Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Priestman, William September 15, 1910
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com August 11, 2019, 5:34 pm

Ionia Standard - Friday, Sept. 23, 1910

                                 MURDER MOST FOUL
                         WM. WALKER SHOOTS WM. PRIESTMAN
                At Lake Odessa, Last Friday, Killing Him Instantly - 
                    Trouble Originated in Domestic Infidelity. 

News was received at the Sheriff's office here, early last Friday, of the 
shooting of Wm. Priestman, by his son-in-law, Wm. (sometimes known as Ralph) 
Walker. Report said that the murderer had escaped, and the sheriff procured an 
auto to get on the scene as soon as possible. Sheriff Cilley and Deputy Ed. 
Lowrey left here a little before 8 o'clock, in an auto driven by C. K. Wood. 
They went by way of Sunfield and Woodbury, to put men on watch there, to 
prevent Walker taking train at either place, so that it was about midnight when 
they reached Lake Odessa, where the Sheriff remained to continue the pursuit of 
murderer, and Lowrey and Wood returned here. Bowers, deputy sheriff at Lake 
Odessa, and Gillen, village marshal, are assisting in the search. Prosecuting 
Attorney Sheldon was driven over early this morning by his partner, A. R. Locke 
in auto and is there today taking testimony in the case. Mr. Locke returned 
here about ten a.m., but without much additional knowledge of particulars. 

From the circumstances so far as now known, it was a cold-blooded murder, 
without excuse or palliation. Walker's wife is a daughter of Mrs. Priestman and 
came to the Priestman home to stay. About a week ago, Walker came to the house 
to see her, but was met by Priestman and ordered away and on his refusal to go, 
it is said, Priestman struck him. 

This quarrel, and the alienation of his wife, unquestionably rankled in 
Walker's breast, and it is evident he went to the Priestman house last night 
prepared to do murder. He was met at the door by Priestman, who again refused 
him permission to enter, and stepping out on the porch again ordered him to 
leave. After some words Walker, placing his hand on Priestman's shoulder, 
suddenly drew a revolver and fired twice, both balls entering the right breast, 
high up toward the neck. Death was instantaneous. 

Walker did not run away, but still tried to effect an entrance, presumably with 
the purpose of finishing his bloody work by killing his wife. But he did not 
succeed in effecting an entrance and after a few minutes he went down town and 
was in one of the  stores. Why he was not arrested during this time does not 
appear, but it is presumed that the average citizen did not like the job of 
tackling him, and that the officers, for some reason, were slow in coming to 
the front.

After a time, supposedly ten or fifteen minutes after the murder, he took to 
the railroad, going east on the track, presumably with the purpose of catching 
a train at neighboring station. He is said to have told a farmer he met that he 
was going to Nashville, and take a train for Canada, but he is presumed to be 
hiding somewhere near by in the woods. Officers in neighboring towns have been 
notified and local officers are hardly possible he can get far away.

Priestman was a well-known retired farmer in comfortable circumstances, 
formerly of Sebewa, now of Lake Odessa. He was about 60 years old, and a man of 
excellent reputation. He had no family except his wife. 

Walker is about 35 years old, and by occupation is put down as a printer, but 
does not seem to have worked at it much. He was not regarded as a bad man, but 
belonged to the great class of "the unfit", not overstocked with vital energy 
of mind or body. There were no children.

In an interview, Mrs. Walker said she could not live with her husband because 
he had an ungovernable temper. She says that he would become angry at trivial 
things and was sometimes abusive and cruel in his treatment of her. She lived 
with him until she began to fear for her safety, and then sought shelter with 
her mother.

When Walker came to see her a week ago she was afraid to talk with him and told 
her step-father that it would do no good, as she never could make up with her 
husband. The young man became abusive when ordered to leave the premises and 
started the quarrel which paved the way to the murder of Priestman.


Priestman Funeral Largely Attended:  Lake Odessa, Mich., Sept. 18. 
Funeral services of William Priestman, who was murdered  by Ralph Walker 
Thursday night, were held at the little home this afternoon. A vast crown of 
curiosity seekers from miles around came to the services and overflowed the 
yard.

The service was a short one and the preacher made no reference to the trouble 
between Walker and the dead man, preaching the thought of necessity for 
constant preparation to leave the world.  The floral tributes were
many and beautiful. Burial was made in the village cemetery.

Additional Comments:
Age: 66
Funeral: September 1910
Lakeside cemetery #6-773

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