The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-12-29
IMPORTANT TRIAL.
Trial of Col. W. A. Warner for
1.-THE Killing of Sam w. Nut.
ter at Lexington, No.

tcT 1t LcAluStOus NJ.
THE CASE.
Probably no trial ever had in PETIT
county attracted the wide spread a
teption ss did the trial of the state v;
Col. W. A. Warner, for the KILN
of his son-in-law, Sam. w. Nutter, a
Lexins ton, Mo-, on October %. 1868
The case was brought to Pettis count,
by change of venue and the tria
was commenced January 23 1871
Judge Chan. p. Townsley, who no,
publishes newspaper at Great Bend
Kansas, presided.
y. ID. Hines, Of Cass county, Cir
cult Attorney, and Col. Tilton Davis
were the attorneys for the State
Hines died ten years ago or more il
California and Col. Davis resides il
81. Louis.
Col. Amos Green, Judge VIM. Wal
ker and W. A. Hall. of Lexington
Philips d Vest and Jas. S Botsfor1
were the attorneys for the defendant
Ittook two days to get jury. The
whole county was sitted, almost, t.
secure jury who had "not formed OF
expressed an opinion"
THE JURY.
Msrtillus Holman, E. W. McElhany,
.John Beckley, Jas L Warren,
]. T. Davidson, 'rhos. n. Rogers,
VIM. Williams, Chas. G Taylor,
Chas. W. Fristoe, Richard Cau'k,
Thos. A. Fowler, E-J. Dillon
sDead.
BY order of the court, the jury was
kept together, boarded and lodged at
the Leroy House. then a very good
hotel, but now the old rookery at The
corner Of Ohio and Sixth streets.
The late w. 2. Paf, Was sheriff and
court was held in the old wooden
buildirg standing at the corner of
Ohio and Fourth streets, on the block
where the present court house stands.
THE TRAGEDY.
s. w. Nutter was the son-in law
of Colonel w. A. Warner. The
latter was soD-in-law OF the late
noted Gen. Leslie Combs, of Ken
lucky. Nutter was Kentuckian, as
also was Colonel Warner. 1t was a
family quarrel. Nutter drank whisky
freely and made life burden
for his wife and infant child.
She left her husband re-
turned to the house of her father,
Col. Warner. She commenced pro-
deedings looking to divorce. War
ner's cistern near Dover was poison ed
in May, 1868. He and bis boon COM
panions haunted the home of Colo
mel Warner. Four of Col. Warmers
harnesses and one saddle We're taken.
They were cut to pieces in the timber
not far distant. One carriage wheel
was carried away, also some tools. A
young colt was thrown in a well and
the house fired upon at different
times. Finally, in September 1868,
Col. Warner moved to Carroll county
to get rid of Nutter. The son-in-law
then issued mischievous and libelous
printed pamphlet, obscene and viii
famous in its nature. This he caused
to be circulated in Carroll county.
THE SHOOTING.
Col. Warner was a proud man
His pride was wounded beyond en-
durance. He went to Lexington to
attend the county fair October %,
1868. Nutter had often threatened
to kill Col. Warner. The Colonel |
learning that Nutter was in town Sc
cured a double-barreled shot gun. |
He shot Nutter as he came out of a |
saloon. Twelve buck shot entered
bis body. He never spoke after he
Was shot. Nutter's sister, girl
about twenty years of age, sat
in a buggy about fifty
yards from where her brother
FELL. She jumped from the buggy and
ran to him and by the side ofhis pros.
rate form, she held c,cked pistol
and said she would kill the first man
that touched his body. She was
frantic with grief, but subsequently
xss persuaded TO leave. She swore on
he witness st nd at the trial, that she
Knew nothing about using pistol and
lid not know why she carried it.
COLONEL WARMERS FAMILY.
Mrs. Warner, her daughters, Mrs. /
J. w. Nutter and Miss Mary Warn
we're at the trial. They attended the
husband and father coreianIly in
court. Mrs. Warner, at the time. was
45 years old and her coun-
enance and demeanor was that of
polished and highly intellectual lady,
Mrs. Nutter wac pronounced bru-