Barry County Missouri News - Walter Murray Killed
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 Walter Murray Killed

Submitted by: Leah L. McCalmon

Walter Murray - From the Seligman Missouri Sunbeam Our little  city  was
thrown into a great state of excitement  on  Christmas  Eve.  After  the
merry distribution of the many presents of the tree at the Union  church
and the dismissal of the crowd everything seemed bright and serene until
a crown of boys gathered on the street, some of whom  were  intoxicated,
and a difficulty soon arose. It  seems  that  Eugene  Murray  and  Frank
Snodgrass were the first to have words which resulted  in  blows.  About
this time, Abijah Fairchild, who was deputized to assist  the  constable
in keeping order arrived  on  the  scene  and  attempted  to  quell  the
disturbance but Walter Murray, an older brother  of  Eugene,  interfered
and wanted the boys to fight it out. A few words passed between  he  and
Fairchild when he threw off his coat, drew a knif and made at Fairchild,
cutting him in the left side. Fairchild drew a pistol  and  fired  three
shots at Murray, the last one taking effect in Murray's head just  above
the left eye and penetrated the brain. Although unconscious he  lingered
for nearly 48 hours before death. The remains were interred at New Salem
cemetery Friday. Abijah Fairchild's wound is not serious and he  is  now
convalescent. At the coroner's inquest it was decided to hold him and he
was placed under a $3000 bond  to  appear  for  preliminary  examination
before Squire Patterson on Tuesday, December 31. This is a sad affair as
both these young men belong to good families and were not of  age,  both
being about 19 years old.

Reprinted in the Benton County Democrat January 2, 1896

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