A History of The Gilman City Area

(I found this book at the Mercer County Library)

"September 22, 1911: In another headline that could have come from the 1990's, Mrs. Ed Shirley, living north of Melbourne in the Cat Creek neighborhood, was found murdered. Her three year old daughter was with her when the body was discovered. The little girl said "The fat man come and fight mama. Mama sleeping now." Mrs. Shirley's neck had been broken, but aside from bruised wrists, there was no other sign of a struggle. Her husband and three young sons were away from the home at the time of the attack. A later report in the paper indicated arrests had been made, but no further mention could be found. Other sources have indicated that everyone knew who the "fat man" was, but that a child's testimony was inadmissible evidence in 1911. As a result, the killer went free.