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Surnames: Shaw, Walker, Wilson, Darr
Classification: queries
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Message Board Post:
The Great Murder Trial
Blackford and Wells Counties, Indiana
1883-1884
Bluffton Weekly Chronicle
May 17, 1883
More Murder
Women and Wine, Game and Deceit, Make the Wealth Small and the Want Great
Another sickening tragedy occurred at Keystone last Sabbath evening about fifteen minutes
past three o'clock in which George Shaw was shot through the head by William Walker,
trustee of Chester township and postmaster at Keystone. The facts are related to us by a
prominent citizen of that place, an eye-witness to the scene. On the fatal day, George
Shaw, Henry Bark_____ and another gentleman whose name we did not learn, walked to the
drug store and sat down on the porch. Presently Harvey Wilson came along in an
intoxicated condition and began to abuse Mr. Bark____. He soon changed his abuse to
George Shaw, calling him all the vile names he could think of. Shaw then pitched into him
and knocked him down. Elizabeth Darr, a sister of Wilson, appeared on the scene and began
to help her brother by striking Shaw who got on and went off. The two pug_____ met
shortly after and Wilson again began to call Shaw vile names. Shaw pulled off his coat
and said "boys, I can't stand !
this." He then knocked Wilson and got on him and commenced to give him a sound
beating. Wilson's sister again appeared on the scene and accosted William Walker, one
of the bystanders, asking him if he was going to stand by and see her poor brother pounded
like that. Walker was standing on the left of the men who were fighting. He stepped
around to the right side, drew a revolver and shot Shaw through the head, the ball
entering at the base of the skull and embedding itself in the brain. The wounded man
expired about an hour after he was shot. Walker, who it is said was so much intoxicated
he did not know what he was doing, then backed out of the crowd and left for the woods.
He was approached by one of the men when Walker told him he had better not attempt to take
him if he valued his life. He remained in the woods for several hours and although the
woods were surrounded and had been traversed through by a number, no one seen him,
although he says they passed on all !
sides of him. He returned home and soon became sober enough to realiz
e what he had done when he voluntarily surrendered to the constable. A preliminary trial
was held Monday when Walker waved examination and was brought to Bluffton and placed in
jail. Isaac Wilson, Harvey Wilson and Elizabeth Darr were also arrested as necessaries
and were released on their procuring bail in the sum of $500 each for their appearance.
Walker's remorse on recount of his rash act seems to grow greater each hour. He is a
warm hearted, generous fellow if he would leave liquor alone, and his downfall only dates
back a period of about eight months when he began to drink heavily and associate with
women of doubtful character although he had a wife and six children at home. Chester
township is a Democratic township, yet he, a Republican, was elected by a ____ ____
majority about a year ago. Walker bought grain for Warin, Studabaker & Co., he was
postmaster, had a good business in his country store and had every prospect to become one
of the most useful and respe!
ctful citizens of Chester township had he left the accursed liquor alone. Now we dread
to think of the future in store for him and his faithful wife and innocent children and
the widowed wife of Shaw and his children. We trust we may never again be compelled to
chronicle so terrible and disgraceful a disaster in our county.
More to follow . . .