Harrison County Times Bethany Mo. Fri Sept 22 1911 Page 1

MRS. ED SHIRLEY MURDERED

Found Dead in Her home North of Melbourne. Husband Away From Home at Time.

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One of the most horrible and mysterious murder cases in the history of Harrison county, was discovered at the home of Ed Shirley, north of Melbourne, last Sunday afternoon. Mr. Shirley in company with Mrs. Dick Whitt and another lady, who had been visiting at his home, and his three boys left about eleven o'clock Sunday morning to the home of a relative north of his house where they spent the day, leaving Mrs. Shirley and their three year old daughter at home alone. Almost half past four o'clock Mr. Stanley and the three boys returned home, and when they arrived at the house they found all the doors and windows locked, and the little girl playing about the house. One of the boys was helped in at a broken window and then unlocked the door, letting Mr. Shirley and the other boys into the house. Upon inquiring about the mother, the little girl told him, "That a fat man come and fight Mamma, and Mamma fight him. Mamma sleeping now," pointing to the locked bedroom up stairs. Mr. Shirley at once ran up the stairs and found Mrs. Shirley apparently asleep on the floor, but upon further investigation found she was dead. He rean down stairs at once and called for help, and Thos. Maxwell and wife who were in a pasture a short distance south of the house, feeding some cattle came to his aid.

Word was also sent over the country by phone and Dr. Sailor of Melbourne summoned and a short time afterwards Dr. Magraw of this city was called. Upon arrival both doctors pronounced it a case of murder, and afater examing the body, found that her neck had been broken. No other marks showing signs of a struggle were found, except on her wrists, which had turned slightly black. Death apparently was the result of an encounter wiht a fied who had entered her house and attacked her while her husband and three sons were away. In the kitchen was found a pan of potatoes and a knife which had probably been thrown by her when attacked, adn it is thought that possibly she had ran upstairs in an effort to secure a gun which was in that room.

Blood was found on Mrs. Shirley's clothing, and about the room evidencing that the slayer had been wounded in the struggle possibly with the knife which she had been peeling potatoes before retreating upstairs.

The general opinion seems to prevail in that neighborhood that the party who did the deed, was one knew that Mr. Shirley was away, and don't think it probably that a tramp had done the deed, as their home is situated off the main road and no tramps were ever known to be in that vicinity. An effort was made to secure bloodhounds, but they were unable to get them in time to do any good.

At the inquest held on Monday the jury returned a verdict that Mrs. Shirley had come to her death at the hands of some unknown person or persons.

Mrs. Shirley was about 30 years of age, and formerly Miss Amanda Sovereign, and leaves a husband, three sons and one daughter, besides a host of relatives and friends to mourn her loss. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon.

A great many rumors are in circulation in regard to suspicious parties being in the country, but all have proved to be false alarms. Reports were recieved here today that two arrests have been made, but it is not known for certain it is hoped that the guilty party will be found in a short time.