The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-08
HELD FOR MURDER.
Joe Gavin Shoots and Kills Ed and Sam
Gam at Knob Lick Picnic.
WOMAN WOUNDED IN THE ANKLE.

nc picnic gwen Oy the Dand BOY
at Knob Lick on the Fourth ended will
a tragedy, At 4 platform dance tina
night Joe Gavin shot and killed Ed ant
sam Gam, wounded Miss Della Wells
IN ankle and snapped his pistol severa
times at George Gam, another brother.
Gavin, before the town Of Knob Lick
was disincorporated, was marshal OF
the town. He formerly lived at Char
lesion and was at one time jaior there
Prosecuting Attorney Marbury, Sher-
if Murphy, Coroner Evans and W, H..
Young, justice of the peace, went to
Knob Lick Tuesday to hold an inquest,
and following is the substance of the
testimony brought out
Joe Gavin had been sworn in that
day by Notary Public Horace Rudy to
act as marshal and keep the peace;
which, however. the Prosecuting At
torncy says he had no authority to do.
About half past eight, while Ed Gam
aud others were dancing, one VIM.
smith stepped onto the platform and
began TO use vile aud profane language
toward the young women, addressing
his remarks to Ed Gam. Ed tried to
paciiy him and advised him to get off
the platform, 20 away and sober up.
This stopped the dancing for while,
when Bent Williams came up to Miss
Della Wells, with whom Gam was
dancing, and asked her to dance the
next set with him. Gam stopped
alking to Smith and went back to the
platform aud asked Williams what he
was talking about him for. Williams
denied having said anything about him,
words passed between them, the lie
was given, and Gam struck Williams
back of the right ear with his fist
shocking him off the platform
Here the testimony became conflict
ing. One witness only, John Smith,
the platform manager, testified that at
this time Joe Gavin stepped on the
platform and started toward the com
balanls. ON reaching Gam he com
mnndcd the peace and Gam struck
him with his fist Gavin backed off
aud told Gam not to come any closer
Just then John Smith stepped between
Gavin and tiann and was in the act of
laying his hands on Cams shoulder,
saying 10 him, "let's have no trouble
here At this sam Gam, who was
standing near Gavin, walked away,
when Gavin stepped aside, pulled his
pistol and shot Ed Gam in the upper
right chest, then whirlcd and shot Sam
Cam twice, first in the right neck and
then between the 9TH and Slh ribs or
side, about two inches below the nip.
pie tie wheeled and fired again at
I'D Gam, bnt missed him and shot
Miss Della Wells in the ankle; turned
again and fired at Sam He then
walked over to George Tam, another
brother, and snapped the pistol in his
face i've times. He is said to have re-
marked, ''lf my loads hadn't given
out | would have killed the whole ---
Gam family"
sam Cam was killed almost instant |
Iy toy the first shot fired Mt him. Ed
walked away few steps, sat down and
fell over dead. The jury returned the
following verdict
We the jury find that the deceased |.
came 10 their death by gunshot wounds
inflicted by pistol, and snid pistol was
in the hand of one Joseph Gavin, and |
said act of killing was unwarranted
and without Just cause or provocation.
Signed llENEY kAlNSEMAN.
PLEASANT WILLIAMS.
ROBERT llIBBITTs.
j. FRANK ALLEN.
RrFuS A. MURPHY.
GEORGE BREMNER
Gavin surrendered himscl to Sheriff |
Murphy, and he aud Bill Smith were
brought 10 Pennington and placed in
Jail, Prosecuting Attorney Marbury |
has filed two iniormations against Ca
vim, charging him with murder in the /
first dcgrc for the killing of Ed and |
sam Gam, and for assault with intent |
to kill Della Wells.
Gavin, who has lived in Liberty |
township for two or three years, bore
Il good reputation