Dockey, William (Death Record/News item)

DOCKEY

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/13/2008 at 12:57:25

Plymouth County Iowa Deaths
Beely & Fissel Funeral Homes

Name: Wm. Dockey
Date of birth:
Date of death: 17 May 1895
Age at death: 35 yrs
Buried: LeMars City Cemetery
Cause of Death: Killed at O’Leary by Conrad Kohl
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LeMars Sentinel, LeMars, (Plymouth), Iowa, Monday, May 20, 1895,
Page 4, Column 3:

WITH A REVOLVER
Farmer Conrad Kohl, of O'Leary, Fatally Shoots Wm. Dockey.

CLAIMS IT WAS SELF DEFENSE
Immediately Send For the Sheriff, and Gives Himself Up--Released on
$3,000 Bonds to Appear June--25th--Coroner's Jury Held and Verdict Rendered.

The little village of O'Leary was the scene of great excitement Friday
over the killing of William Dockey by his former employer, Conrad Kohl, the
previous night, and the subsequent appearance of the sheriff and coroner and
the holding of an inquest in the early hours of the morning before many of
the neighboring farmers were awake.

The scene of the killing was Kohl's farm yard, a distance of about forty
rods south of O'Leary, and the only witness to the encounter between the men
resulting in Dockey's death was Kohl's son, a lad of about fourteen years.
Father and son give the same details in describing the affair, both claiming
that the shot was in self-defense, but their is considerable public opinion
against Kohl among some of his neighbors who regard him as very hot-headed.
According to the stories of himself and son and W. L. Warner, the O'Leary
storekeeper, it appears that the man, Dockey, worked for Kohl about eight
months and up to the preceding Monday when Kohl dismissed him on account of
his coming home drunk Sunday and being unfit for work. He went with him to
Warner's store and there paid him what money was still due him, nearly $30.
Dockey accompanied Warner to Sioux City that day and they remained there
until Wednesday evening. Thursday, the day of killing, Dockey went to
Neptune and got a keg of beer and returned and was drinking during the
afternoon at Nugent's blacksmith shop. It is reported that he told Nugent
when he left in the evening that he was going over to Kohl's to get some
sausage and dried beef which he knew Kohl had stored in an outbuilding. At
about eight o'clock he entered Warner's store and secured pen, paper and ink
and did a little writing after which he went out and an hour later was
killed.

Mrs. Kohl and a daughter had been at church that evening and in
returning after nine o'clock saw Dockey in the yard. They told Mr. Kohl and
he took his revolver and went out with his son against their wishes. He saw
nothing of Dockey for some time, but finally noticed him at the granary
door. He immediately said "What the h---- are you doing, Bill?" and the
latter replied "None of your d----- business," whereupon Kohl rushed up and
grabbed him by one arm telling him to put up his hands. With his disengaged
arm Dockey struck him on the head with a monkey wrench he had in his grasp
and Kohl immediately fired, the ball taking effect just over Dockey's right
eye, killing him instantly. The revolver was a small 22 calibre weapon.

Mr. Kohl at once proceeded to Warner's store and told Warner the
particulars and Wallace Munroe and Geo. Farrell were dispatched to LeMars
for the sheriff and coroner. Deputy Sheriff Lewis, in Sheriff Boyle's
absence, went out at once, and Coroner Gray followed. A jury consisting of
W. L. Warner, Sam Harvey and George Farrell was empanelled and a verdict
found that the deceased was brought to his death by a bullet from a revolver
in Conrad Kohl's hand.

Conrad Kohl is a wealthy and highly respected farmer of over fifty years
of age, the father of several children who are leading members in church and
social life in the community and upon whom the blow falls heavily. Mr. Kohl
himself is suffering greatly from the act committed in a moment of
excitement and he has the sympathy of a host of friends who easily find
excuses for him on the grounds of self-defense. he is, however, regarded by
some of his neighbors as very hot-headed and exciteable and a fact, with
unpleasant connections with the shooting, is that he purchased cartridges to
fit the revolver used that same evening at the store. On the other hand
most any man would be liable to shot after being struck on the head with an
iron wrench. he was given a hearing Friday morning and was bound over for
preliminary examination until June 25, and was released on a bail bond of
$3,000 which was signed by himself, C. E. Haas and J. C. Huebsch.

Zink & Roseberry have been retained for the defense.

Dockey was a man of about 33 years of age, of short, thickset build, and
had been injured at some time in the leg and in one hand, somewhat crippling
him. He has a brother in Ellendale, S. D., where he previously lived, and
his parents reside in Chickasaw county, this state. His relatives were
telegraphed, but could not be found in time to arrange for his burial and
his funeral occurred on Saturday from Beely & Fissel's undertaking rooms.
Previous to his working for Kohl he had worked six months for Ben Dunbar who
stated that he was a hard-working, honest man with no worse proclivities
than a slight inclination to drink.