Iowa Old Press
Buena Vista Pilot Tribune
Storm Lake, Buena Vista co., Iowa
Friday, January 27, 1905
CLIMAX IS A SHOOTING - A. A. Smith Fires Two Bullets Into
Body of H. F. Schulz.
Shooting Occurs at Schultz’s Office Saturday
Afternoon at Four O’clock. Schultz Leaps from Second Story
Window to Save Himself. Smith Charges that Schultz Attempted to
Assault His Wife. It is Believed That Schultz Will Recover, Smith
is in Jail.
In keeping with threats which he has repeatedly made during the
past six weeks, Albert A. Smith, publisher of the Buena Vista
Vidette, went to the office of H. F. Schultz on the second
floor of the Citizens’ bank building at four o’clock
Saturday afternoon, where he found Mr. Schultz in the act of
putting some papers away in his safe, which stands a few feet
from the office entrance, and saying, “Take that, Take
that,” fired two shots from a 32 caliber revolver at him,
both shots taking effect. Seeing that escape was cut off from any
other direction, Schultz turned around and sprang through the
window, alighting on the telephone wires, and then falling to the
pavement. Smith then turned from the room, and at the door he was
met by Judge A. D. Bailie, who heard the shots from E. R.
Sisson’s office just to the east. Smith spoke up and said:
“Well, I’ve shot Schultz. I had to do it. I’m
crazy.” The Judge immediately asked for the revolver, which
was handed over to him without a word protest. Smith went on down
the stairs and was followed by Judge Bailie, who, seeing
Constable C. H. Rossie in the crowd which gathered, to him to
arrest Smith and take him to jail, which was immediately done.
Schultz was picked up by those who had been attracted by the
shooting, the breaking of glass and by his cries, and was carried
into the office rooms of the Citizens’ bank and carried to
the sanatorium, where his injuries were investigated by Drs. L.
M. and D. H. Nusbaum and R. H. Parker. It was found that one
bullet had entered the right arm about four inches below the
point of the shoulder and passed through the arm and lodged in
the arm pit. The other bullet entered just below the right nipple
and went under the ribs, lodging in the body just below the left
nipple without touching the vital organs. The right arm was badly
fractured just below the bullet wound and was terribly bruised by
the fall from the window. It was immediately given out that his
chances for recovery were good, providing blood poisoning did not
set in, and the physicians then dressed the injuries and removed
the bullets.
Smith was taken to jail, but he did not appear excited nor did he
at first express either regret or elation over the deed.
A naturally curious crowd at once gathered at the scene of the
shooting. The safe over which Schultz was leaning stands on the
east wall just to the north of the door, which Smith entered. The
window through which Schultz plunged was just to the north. The
mystery to all is how Schultz was able to go through the window
when the only thing broken was a thirteen-inch pane of glass, and
from which he received but one cut of any consequence, and that
on the forehead. Several saw him fall and they state that it was
the telephone wires into which he first fell which saved him from
being killed by the fall. Later in the evening, Dr. Hornibrook
came up from Cherokee, and together with the local physicians,
Schultz was a given a second examination which resulted as the
first one and which has been described above. He passed a good
night and the next morning there was but little fear but that he
would recover. Mrs. Schultz was called immediately after the
shooting and assisted in caring for her husband.
Mrs. Smith was also called, and together with her father, C. W.
Pattie, visited Smith at the jail.
Concerning the matter which led up to the shooting and which has
been common talk for the past six week, the Pilot-Tribune,
in pursuance with its well known policy of printing only such
news as can be read with edification by every member of the
families into which it goes, has taken no notice of it. Now that
these latter developments have arisen, a word is not amiss.
A. A. Smith has repeatedly stated that on the evening of the
first of December, Schultz went to his home and there attempted
to assault his wife. For a time nothing was heard of the matter
about town except by a few. Later it became common talk and time
and again Smith told it, and had stated that he had given Schultz
until the first day of March to leave town and that if he did not
leave before the allotted time, he (Smith) would shoot him. He
repeatedly threatened to shoot Schultz and he also stated that
Will Pattie, a brother of Mrs. Smith, called at the Schultz home
and made the same threats. Smith had at various times started out
with the avowed intention of doing the deed. Since the story has
become public property, Smith has denounced Schultz in print and
out of print. The afternoon of the shooting the Sioux City
Tribune called up A. C. Smith of this city and told him that they
had a story concerning the deal. It proved to be an exaggerated
story and A. C. Smith then told the Tribune the story, which has
been current in this city. It was told that A. A.. Smith that the
story was to appear and shortly afterwards he left the Vidette
office, saying he was going to shoot Schultz. As he had
frequently made that statement, it was not thought that he would
make an attempt to carry out his threat. But immediately
afterward the shooting occurred.
It is understood that Smith filed charges against Schultz before
the Masonic Lodge at Alta, of which Schultz was a member, and
that Schultz was preparing to defend himself against them.
Albert A. Smith, who did the shooting, has made this city and
county his home practically his entire life, and for the past
several years has been publisher of the Buena Vista Vidette.
He, of course, has his friends and enemies. He is a man of
ability.
H. Fred Schultz was until January 1, county attorney and has
served the county in this capacity for the past six years with
credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He moved
to this city from Alta where he practiced law for several years.
He has, by his generous disposition and his trait of standing by
his friends, made many close friends. He like all others, has his
enemies. For some time past, Smith has been under financial
obligation to him and this fact has of course added to the
complications of the present situation.
Those who are closest to Mr. Schultz and who understand his
position and who are in a position to know the truth, feel that
justice both to his family and to the community, demand that the
whole truth concerning all matters between him and A. A. Smith
should be known. But as Mr. Schultz is not able to be consulted,
it has been thought best by his family and friends to refrain,
for the present, from making any statements because of their
possible effects upon future developments. This however must be
stated as said by those who know the facts: The charges made and
circulated through the press at the instigation of irresponsible
parties are absolutely false and without foundation. Not only do
their own inconsistencies show them to be false, but an abundance
of indisputable evidence is at hand to establish their falsity
and to confirm Schultz’s denial of their truth. At the
proper time, the public will know the truth and judge for itself.
Information was sworn out by County Attorny Whitney before
Justice C. F. Aiken on Monday morning, charging Smith with
assault with intent to commit murder, and after some discussion
it was decided to await developments as to Schultz’s
condition before considering the matter of bail. Up to this time
(Thursday p.m. at three o’clock) no further action as to
bearing has been taken. It is understood that Smith wishes to
have Attorny F. F. Faville undertake his defense.
William Schultz of Williams, Iowa, and Otto Schultz, brothers of
H. F. Schultz, have been in the city the past week as has also
his brother-in-law, H. Hoag, of Iowa Falls.
[transcribed by L.Z., October 2018]