Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-05-23
A Tragedy at Pilot Knob.


1.-THE killing of Prosecuting Attorney
Walker at Pilot Knob. whittier he had
shortly previous been called to attend
Justice Schwaner's court. The fata
shot was fired by Constable Hill, who
Immediately afterward drove down to
Ironton and surrendered himself to
Sheriff O'Neal- Ii is not the purpose
OF the REGISTER to discuss the merits
iof the case; they will in due time be
determined before the proper tribunal;
but that our readers may have the
facts as developed before the coroner'a
jury, we publish the testimony in full.
As soon as the news of the ARRAY came
to his hearing, Coroner Farrar took
steps to perform the duties enjoined
upon him by his Office He proceeded to
Pilot Knob, procured jury of six
men. and made due examination into
the matter. The men composing the
jury were: Ferd. Inner, VIM. Biel,
| Henry Henderson, Joseph Shafer,
Samuel L. Dennis. and Theo. Dettuier.
The following is the official report of
| the testimony:
Daniel O'Donnell deposes and says as
| follows: James Coad and myself were
sitting on bench in front of Dettmar's
about 80 feet distant; heard loud talk
| Jog and saw C.. b. Hill strike j. b.
| Walker with his left hand, and /. be-
| lieve he would have fallen but for his
being caught by John Mitchell. He
| was leaning backward when Hill shot
the FIRST shot. at once called to Mr..
| Hill and asked what he had done.
\ H.. lii Iad re., 1a.,d
| in his tracks" / went to Walker inn
| mediately and found him DYING. turn
ed him over and asked the bystanders
| to assist me in laying him on the front
steps, where he was viewed by the
jury. On taking him on his removal
| we found a pistol under him. Don't
know whether a revolver or mott
| was a pistol.
Also personally appeared John
Mitchell, who being duly sworn. on
his oath states in relation TO the afore-
said case as follows: NV name is John
Mitchell. a resident of Pilot Knob, Iron
county, Mo. Mr.. Walker came down
the street. On entering the Justice of
the Peace's office Mr.. Walker turned
to Mr. Hill and said that Mr.. Hill had
been speaking harshly and trying to
buldoze him in the prosecution OF a
case before the grand jury and the cir
cult court. Mr.. Walker said he had
called Mr. Hill son of a bitch, where
upon Mr.. Hill struck him with his left
hand and knocked him back against
me, and said, ..look Quit" l stepped
one side. Mr.. Hill shot Walker
through the breast. He shot the Sec
ond shot, which think struck him in
the side, but not necessarily fatal. l
saw Mr.. Walker drawing a two-barrel
revolver when Mr.. Hill said, ..look
out" and a moment afterwards fired
the fatal shot. When he was removed |
saw the revolver laying under him. |
After being shot he lived few min
utes, probably ten to twenty minutes. |
Before Sir. Hill struck him he had his
hand in the pocket where he had his |
revolver. Did not see Mr.. HIS pis- !
toll before he fired. Never knew Mr.. |
Hill to take a drink of intoxicants. and |
know he was perfectly sober, while l
am satisfied Mr.. Walker was under the |
influence of liquor.
Also personally appeared James
O'DonnelI, who being sworn, on his |
oath says: I saw Dir. Walker in sa-
loon and talked with him. On my re-
turn was accosted by Mr.. Hill, who
asked me If Mr.. Fitzpatrick had said |
to me about their trouble. |
answered him. no. He then said that
Walker and Fitzpatrick had pat up a
job against him. About that time Mr..
Walker walked up and touched me on
~ II m
YOU" | followed him, when he said,
Il want to talk with YOU" He then
said, Il want to talk with you, but i
don't want to talk with the other man"
(Of course, meaning Mr.. Hill. as there |
was no one else presently Walker
then asked me if | had not heard all |
about their trouble. He said, ..he had |
threatened to kill me if l prosecuted |
him. when he said he would prosecute |
him if he lost his life; that he would |
not be bulldozed by him. told him |
would not pay any attention to any
thing of the kind, but advised him to |
attend to his case before Judge Schwa-
ner, IS the accu sed had some distance
to go-when he stopped me again and
said, eff Hill fools with me. or makes
a break, will kill him." At the time |
he put his hand in his right-hand |
pants pocket and drew up. go | could |
see the butt-end of a pistol. which | ad-
vised him to replace in his pocket. We
walked down to Justice Schwaner's
Office, supposing Mr.. Walker was fol-
lowing, but before entering l turned
and looked back and saw Walker talk
ing to Hill, both seeming to be mad.
/ saw my friend Henry Richter there.
| called him to me and saw Mr.. Walk
err keep his hand in his pocket where
he carried his revolver l told Rich
ter there would be trouble. l could
not hear the conversation between
them. except heard Mr.. Walker say,
..yes;" then Mr.. Hill struck him in the
face with his left hand. and at the same
time as he staggered back Mr.. Walker
drew his reviewer. Mr.. Walker had
both hands in his pockets. aud as they |
were Withdrawn Walker drew his pis-
toll in his right hand. Afterward Hill
drew his revolver and fired and fired
twice.
Also, personally appeared James
Coad. who being duly sworn, On his
oath says in relation to the above men
toned case as follows: Daniel O'Don
nell and myself were sitting in front
of Mr.. Dettmar's place, close to Justice
Schwaner's Office, and saw Mr.. Walker
come out to Mr.. Hill. They seemed