Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-10
WILLIAM CROSBY
IS KILLED DURING
ORGY IN HAMPTON
Well known Horse Trader Shot to
Death and Two Companions Are
Held on Murder Charge.
TRAGEDY ON THE GILMAN FARM
John Gilman and Henry Klutz, Under
Arrest, Claim the Dead Man
Committed Suicide.

william Crosby Of Rock Island,
horse trader and we'll known police
character. was shot and killed some
time last evening. before O'Clock, on
the farm OF John Gilman, just south or
Hampton village. Gilman and Henry
klutz. who were found in the farm
house and who are being held by the
East Moline police in connection with
the crime. maintain that Crosby com
mitted suicide The police, however,
believe that Crosby was shot in a
drunken brawl An inquest was con-
Quoted over the body this morning in
East Moline
Crosby's body was found by John
Marks and John Glantz, neighbors OF
Oltman's. They stated it was in
kneeling posture partly supported by
a couch. and the revolver from which
the fatal shot had been fired, was on
the floor some six feet away. Physi-
clans who conducted post-mortem
stated that the course the bullet took
through the body rendered the theory
of suicide highly improbable. The lead
en- missile pierced the body from the
front above the heart, taking down
ward course and lodging just beneath
the skin in the back
The first intimation of the shooting
came at o'clock last night to Cor
oner R. C. j. Meyer, at his home in
Moline. when he received a. telephone
call from some unknown person, ad-
vising him of the shooting. Together
with an undertaken from East Moline,
he went to the farm and the body was
taken TO East Moline.
Later the coroner, in company with
Chief Jacob V. CLAIR and officers
Odell and Rhoads of the East Moline
police force and Deputy Sheriffs Muir
ray and Robinson, returned TO the
home.
Gilman in Drunken StupOr.
They found Gilman, who owns the
farm, lying in drunken stupor on the
floor in the front room and klutz was
found undressed and asleep in a bed
upstairs. The officers had hard time
awakening Gilman. Klutz disclaimed
any connection with the shooting, He
told the authorities that he was in the
yard at the time it happened. Gilman
was unable to tell a clear story of the
affair last night. He stated that he
and Crosby had some controversy
over an amount named in the sale of a
team Of horses, which Gilman claimed
!. he had received $500 for Crosby re,
N fused to believe him, according to Oft
n man, so the latter went to a drawer il
a stand in the bedroom to show hin
the receipts Crosby saw gun lyinl
in the drawer and asked Gilman to le
him have it. Gilman explained tina
he warned Crosby not to touch the
weapon as it was dangerous. Crosby
laughed. Then Gilman stated that he
drew the gun and fired two shots
through the floor 10 show him the
weapon was dangerous. After thai
Gilman stated he did not know what
occurred.
This morning, however, when botf
men had recovered from the effects OF
the liquor, they took the ground thai
Crosby shot himself committing sui
eide.
Crosby was we'll known in Rock Is
land, having spent part Of his time il
this city. KlutZ is also known here
having been arrested some time age
six months in the county jail. The Oft
man farm had a reputation of being q
on a pandering charge and serving
hangout for these horsetraders anC
many times orgies had been reported
there.
Came Here From Ottawa.
William Crosby was about So years
old. Up until a few weeks ago he
lived on Sixteenth street, between
Fourth and Fifth avenues, Rock Is
land. He is divorced, his wife hav-
ing secured separation from hin
some years ago and she is now living
in Ottawa. He came from that city
to Rock Island IS years ago
He has spent his winters largely as
an under-boss with ice-cutting crews
During the greater part of his resi-
dence in Rock Island he worked al
livery stables. AS far as could be
learned he has no near relatives.
He was seen yesterday in Rock Is
land. At the time he was in a light
rig with another man. They were
driving east.