Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-02-21

against the encroachments of the riy-
Ter. The community are generally in
terested in the wGrk, ard the atten-
dance was large from far and near.
As pxecaution against any distur:
bance during the progress of the par
lty, the Board of Trustees of the town:
had appointed Mr.. Anderson Coifmam
and Mr.. Fillmore Paisley special po-
lice, and charged them with the duty
of keeping order about the building,
where the party was in progress Un-
| til about ten and ahalf O'Clock, every
thing passed off nicely. A few were
drinking, and there was a crowd of
boys and men on the po: eh outside,
| listening to the music and looking on.
The ball room was vacant store
across the hall from the sitting room
of the house, and the windows Of
which look out onto the.porch.
Attending the party were Henry
! t. Oliver, known respectively as
Boy and Bill. The young men
are cousins, and live at Holt's Summit.
Boy Oliver is about 80 years OF
age, aud unmarried. His wife, who
WAS Miss Stokes, died about two
years ago. lie is the son of Benjamin
Oliver, deceased. His mother is now
the wife of Ap. Epperson, at the Sum-
nit. as-.. ......
''Bill" Oliver is the son Of Henry c.
Oliver. lie is about % or % years
| of age and lives at Holt's Summit
with his father.
The young men were in the ball
room. Bill had requested the COM
pany Of Il young lady in the next
dance. A colored boy was standing
on the porch, near the window where
the young lady, Bill had addressed
was sitting, anb made some offensive
remark about the matter. Bill at
once went outside to bounce the
colored boy, and was making some
move to get hold of him, and was ap-
parently very angry. Being n little
more demonstratiye than the men on
duty to preserve order considered
necessary, Mr.. Ed. Parker made the
remark to hiB to keep quiet. Con-.
timing his loud talk and clustering
manner, Mr.. Anderson Coffman Of
the special police, stepped up to him
aud directed aim TO keep quiet.
Bill OLIVER then turned on him and
asked Cof!man what he had TO do
with the matter. Coffinan replied
that he was policeman, and it vas
his duty to keep order.
Oliver replied that he did not care
damn for any policeman in the town,
or something to that effect.
Coffman it appears then moved to-
wards OLIVER, and clled to Paisley to
come and they would arrest him.
Oliver then kicked Coffman, when
Coffman drew his revolver and struck
OLIVER over the head with 1t, inflicting
scalp wound, which bled profusely.
Cotfman then took hold of OLIVER
to pull him away, when Oliver caught
hold OF. a post of the porch, and called
for ''Boy Oliver. -
In an instant. Henry, or "Boy,,
Oliver rs he is called, came rushing
ost of the hall leading to the ball room,
and seeing Bill there hanging onto
the post, his face covered with blood,
turned upon Cofiman with great fury
exelaimiug: s'Yeu! Damn you. Did
you strike him p and, seizing him by
the shoulders, showed him out into
the street, Bill following close onto
them. In the street, Coffman stum-
bled, and boy" OLIVER, was seen to
wrench from him his revolver, saying
as he did so: ''Do You know who has
got hold of you now? Damn, you I'll
let You know who ! am; Pm boy"
oliver.
As soon as hisrcVoivcr was wrench
ed from his grasp, Coftman wheeled
and ran on acEoss The street to Lynes'
porch, and thence east towards Pull
mans store, with the Ollivers in pur-
suit. AS he reached the porch two
shots were fired at him with the re-
volver by boy OLIVER, the shots
taking effect in the front of Lynes'
store, on line with the second story
windows.
On reaching Mr.. Pullman's store,
Coffman instantly closed the door and
called for help to keep his pursners
out. Mr.. Thadeus Collard stepped
forward and put his hand against
one of the doors, the doors were dou-
pIe) and Coffmsn put his shoulder
against the other door, when the
Oiivers arrived and commenced to
kick and push against the half of the
door at which Mr. Cofman
was pressing, and at one time partly
opened it. At this Boy Ollirerstepp
ed back a few PAGES, leveled his re-
volver and fired. ~ tH -<.
Coffman instantly exelaimed:'I am
shot. ! AIN dead man."
Still pressing against the door,
he gradually sunk to the floor and
expired i'll a few seconds. Shortly
afterwards the door was pressed open
tnd the two Olliyers entered, Boy
still having the revolver in his hand.
! Mr.. 'Tliadeus Collard spoke to
them. and said: ''Boys, you can't do
him any more harm, he is dead!"
They at once quoted down, and
passed out of the store and returned
to the ball room.
The deceased was about 40 yeaLs
of age. He was born in Tennessee.
He lived for time in johnson
County. lie was a miner by trade.
He next lived at Sempson's coal
bank in Moniteau. He went to Ce-
dar from Usage City. He has been
married twice. He leaves a child by
his first wife comely looking girl of
about II summers, and his second
wife and child of about nine months. |
The distress of the little daughter
at the spectacle of her fathers death
was pitiful in the extreme.
The stricken widow appeared To
bear up with heroic composure. Mr.. |
Coffman was common laborer and I
the family is in needy circumstances.
T a4 LATER. ~ 6gi
Since the above we have learned