Eri McCollister (ca. 1839-1890)

MCCOLLISTER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/15/2011 at 21:55:30

From Story County Watchman April 18, 1890

SHOT.--Monday forenoon a warrant was issued by Mayor Seal of Cambridge for Eri McCollister for whipping a child of his brother George. The warrant was placed in the hands of constable James McKee to serve. He took it and went out on the street and there met Mr. McCollister who had just driven in with a load of oats. The paper was served and the prisoner went into the meat market with the constable and remained while he waited upon a customer and then the two went to the Mayors office. While there George McCollister came in and Eri at once drew a revolver and threatened to shoot him unless he got, and he got in a hurry. He then told those assembled they could also get and everyone save Mayor Seal left in a hurry. Mr. Seal tried to reason with him it was no go. At this junction McCollister went into the street unhitched his team and started for home some miles north. By this time the constable had secured a possee and the started after him. They soon overtook and wanted him to return to Cambridge peaceably but he refused and started up his team at a still more rapid pace. Upon arriving at his home he at once proceeded to put himself in a posture of defence and warned the officers off and declared he would shoot the first one who stepped upon his premises. Constable McKee and a couple of others went inside whereupon he promptly drew his revolver up to a level and for deliberate aim whereupon one of the possee hollered out he is going to shoot saying, why don't you shoot. The constable had a shotgun in his hand and taking a hurried aim he fired the charge taking effect in the chest and stomach of McCollister who fell to the ground surviving only a few moments. Constable McKee at once came to Nevada and gave himself up. The coroner was notified and proceeded to the scene and impannelled a jury consisting of Thos. Hemstock, J. S. Kies and Eugene Coggshall, who returned a verdict in effect that Eri McCollister came to his death by the hands of James McKee, but that the homicide was justifiable. And thus ends the chapter.