Lucas answered that Mr. Graham shot him. I did not hear Dr. Lucas speak at all. I saw him gasp for breath and move his left hand in which there was a revolver. I could not see his right hand and do not know what he may have had in it. I did not see any light in the house until Mr. Hall went in with one in his hand. Witness excused.

The inquest then adjourned until 1:30 p.m. The Sheriff rapped for order at 2 o'clock, when J.R. Cardwell was sworn; I was in Howard on the evening of June 7th, 1886. I heard of the circumstance of Dr. Lucas being shot on that evening; I was in a drug store owned by the Coroner, Dr. F.S. Olney, when I heard the man they called Jess Graham, who came in excited, state that he had been passing the house of Dr. Lucas and Fanny, Dr. Lucas' wife invited him (Graham) into the house; he said that he made some excuse that he did not want to go in, and that she said she wanted to borrow his pistol, that the Doctor had threatened to kill her and she wanted the pistol to defend herself with and that he told her she could not have the pistol. She then asked him to come into the house as she had something to tell him---that he stepped inside the door when she locked it, and that the Doctor came out from under the bed and commenced to shoot at him, he said he drew his revolver and fired and that the Doctor fell but he did not know whether he had killed him or not. This is about all I remember of Mr. Graham saying. He had the revolver in his hand when he came into the store. He picked some blank cartridges out of it, that is empty shells, won't be positive but I thought he took out three. Could not say what time, probably about 9 o'clock; Graham remained in the drug store a short time, probably about five minutes. I am not able to state positive just how many shells he toook out of his pistol at that time. In my judgement I saw him remove three shells but he was excited and might have made several motions in getting one shell out. He reloaded his pistol and I think put in three cartridges which he took out of his pocket; I do not know what he did with the empty shells. Witness dismissed.

LOU H. HAYNER'S TESTIMONY

On the evening of June 7th, I was in front of Edwards' restaurant at the time of the shooting of Dr. Lucas: I heard no shooting. I first learned of the shooting from Alex. Strachan, who said there was something the matter with Dr. Lucas. I went down to the house and went in, there were two men went in ahead of me, one of them carried a light. When I arrived there Alex Strachan, Mr. Hall and Mrs. Lucas were in the house--this as near as I can remember. I saw Dr. Lucas when I went in the house; he was lying on his back in the second room from the front one, being flat on his back, his right arm against the side of his body, the left arm thrown out against a stove; he appeared to be gasping for breath, was not dead apparently when I first saw him.

J.W. HALL'S TESTIMONY

On Monday evening last I was at home, I know where the residence of Dr.Lucas was at that time. My residence is the width of the street east of Dr. Lucas'. I heard some pistol shots or gun shots, from three to five shots, I could not say positively how many, there were three shots fired in rapid sucession, then there was an interval of five to ten seconds, during the interval there was a noise as of scuffling in the house, then there was another shot. Immediately after the last shot there was a man ran out of a door on the north side of the house, ran to the sidewalk and up the street; when he got up to the middle of the street between the lumber yard corner and the corner opposite he cried "help" just loud enough for me to hear it down to my house. At that moment a woman came and opened the front door of Dr. Lucas' house and cried for help, and I took a lamp and crossed the street to Dr. Lucas' house and went into the house and saw Dr. Lucas lying on the floor with a pistol in each hand, he gasped some five or six times after I got there, he was dead though at the time. In a very short time the house was full of people; he was lying in the second room from the front door, upon his back with his feet to the east. I went into the house alone. He had no boots on, was in his stockings, had no coat on nor hat. I did not see his hat, coat or shoes. I took a revolver out of his right hand and gave it to Mr. Brintzinghoffer when he came in. One of the revolvers was silver or nickel plated 32 caliber pistol, 5 shooter, the other was a blued barrel, wooden handled pistol, I don't know what caliber. There was a lamp burning in the second room, burning low--about a half blaze. No one but Mrs. Lucas was in the house when I first went in. I do not know which one of the doors on the north side of the house the person came out of. The pistol I took from his hand had no loads visible in it. There were four shots fired. Mr. Alex Strachan was the first man I saw in the room after I got there. I did not know who the man was who ran out of the house. The last shot fired was clearer than the others. I heard it much more distinctly than the others. Mrs. Lucas was screaming and asked me for a pistol with which to shoot herself, whereupon I took the pistol out of Lucas' hand. She said Jess Graham shot the doctor. When I heard the first shots I was in the front room of my house, the front door was open, I saw no one go into Dr. Lucas' home before the shooting. Witness dismissed.

FRANK A. KEIFER'S TESTIMONY

I first learned of the death of Dr. Lucas from Woodson Parker, who came running into the meat market and says "men you're wanted at Dr. Lucas', there is trouble down there." I am slightly acquainted with Mr. J.J. Graham; I saw him shortly after the trouble occurred going towards the meat market, but had no conversation with him; I heard him say"she offered him some beer and he said he pushed it away and said, my God! woman, what are you trying to do, then Dr. Lucas came from under the bed and fired three shots at him, and he says, my God, Doc, what do you mean? He said he then struck at the doctor and hit his hand. He said he then pulled and fired, and that was about all I heard him - Mr. Graham- say. This was about 20 minutes after nine. Witness dismissed.

At this stage Mrs. Fanny Lucas took the stand and was sworn and deposed as follows:

I was the wife of the late Dr. S. Lucas at the time of his decease. I was at home, at the residence of Dr. S. Lucas, on Monday evening last; at the time he was shot, Jess Graham, Dr. Lucas and myself were present. Mr. Graham came in and sat down on the bed and was talking to me, he was there about five or ten minutes, I gave him some pecans but he said he did not want any of them, and I set them down on the bed, and I told him then I had a bottle of beer and I asked him to pull the cork for me, and he asked me for a cork-screw and I got one out of the bureau drawer and I poured the beer out in a glass and offered it to him and just then we heard a noise and he asked what it was and I told him I didn't know, I would see; I went towards the bureau then and Doc came out from behind the organ just then and told Graham to hold up his hands, Graham said "no" and reached around and got his revolver and shot, and Doc shot then twice, I think. I could not say whether he shot once or twice, Dr. Lucas then turned and went into the other room, I supposed to turn up the lamp, in doing so he turned it out, then he turned around and came back to the door. The lamp was in the second room. I was in the front room at first. He came back to the door and Graham then shot him, he fell right by the stove, with his feet in the door. Graham then pulled the front door open and went out, and I called for help. I knew when Mr. Graham came to the house that Dr. Lucas was behind the organ, I think he had been there about ten minutes when Graham came in. He--Dr. Lucas--took his shoes off in the back room of the house but I don't know what he done with them. He had been at the house about five minutes before he took his position behind the organ; his reasons for sitting behind the organ in that manner as he gave them was that he wanted to hear what Graham would say to me. The front door was locked after Mr. Graham came in; it was locked by myself. I do not know whether Mr. Graham knew I locked the door at the time or not. I locked the door because Doc told me to. Doc told me to tell Graham to come in, his reasons was to get Graham in there and disarm him; the reason I invited him in was because Doc had told me to. Doc said they had had some misunderstanding. He threatened to kill me if I did not induce Graham to come in the house, and I was afraid he would put his threat into execution. Graham was never in my house before that night. Doctor told me that he did not expect to hurt Graham when he should come in. Once before this I had asked Graham to come in at Docs request; that was on Saturday evening before Doc was killed, the Doctor was not present on that evening. I am not positive that Mr. Graham did the first shooting, but I think he did. I am positive that Mr. Graham came out of the house at the east, or front door. I was very much frightened during the firing. Dr. Lucas did not fire before he came from behind the organ. I relighted the lamp before Mr. Hall arrived at the house. Doctor Lucas spoke after he was shot, he said: "Fanny I'm shot through and killed." He fired once after he fell, with the pistol in his right hand. On this Saturday night when I asked Graham to come in, it was understood that the Doctor would be there if he (Graham) did come into the house. And this invitation was given to Graham under the same threat as the one on Monday, when he did come in. Witness dismissed.

VERDICT

State of Kansas, Elk County ss:

An inquistion holden at Howard, in Elk County, on the ____th day of June, A.D. 1886, before me, F.S. Olney, Coroner of Elk County, on the body of Dr. Sylvester Lucas, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereto subscribed. The said jurors, upon their oaths do say that upon the 7th day of June, 1886, about the hour of nine o'clock p.m. by pistol, shot in the hands of J.J. Graham, be the said Lucas came to his death, and that said killing was not done feloniously.

In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereto set their hands, this the 9th day of June 1886.

J.M. Walker, Foreman
W.S. Lambert
Z.W. Kirby
W.L. Strachan
N. Momma
J.B. Dobyns
Attest: F.S. Olney, Coroner

NOTES:

--It is a queer circumstance that the revolver from which the fatal shot was fired was the same weapon with which Eatherly killed Messmore at Elk Falls, a year ago.

--This is the first case of fatal shooting Howard has ever had, in the sixteen years the city has been organized. Few Kansas towns can show such a record.

Personal Note from L. Morgan:

So it is unknown at this point on how many marriages Sylvester had.