Guard Shoots Youth

CUNNINGHAM

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/11/2015 at 20:05:02

Dubuque Times-Journal, October 15, 1925

GUARD SHOOTS YOUTH

The shooting and wounding of Joseph Cunningham, 16 years old, of McCann's Crossing, by the guard stationed om Delhi street Tuesday morning during the man-hunt for Earl Stearns and Donald Keardell, is being investigated by county authorities, it was reported Thursday morning.

The boy and his mother, Mrs. C. D. Cunningham, were entering the city and not knowing of the search which was being maintained for the two jail-breakers, misunderstood the signal to halt, and the car in which they were riding was fired upon by one of the guards.

A number of shots hit the driver of the car. One was removed from his scalp and another is said to be lodged there. One struck him in the face and two struck his arm. Mrs. Cunningham was not wounded. The shooting occurred at about 6:45 o'clock Tuesday morning. The boy and his mother were entering the city, unaware that all roads were being watched. A party of young men, some armed with shotguns was seen a short distance within the city limits and the boy remarked that they were probably on their way hunting. As the car approached the spot, one of the party, Joseph Guilford, held up his hand, signalling the car to stop. The driver recognized Guilford and thinking he was merely waving to him, waved back. As the car passed, Guilford is said to have recognized Cunningham, and told the others of the guard who it was and that he was alright. One of the party, whose name is not known, raised his gun before hearing Guilford's warning and shot.

According to parents of the young man, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Cunningham, no members of the guard, as far as the boy or his mother could ascertain, wore uniforms of any kind. Neither of the occupants of the car knew of the guard on the road or realized that all cards were being stopped and searched. The act has been reported to the county attorney's office, through which an investigation is being made.