STILWELL SHOOTS TWO

STILLWELL, MUSGRAVE, COULTER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/1/2015 at 21:52:20

STILWELL SHOOTS TWO
*****
And is in Turn Hunted Down by Mob of Infuriated Citizens - Is Game to the Last - Both Victims Dead.

A tragedy which resulted in the death of three men was enacted in Farmington last Friday afternoon, George Stilwell, Justice Musgrave and Marshal Coulter being the victims. The facts in the case as gleaned by a Bee reporter shortly after the tragedy were as follows.

Stillwell had been drinking and as was always the case was hunting for trouble directing the overflow of his malicious disposition on the first instance against one Jno. Moore, a clerk in a general store, his animosity having been previously aroused by Mr. Moore in a former occurrence when Moore witnessed against him. Moore swore out a warrant against Stillwell, charging him with disorderly conduct, Squire A.E. Musgrave drawing up the papers.

About this time Stillwell met Brownie Boatman and playfully asked him if he could change these, extending his hand which contained a lot of 38 caliber cartridges. He was told to go on and that he was drunk but he remarked that they would get action before the day was over. He had gone but a few moments when Coulter appeared hunting for him and was directed onto Second street where he came upon his man.

Marshal Coulter was a man to whom fear was unknown and it was the trait that later cost him his life. He informed Stilwell that he had a warrant for his arrest and proceeded to read same. At the conclusion Stilwell with out a word fired from his pocket without removing the weapon the shot taking effect about an inch to the left of the navel. Instantly Stilwell jerked the gun from his pocket and endeavored to again fire but Coulter struck the gun upward and the second shot went over his shoulder. Coulter then turned and started to walk up the street and Stilwell fired again the ball entering the back and lodging under the shoulder blade and continued firing until the gun was empty. Coulter by this time had recovered from the shock and drawing his gun shot his assailant as he states in the face but it is the supposition that the first ball found lodgment in the body. Stilwell fled and the Marshal after emptying his gun pitched forward and was taken to his home.

Stilwell reloaded his weapon and proceeding about a block and a half, met Mr. Musgrave who was near home carrying a basket of corn. Stilwell made some remark to him and then fired at the face the ball passing through both cheeks. The second shot penetrated the left lung and a third crushing the left hand.

The would be murderer then went to his home and procuring a rifle, a Winchester, 23 caliber, he left the town and proceeded in the direction of the coal banks.

By the time the crowd of some 50 men had gathered and quickly arming with every conceivable weapon started in pursuit of the fugative(sp) and as they passed through the cemetery were near enough to hear the diabolical yells to come on, flung back by the fiend incarnate. The firing then began and was kept up but with no effect for a mile, when the pursuers drew near enough and Stilwell stood at bay. Fully a hundred shots were exchanged before the assassin was seen to fall to his knees, but even then he continued to fire until the shell extractor refused to work and just then it seems the ball which ended his career found home and he fell over pitching the gun from him as he did so. The citizens then drew up on him and were present when the last breath left his body. He was loaded into a buggy and returned to the city where the body was placed in charge of Ware & Dodd, undertakers.

Our representative was permitted to view the remains as they lay in the undertaking parlors and presented a ghastly sight. His shirt, once white was red with blood and pressure disclosed the fact that under the shirt was a mass of blood. The face presented an awful sight. Over the right eye was a hole supposedly made by a large ball while a buckshot had entered the left temple. Another shot had entered the chin and rauged into the neck and this ball the jury found later, had caused his death, and was fired by some unknown hand.

The news of his death, when received in Farmington was greeted with the wildest kind of a demonstration, men, who in every day life are peacible citizens, shunning blood shed, rushed frantically about cheering wildly and evincing every sympaton of joy. But the angel of death was hovering over two homes in that city and the realization soon sobered them.

Keokuk physicians were telegraphed for and arrived later. Examination disclosed the fact that Marshal Coulter was not necessarily fatality injured, while the condition of Mr. Musgrave was critical and no hope was given out. He was then bleeding at the mouth and nose.

All through the night and the succeeding day bulletins from the bedside of the sufferers were eagerly awaited and another shock was sustained when the reports indicated a turn for the worse in the condition of Mr. Coulter. He continued to fail until death claimed him at 11 o'clock Sunday. Mr. Musgrave whose condition was hopeness from the first died at 9 o'clock the same morning.

The effect of the tragedy was deeply felt here as the interested parties were all well known by our people. The Stilwell episode here was yet green in our memory and general relief was felt that at last retribution had found him out. Stilwell was known here as a bad man as his deliberate firing into a crowd of women and innocent bystanders did not tend to enhance his reputation with the public.

Stilwells body was taken from Farmington early Monday and buried in the country, just where, we were unable to learn at that time.

The two victims of this man were buried yesterday and it seemed the whole surrounding country came out to pay tribute to the noble men who gave their lives in the futherence of law and order. Many from here went down.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Pages 198 & 199, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

George Stilwell Gravestone
 

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