Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-21
SHIPMAN SHOOTS MARSHAL SWEARINGEN
Murderer Then Barricades Himself in His House
and Mob Surrounds It.
Fierce Battle Ensues and Hundreds of Shots Are Exchanged
Both Sides-Shipman Finally Killed by Bullet From
aRifle-The Greatest Excitement Prevails.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Jefferson, June PA terrible ira.
gedy occurred here this morning, witt
the prospects at this hour good for 6
lynchiiig, or at least the violent deati
of a man named Shipman, who is now
barricaded in his house defying arrest
Shipman is a desperate character
and the terror of Jefferson for thirty
years. He shot and killed City Marshal
John Swearingen this morning at 10:30
Marshal Swearingen was attempting tc
arrest Shipman when the shooting oc-
CURED. Shipman then barricaded him
self in his house and is holding at bay
murderer. The house will probably be
burned to dislodge him. He has es-
capped justice too often and the people
are in a desperate mood.
Special to Times Republican.
Jefferson, June 21.-S. M. Shipman,
who killed Marshal Swearingen thia
morning, was himself killed by the
sheriff's posse and citizens today
shortly before noon after desperate
resistance and battle in which hun
dreds of shots We're fired. The detaila
of the murder and the battle which en-
sued upon an attempt to secure the
murderer are practically as follows:
Shipman, who is described as a
threw a heavy stone at small boy for
some minor offense. Papers We're
sworn out for his arrest and put into
the hands of the marshal who served
Shipman with the notice to appear be-
fore the court this morning. This
morning Shipman failed to appear as
ordered and deputy was sent to Sc
cure him. He refused to return with
the officer and warned him that if any
he would kill him. Marshal Swear
ingen then went to Shipman's resi-
dence. AS he entered the door Ship
man fired at him with a heavily loaded
shotgun. The charge struck the mar
shall at the point of the chin and fairly
tore his head from his body. Swear
engen fell dead and Shipman barri-
caded the door and defied the officers
to take him.
Shipman's house is a little more than
a block from the Chicago & North
western depot and perhaps four blocks
from the square When the news
reached the citizens, excitement
reached a climax. Hardware stores
were gutted of their supplies of rifles
shotglins and revolvers and hundreda
surrounded the Shipman residence
Shipman at once opened fire upon the
gathering crowd which promptly re-
turned the shots with volley. Guests
at the hotels counted forty-seven shots
in quick succession. The windows and
walls Of the house were riddled and
1t is supposed Shipman was wounded
as he retreated to the basement from
which he kept up sharp fusillade
Kerosene oil was brought in quantitien
and attempts made to fire the build
ing, but the strong wind prevented thu
success of this movement Shipman
Still held the fort protected by the
cellar walls from the bullets of the
attacking party
Hose from the fire department was
finally secured and attached to near
1,xr ~, -,
zle and boldly advanced within thirty
feet of the building Despite the shots
fired by the desperate man within he
held the hose upon him thr the win
dow of the basement and drove him to |
the upper stories. His appearance be-
fore window was the signal for |
voliey from the mob in front and Ship |
man fell dead. He was struck by three
different balls and was dead when the |
mob reached him.
Shipman, the murderer, was a man |
between so and 60 years of age. His |
ported on the streets today that he had |
record is said to be bad 1t was re-
ported on the streets today that he had |
shot at individuals who had I
incurred his enmty. and in one case
wounded his man. He peddled ice and
did cd djobs about town and his gem
eral reputation was undesirable. He
leaves no family, with the exception of
his wife.
Swearingen, the murdered man, has
held the office of city marshal here for
i number of years. His reputation
personally and as an officer was good
He was somewhat beyond 40 years of
sge and leaves a family consisting of
wife and three daughters, one of whom
$ teacher in the public schools at
this place.