The Green Forest tribune., 1903-09-12
, RIT OF EARLY HISTORY.
c+orv of the First Murder Case
 Ever Tried i'll Carroll County.

conversation with James Williams of Wetumka, l. T., who has been guest of relatives lbere this week, gives us much of the particulars of the first mur- der case ever tried in Carroll county, which constitutes a bit | of early history that is to us ex- ceedingly interesting.
 In a settlement just over the fmourItain to the southwest of |Green Forest, some five or six miles, in the early 40's there re- sided James Shropshire and fam . iv and his son in law, Lewis Williams and family, grand Eather and father of this James Williams. In. about '45 some domestic troubles arose between Lewis Williams and his wife, which caused Mrs. Williams to ay in a complaint to her father Eoncerning the treatment she had deceived at the hands of her husband. The next morning, Rfter his daughter had told her tory the night before, Shrop- Ehire shouldered his flint-lock fife and went with his daughter b her house where Williams Fas found. Before reaching the louse, however, Mr. Shropshire let his gun in the fence corner md went in empty -handed. After 8 brief conversation of |eated words, a personal en- ounter ensued in which Shrop- ire would have brained Will (ams with a chair had the loft of he house not interfered with the ek. Williams lodged out and rabbed some rocks and Shrop- hire retreated for his gun and Burning unawares took shot
 Williams, the ball entering his
 cim's back, and coming out un-
 Fr the chin, Williams being in
 stopping posture, presumably
 pick up 8 rock.
 Shropshire made his escape
 pm the country, going to Texas, here he wandered ill exile for
 fnaps a year and half, when
 returned to the home of atives in Franklin county. arning of her husbands
 Pereabouts Mrs. Shropshire and daughter, the widowed Mrs. lllams, with her children went Franklin county and Shrop- re and his family were again lted for more than a year. ring this time the story of
 fopshlres crime had become
 lllIar to most every one and arrest was anticipated. In
 meantime Shropshire had | ae the acquaintance of Red Sely, a candidate for sheriff, during the campaign made
 opshlre's house frequent yis-
 and had promised that if he ' esYe elected, which he was, - would never push the case
 warrant should be placed
 lls hands.
 lter the election, however, :. Aone started the report that " Psnlre had said that Sagely never take him and the | er CT was agitated until the yu iA got a warrant and pro- ' eo to hunt up Shropshire.
 pshlre was not unaware of
 Hort that was on foot and
 prepared himself by making
 ola fllnt-lock his constant
 'anlon. One day Sagely and 1s sSe of six men overlook taba l9snlre at the home of 1a DOT and as the officers ap- 1l,' p, Ihed the door of the house
 'snlre run out the back way /, lively chase ensued. In ? .ush Shropshire lost the ut ,ig out of his gun, or. he IT. nave doubtless killed the With the same gun he shot 'GA LIS, as he was a crack shot - s ao ample opportunity had oH been in shooting con- st,iis z. The sheriff got in his ,s y nfst and shot Shropshire
 once in the shoulder and ties l'l the side of the head.
 up to his prisoner, Sagely