John Fightner Kills Thomas Enwhistle, Gentry County, Missouri >From "History of Gentry and Worth Counties", Crimes & Incidents, St. Joseph, Mo.: National Historical Company, 1882. ********************************************************************** At the time of this tragedy, December 1, 187-, there lived in Bogle Township, Gentry County, two men by the name of John M. Fightner and Thomas Enwhistle, brothers-in-law. Enwhistle came from Galena, Ill- inois, about a year previous to the occurrence, and rented land from Fightner, about which difficulties had arisen prior to the day in question. On that day Enwhistle was in the timber chopping, and re- turned home about the middle of the afternoon, and found Fightner moving the fence from around his (Enwhistle's) fodder, to protect his apple trees. He did not speak to Fightner, but entered the house and waited until his wife had prepared dinner, and remained in the house about two hours, when he said to his wife that he would go out and ask Mr. Fightner if he would allow him to cut some poles in his timber to protect his fodder, and if he would not allow him to do so, then he would sell his fodder. He was absent some ten minutes, when he re- turned to the house, moaning piteously, his face all covered with blood, and sat down in the chair, and said, "he has killed me," re- peating it twice, and at the same time turning his head from side to side to show his wounds. His wife dipped a cloth in cold water and applied it to his head, and then ran to Mr. Stubbins, remaining not longer than fifteen minutes, and returning with Mr. Quarry and Mrs. Stubbins. As Mrs. Stubbins entered, he said to her, "I had no thought of him striking me, or I would not have gone within reach of him. I only said two or three words about the poles, when he struck me two or three times." Mrs. Stubbins asked him where Fightner was, when he said, "I saw him ride off." He afterwards told his wife "not to fret, that she could go to her friends." After this he became insensible, breathed with great difficulty and moaned aloud. A messenger was dis- patched for Dr. Hinkley, of Alanthus, who arrived in due time and found him sinking rapidly. He requested that Dr. Campbell, of Albany, be sent for, but the patient died before his arrival. After the deed was committed, Fightner hastened home, dressed himself, and escaped to Mr. Garret's about six miles distant, where he was found by a party at four o'clock in the morning, and escaped from the house, leaving his horse in the stable. Fightner was captured in the lead mines at Carthage, Missouri, was brought back as far as Daviess County, where he made his escape, and has not since been heard of. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================