The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1889-12-11
Additional Particulars In the
Killing of Marshal j. H. Nor
can and j. z. Willis
Together with the Testimony Before
the Coroners Jury.
1 s. Price Held as Accessory to the
j Crime.

[Gty, the indignation and anger
which was the prevailing sentiment
It first has given place to sorrow
for the principals in the deplorable
tragedy and sympathy for the af
dicted families. Our people, at all
times law abiding, are determined
that the fair name of the community
shall not suffer by any overt act of a
few hot heads. Consequently the
feeble cry of mob law was frowned
ldown in it's incipiency.
The facts of the killing and the
suses which led up to the deplora
Ibe tragedy were correctly, though
necessarily briefly given in the
TmEs supplement of last week, as
he paper had already gone to press
md only a short time was given to
collecting details.
Mr.. Willis and Capt. Hannah had
apersonal difficulty on our stree,s
on the afternoon of the End. A
hort time afterwards Marshal Nor
gan came upon the scene and ar
rested Willis for disorderly conduct.
This was about four o'clock At
about seven MIR. Willis friends sue
|eeedsd in obtaining his release by
giving bond of 5000 for his ap
pearance on Saturday. Par
lies who were present when Willis
Was released say he made threats
against Morgan's life, and one gen.
|tleman informs us that he (Willis)
recalled an old covenant entered
Into between he and John Stanley,
years ago that no one should live that
should ever place either behind the
bars. At any event, whether this
vas true or not, subsequent events
ehow that Willis was highly incens
ed and very indignant and deter
|nlned to even up scores with Nor
|gan, even to the shedding of blood
Mr.. Willis went to Kansas City the
next morning and made an affidavit
before U. S. Commissioner Childs
hat Capt. Hannah and Marshal Nor
|rn forcibly detained him while in
Ne act of serving papers as Deputy
q. S. Marshal. On this afid idavit
Errrants were issued for the arrest
|d Hannah and Morgan, but District
Attorney Neal refused to approve
Them unless Willis would consent to
At Capt. Malloy, another deputy
serve them. Mr.. Francisco
llso advised this course of proceed
ure, and expressed the fear that
Willis and Morgan being enemies,
fouble might ensue if Willis tried
b serve the warrants. After hold
ng a short private consultation
nth Capt. Malloy, Willis apparent
! consented to this, but stayed and
Dot the warrants from the the com
nissioner himself. He then took
We first train for Butler, in company
nth S. S. Price, a friend whom he
Leputized to come with him to make
he arrest. The porter on the train
overheard some conversa-
ion between the two which alarm
ID him, for on arrival at Butler he
lent negro boy post hast to see
Capt. Hannah and Morgan to warn
hem that Willis and Price We're
coming. The latter rode over in the
bus aud Price stopped long enough
v the Laclede hotel to register and
have his grip,when they went direct
q Morgan's home. What passed
etween them and the part which
rice took in the affair is best told
y the evidence given by eye wit
nesses before the coroners jury and
ne ante mortem statement of Nor
gan.
Morgan was called from his bed
Dy Willis and informed that he had
warrant for his arrest. He went to
ne door with his pistol in his hand,
,ad after few words the shooting
0egan. The first two shots were fir
9 almost simultaneously, when |
nllls dubbed him over the head |
slsh his pistol. He was dragged
nom the house and i'll the scuffie |
nat ensued Willis shot him twice |
aore- Both Willis and Morgan We're /
not through the bowels, the wounds /
eng very similar. Willis thel gave
,'s pistol to G. W. Tucker and with !.
ne assistance of Price and Tucker
I walked a short distance up the
rect where he fell and was carried
PINE on a stretcher. Price wss af
wards arrested at the home of
Willis and lodged in Jail.
Drs, Smiley and King of Kansas