The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-25
Was Wanted for Murder Of
Two Farmers.
Four Shots Fired When He
Appeared on Street.
ON WAY TO SHOOT BANKER
No Witnesses to Killing of Grif-
fifth and Ireland.
Worry Over Financial Matters
Given as Cause for Act.

Holton, Kan, Oct. 25.-James o.
Marshall. As, a farmer. was shot and
instantly killed about 9 o'clock this
morning on the main street of Hoyt
by posse of armed citizens who had
been organized by Sheriff Charles o.
Frazey.
Marshall, who lived on farm
about eleven miles west of Mayetfa-
was accused of being the man who.
about O'Clock Tuesday afternoon.
shot and killed Bert Griffith, so. and
Floyd Ireland, %. farmers, on the
road about six miles west of Hoyt. 1t
Is believed his mind was affected by
worry over his heavy financial losses
The Hoyt State bank had foreclosed
n mortgage on Marshalls stock and
had hired Griffith and Ireland to drive
the cattle to Hoyt.
Was on Way to Bank.
Marshall was killed this morning
when he appeared in Hoyt, rifle in
hand. walking down the street toward
the Hoyt State bank. 1t is believed
he was going to the bank with the in
tention of killing Orien Williams.
cashier of the bank, and possibly Ar
thur Colbron, stoekholder. both or
whom Marshall had threatened. it was
said.
Special deputies whom Sheriff
Frazey had appointed in the emer-
gency closed in about Marshall as he
| walked toward the bank. He was or
dered to put up his hands but refused
to do so, asserting that he would die
first" AS he raised his rifle four
shots were fired ana he fell with four
bullet wounds in his chest, dying al
most instantly.
So far as is known, no one witnessed
| the killing of Griffith and Ireland.
jess Laswer, of Holton, was ac-
! costed by Marshall near the scene of
the crime, following the shooting,
while driving to Hoyt with his daugh-
ter. Marshall asked for a ride but
was refused. He uttered an oath ana
| insisted on accompanying Lasweil-
lLaswelPs daughter tainted and Mar
shall went on his way.
Returned To Hoyt in Evening.
| Some time after the shooting Mar
shall appeared, in Hoyt, put up his
team, entered a restaurant and or
dered supper. He ate with his rifle
lying across his knees. He had prac-
tically finished his meal when news
of the double murder began to spread
gathered. However, Marshall walked
out the front door of the restaurant
and in plain sight of probably 100
| men, left the town unmolested.
Sheriff Frazey was in the north
eastern corner of the county when
he was called. He arrived in Hoyt
about thirty minutes later after a ter
rifle drive and Immediately organized
a posse of citizens, who searched for
the man without avail until after IL
O'Clock. Marshall was not seen again
until this morning when he was OBJ
served walking down the street toward
the bank. After he was killed he
was found to be carrying on his per-
son, beside the IA caliber Winchester
rifle, a dirk knife, a hatchet and a
revolver.
Griffith is survived by his widow
and a son, Lonnie. He lived four
| miles west of Hoyt. ireland was mar
ried and lived on farm about twelve
! miles west of Holton.
Worried Over Financial Troubles
Marshall was married and had lived
in jackson county about three years.
here from Colorado. His disposition
lately was said to have been surly and
disc greeable. Worry over his finan-
cial troubles are thought to have un-
balanced his mind.
The Hoyt State bank held mort
gage on the cattle which they fore
closed. After the sherifrs sale had
been advertised for thirty days, ac-
cording to law. the stock was sold
Tuesday The bank bid it in and
hired Griffith and Ireland to drive
the animals to Hoyt. Marshall Is said
TO have been in Holton when the cat
tie were taken from his farm. and to
have started out in pursuit as soon an
Four Shots Were Fired.
Sheriff Frazey said IT was not
known Just who fired the shots which
killed Marshall, as four shots were
fired and there was a large crowd OF
armed men around at the time. Mar
shall is said to have threatened the
sheriff with death when he went 10
his home to collect some taxes a few
months ago.
The lives of Orion Williams, cashier
OF the bank. and Arthur G. Co1bron, a
stockholder, were probably saved as
a result of attending the reunion OF
the Scottish Rite bodies of the valley
Of Topeka Tuesday afternoon. After
the crime was committed Marshall
IS said to have gone to great effort to
locate the bankers. A party of ten
Hoyt men, members of the rite. con-
ferred the seventh degree az the re-
union Tuesday afternoon.
The women folk of the Community
were alarmed for the safety of the
men at Topeka and telephoned to
them at the Masonic temple Tuesday
night and tod them not to return
home. Williams is said to have re-
turned home, however, and was in the
bank this morning when Marshall was
seen going in that direction and was
killed.