The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-07
NTER-COUNTY WAR.
The County Seat Difficulty Between
Brazil and Bowling Green.
A Sentinel Representative Interviews
Clay County on the subject OF
Shaw's Death.
Especial to the Sentinel


removal of the county seat and as they say,
consequent death of James Shaw. RumoR
OF his team being followed by three sus-
piciOus hOrsemen, who were seen to furious
" ride up and dismount when he was thrown
from the buggy, and to Immediately remount
rs soon as they found him dead and
ride as furiously in the direction
from which they came are, circulated and
believed TO a certain extent. 1t was ascer-
tanned that Mr.. Herr, who accompanied
him. came up leisurely and would pay no
apparent attention TO him beyond taking
possession of his (Shaw's) revolver appear
Ing to care much more for his own comfort,
and also that he. so far from being bruised,
had not even dirt on his clothes. Others
argue that il was impossible for them to have
been so long flour or five hours) in driving
from Bowling Green to Clay City, which is
only 10 miles and more especially as he had
driven from Brazil to Bowling Green, II
miles, in about two or three hours. Mr..
Shaw was undoubtedly seen to have con-
siderable money on his person during the
afternoon, but only eight cents were found
on his body.
= TRUSTEES OPINION.
Z. ~ Elkin, trustee of Washington town
ship, in which Bowling Green is situated
desires to be put upon record as follows:
My opinion is that will get the court
house back. The action Of the commissioners
was wholly Illegal, and L have the proofs
There was no disposition to fight onthe ques-
ton of removal except on the part OF Brazil
i8nS. When they came to move the records
they were armed to the teeth. There is great
excitement over this question in the southern
part of the county. believe that Shaw was
foully dealt with, and have my reasons.
The above may be perhaps taken as fair
sample of the views expressed and stories
told BY the extreme men of this place, but
the following from one of Bowling Green's
most respected citizens, may be taken as a
fair statement of their side of the fight. Tire
CODY of the affidavit is furnished by Major
Carter, leading attorney, and the one who
drew the original. He says it may vary in
few unimportant particulars as ii is drawn
from recollection, but in the main he
voucheS for its correctness,
THE cAsUs BELLI.
For the last seven years, ever since 1869,
there has been great excitement over the re
location of the county seat and great deal
OF bad feeling has been engendered. Ii has
been lawed almost continuously in every
court we could get it into ever since they
first presented their petitions, including
three trips 70 the supreme court. 1t has al
ways been 10 the interest of each side to try
and control the board of county commits
sioners and the county auditor who is IT.
oticiO their clerk. with power to call special
meetings, rs upon their action would de-
pend the removal of the court house.
Mr.. Shaw was elected as a Brazil man. but
after being elected he bought house here
and removed here with his family On the
9Th day of August 1876. the commissioners
werecalled together in special session, for the
purpose of letting the building of the new
court house and Jail at Brazil. They were,
however detained until late hour by the
argument OF opposing counsel, and finally
adjourned until the next morning without
letting. During the evening they found
that they must let that day as advertised, or
not at all, and so got together, called in Mr..
Shaw, and privately transacted the business
of letting the building of said buildings at q
private house and at a late hour, as appears
by his affidavit.
sHAw's oFFESsE.
The affidavit OF James Shaw is substan.
tally as follows:
That he is, and during the last year has
been, auditor of Clay county, Indiana, and as
such is the clerk of the hoard of commission.
ers; that on the Sth DAY of August last the said
board was in extra session at the court house
in Bowling Green, met for the purpose ofopen-
ing the sealed proposals and awarding the
contract for the construction of the new court
house and jail at Brazil, and that at a late hOul
in the evening. said board adjourned till
O'Clock a. m of the 9th day of August, without
having awarded the contract; that the mem.
bers of the board lodged at the house of d. 5
Stillwagon, some distance from the court
house; that at a late hour on the night of the
9Th he, said Shaw, was in the court hOnSe yard
eonversing with some friends, when John G.
Ackelmire came to him and said to him thai
Dir. Eckert, member of the board
desired to see him at Stillwagons house
the house OF stillwagon, where he found al
the members OF said board: that this was late
at night, and that one of the members of the
board said to him, shaw that they had de-
termined to re-examine the bids for the court
house and Jail, and let the contract that night
anime said bids, and then and there let saiC
contract to Mr.. Keasey, of Brazil; that thi,
was some time after the board had adjourned
10 meet the next morning; that said board di
rected him Shaw TO record said fettins
in the record Of the eighth days proceedings
all of which he did.
When the Brazil men heard that Mr.
Shaw had made this affidavit which con
tains nothing but the truth and not all o.
that. they were greatly exercised over il
and made all sorts of rough talk about it
and his bondsmen, who live in Brazil, and
especially John G. Acklemire, cursed him
rOundly, and on the Sunday evening that hs
left on the fatal trip told him, among
other things. that if he did not get that aft
davit back by 10 a. IN. the next day they
would all 90 off his bond and that his OF
fetal life would be short The Brazil mer
probably deviled poor Shaw until he started
after the papers. | do not suspect any di
rect foul play, but abuse and i'll treatment
started him on a twenty-five mile trip aftel
having already driven nearly all day at
late hour. and over rough roads, to procure
this paper.
sHAw's DEATH.
The following statement from Mary Walk
er, young lady who lived with Mr.. Shaw
will be of interest as showing his last inter
view with his family:
Hr. Shaw came home about IL or O'CLOCK
Sunday night and wanted some supper. Mr
Herr was with him. He laid his revolver on
the table while eating, and his wife slipped Il
away and hid it, When he was through sup
per he asked: Belle, where is my revolver?
She said, 81 took IL and hid It," He said, -
must have it, She begged him not to take IL
but he insisted and she finally got 10 for him
She kissed him at the door and told him TO b,
good boy, and told Mr.. Herr To take goot
care ofhfm.