MURDER IN FOX CREEK

Bethany Clipper Friday September 22 1911

Mrs. Ed. Shirley Found Dead at Her Home With Neck Broken.

Last Sunday night Coroner Bonser was telephoned to come to the home of Ed. Shirley in Fox Creek township, that Mrs. Shirley had been found in an upper room of her home with her neck broken and with other evidences of violence on her body.

Coroner Bonser started for the Shirley home Sunday night, but a rain interfered with the trip and he came back to Bethany. Monday morning, in company with County Clerk Towns, Mr. Bonser went to the sceneof the tragedy and held an inquest.

Jasper E. Shirley, husband of the dead woman, Dr. E. Saylor, and Dr. J.A. Macgraw testified to the following facts:

Mr. Shirley says he is the husband of the woman over whose dead body this inquest is being held. I left home between 10 and 11 o'clock a.m., Sunday, Sept. 17, 1911 and did not return until between 4 and 5 o'clock, p.m. I drove up near the house and let the two boys out and then tied the team. The boys ran to the house and tried to open the two doors, but found them locked. They went to a window where a screen had born torn off, and I told one of the boys to climb in the window and unlock the door. When I got to the house the boys had gone up stairs and I started after them. When I got part of the way up the stairs the boys said mamma is asleep. My first thought was she had fainted. I took her by the hand and saw she was cold in death. I phoned for my father and went to the door and called to Tom Maxwell and family, who were on the hill south of the house, to come as quick as possible. We then telephoned for Dr. Saylor. When I first observed my wife's body she was lying on her back hands outward and backward, her dress about half above her knees. Our little girl, about three years old, was at home with her. The boys said when going up stairs, Blanche told us "Mamma is asleep."

DR. J.A. Macgraw says: In company with Dr. Saylor we passed up stairs to where the body of Mrs. Shirley was lying on the floor. We found her lying on her back, the shoulders turned some to the right, the head to the left, the face lying flat on the floor, her arms at right angles, the elbows flexed, extending above the head; the hands lying on the back and slightly flexed. The limbs were seperated with the right foot slightly bent inward. The floor was sprinkled with blood. We found no broken bones or open wounds , but her neck was broken. On the left limb below the knee were spots of blood. There was no part of the body the blood came from. The dress and skirt were above the knees and the underpart beneath the hips, with one large spot of blood on them near the bottom. Decomposition had set in when I first saw her, on the underside of the body, and around the wrists, but on no other part of the body. In my judgement the marks around the wrists had been caused by pressure. Her drawers were unfastened and lowered from and below waist. In my judgement the cause of death was a broken neck. There was no evidence of strangulation or self destruction.

Dr. Saylor's evidence was practically the same as Dr. Macgraw's testimony.

Verdict of Jury.

We, the undersigned jurors, impanneled and sworn, on the 18th day of September, 1911, at the township of Fox Creek, county of Harrison, state of Missouri, by A.C. Bonser, Coroner in and for said county, to dilligently inquire and true presentment make, how and by whom Amanda Lucille Shirley came to her death. Having viewed the body and heard the evidence, do find that the deceased came to her death , at Fox Creek township, Harrison county, Missouri, by a broken neck; received at the hands of some party or parties unknown to the jurors.

Given under our hands, this 18th day of September, 1911.

E.W. Davidson

Wm. Thomas

Jacob Little

B.S. Taylor

R.A. Bond

F.S. Springer

"Bump" Davidson, of Fox Creek township, has been charged with the awful crime. He was placed under arrest by H.H Eades, , deputy sheriff, Wednesday morning. Later Sheriff Manifold had him taken before F.S. Springer, justice of the peace and we have not heard what action has been taken.