Calamity: G.J. Stillwell, R.W. Coulter and A.E. Musgrave

STILLWELL, MUSGRAVE, COULTER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/1/2015 at 20:58:34

This week we are called upon to record the darkest page in the history of Farmington. A dire calamity has befallen us as a community and the whole city is in mourning. The intense excitement and the clamor for revenge that took possession of our people during the awful occurrences of last Friday afternoon, have given place to a surge of sorrow and regret at the terrible sacrifice the community has been compelled to make in order to secure peace and safety.

The exciting events of last Friday afternoon, which resulted in the death of the notorious Geo. J. Stillwell, and the mortal wounding of Marshal R.W. Coulter and Justice A.E. Musgrave, were the most tragic and sensational in the annals of this section and it will be years before the memory of the horrible occurrences will pass from the minds of our people.

Geo. J. Stillwell, who was the immediate cause of this appalling catastrophe, has resided in Farmington for a number of years and during that time has held a commission as deputy game and fish warden, worked at his trade as a carpenter and posed as a bad man generally. He was a soldier of the civil war with an exemplary record. Little is known of his antecedents, but rumor accredits him with many criminal acts before locating here. When sober he was mild-mannered and inoffensive and those who knew him best say he was a good neighbor, but when under the influence of liquor he was a veritable demon, insensible to fear and totally devoid of moral principle. At these times he was insolent, aggressive and quarrelsome. His revengeful and vindictive disposition was the means of bringing on the exciting events that culminated in his tragic death.

Stillwell was almost always under the ban of the law for more or less serious offenses and some time ago he was sentenced to fifteen days in jail for disturbing the peace, and Friday morning he went into the store of Strickler Bros. and began an abusive tirade upon John Moore, who had been a witness against him at the trial when he was sentenced to jail. Mr. Moore immediately filed information against Stilwell, charging him with disturbing the peace. A warrant was issued for his arrest and placed in the hands of Marshal Coulter, who about 3 o'clock in the afternoon started out in search of his man. Stillwell was soon located in the restaurant of Masinar & Strope on Second street, and calling him outside the marshal stated his mission by saying: "Stillwell I've got a warrant for you." To this Stillwell replied that he didn't give a d--- what he had. Not withstanding this rebuff and knowing well the desperate character of the man with whom he had to deal, the brave marshal never flinched, but calmly drew the warrant from his inside coat pocket and discharge his official duty by reading the instrument through. All this time Stillwell had been standing in front of the officer, with his hands in his overcoat pockets, attentively listening to the reading of the warrant, his calm features giving no indication of the deadly mischief that was brewing in his heart. When the marshal had finished reading and returned the warrant in his pocket, Stillwell suddenly drew from his right had pocket a murderous looking gun and placing its muzzle against his victim's abdomen pulled the trigger and fired. Coulter staggered back but did not fall, and turning his back to his assailant, made a frantic effort to draw his own revolver which he finally succeeded in doing but not until the contents of Stillwell's gun had been emptied - five shots in all. The second and only other shot to take effect entered the marshal's body from the back and lodged in the collar bone. Now it was Coulter's time and he promptly opened fire on Stillwell who sought to grapple with the marshal in the hope of overpowering and disarming him. He was thwarted in his design, however, by the wily marshal who precieved his intention and stepped to one side allowing Stillwell to fall prostrate face foremost to the ground. Coulter fired at him while he was down, but evidently without effect, for he quickly regained his fee and leaving Second street turned up Elm. Both combatants had emptied the contents of their weapons in the fussilade and the marshal who had been seriously hurt, now began to show signs of weakness and sank to the earth exhausted. As quickly as possible he was taken to his home and medical aid summoned. Meanwhile Stillwell continued on up Elm street, reloading his gun as he went, until he met A.E. Musgrave against whom he had a grudge for a recent jail sentence pronounced against him by that gentleman. Rushing with mad fury at the defenseless justice and uttering maledictions as he went, he fired one shot which felled his victim to the ground. Another shot fired while his victim was down pierced the right lung. The wounds bled freely and when assistance arrived a moment later it was evident that the hurts were serious. Mr. Musgrave was at once carried to his home where medical relief was administered.

This bloody work all took place in the open streets in the very heart of the city, but its suddenness and the boldness of its execution so dazed the onlookers that no attempt was made to arrest Stillwell until he had left the scene of carnage and gone to his home. When the gravity of the situation at length dawned upon the people there was hot indignation and a general clamor for justice at any cost. Now the wildest tumult prevailed. Women ran to and from crying and wringing their hands, while resolute men with determination stamped on every feature, armed themselves as quickly as possible and filed off in squads following the direction taken by Stillwell. The mayor who was equal to the emergency had previously issued a warrant for Stillwell's arrest and sworn in a large number of deputies with instructions to bring him in dead or alive. The hardware stores threw open their doors and passed out arms and ammunition without stint. It was now apparent that Stillwell's doom was sealed for the bent up fury of a long suffering public had at last found vent and would brook no delay. Runners sent back word that the fugitive had gone home, got his Winchester and was on his way to the hills east of town. Hither the impromptu army headed its course and the fiercest man hunt in the records of Southeastern Iowa was on. The object of their pursuit was soon discovered and chased from one cover to another until open ground was reached in Dr. Cross' pasture and here he made his last stand. All this time dissultory firing at random and long range was kept up and continued until Stillwell fell mortally wounded either by his own hand or a shot from his pursuers. It is estimated that more than three hundred shots passed between the pursuers and pursed during the chase. While surrounded and at bay Stillwell fell upon his knees as though badly hurt and when his pursuers came closer he arose to his feet and began pumping his Winchester. At another time he waved his handkerchief in toke of truce and sank on his hands and knees, when his pursuers approached within range he again opened fire on them. At last his Winchester became clogged and refused to work and he threw aside his useless weapon and fell prostrate to the ground. This time those who ventured near saw that he was really hurt and by the time the foremost of the posse reached his side the rigor of death had locked him in the paralysis of an eternal slumber and he was beyond the power of doing further harm.

An examination of the body showed that death was caused by a shot fired from a 38-calibre weapon, that entered the upper part of his breast directly in the center and ranging downward came out at the back near the hips. Aside from this a few bird shot wounds on the face and breast were all the marks found on the body.

A majority of the pursuers were mere boys and it must be said to their credit that they behaved well under trying circumstances. They were brave and aggressive, but used great discretion and were among the first in at the death.

The body of Stillwell was at once taken to the undertaking establishment of Ware & Dodds where an inquest was held under the direction of the coroner, and a verdict rendered as follows:

State of Iowa,
Van Buren County.

An inquest holden at Farmington in Van Buren county, Iowa, on the 19th day of Dec. A.D. 1902, before B.F. Ketcham of the said county, upon the body of Geo. J. Stillwell, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereto subscribed.

The said jurors upon their oaths do say that he came to his death by a shot fired from a 38-calibre revolver by himself or person unknown to the jury, while resisting arrest under a warrant regularly issued by B.F. Ketcham, mayor of Farmington, Ia. In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands this 19th day of Dec. A.D., 1902.

J.M. Lapsley.
A.W. Beeson.
F.D. Carr.

Attest: B.F. Ketcham.

Stillwell was buried Monday forenoon at 10 o'clock in the Alfrey cemetery southeast of town.

Although our people depreciate violence of any sort, there is a feeling of relief that this desperate character is out of the way, even though his removal must be accomplished by his tragic death.

Brave Marshal Coulter who so manfully discharged his official duty was one of Farmington's noblest citizens and had the confidence and esteem of the entire community. Mr. Coulter's first act on regaining consciousness was to pray God to have mercy on the soul of his assailant. This shows the high moral character and noble nature of the devout Christian gentleman. He died from his wounds shortly after noon Sunday.

A.E. Musgrave, the second victim of Stillwell's murderous hand, died about 9 o'clock Sunday morning. He was a model citizen, a true friend and one of the noblest of men. His loss will be severely felt by the entire community.

Judge Sloan has been severely criticised(sp) by our people because he refused to take cognizance of the two cases brought before him against Stillwell for malicious threats. he was warned of the desperate character of the man and the danger to the community in turning him loose, but he paid no heed.

In his capacity as deputy game and fish warden Stillwell committed many overt acts, in which he was sustained by the state authorities, and this brief power vested in him made him over-officious and insolent, and turned the tide of public sentiment against him. He was morose and taciturn, though generally peaceable when sober, but when under the influence of liquor he was a demon. Many believe him to have been insane.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Pages 197 & 198, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA