The Pattonsburg Call Fri. Sep 22 1911 page 6

In our report of the murder near Melbourne, our informant got the name wrong. It was Mrs. Ed. Shirley instead of Ed. Stewart. A man named "Bump" Davidson has been placed under arrest, charged with the crime.

The St. Joseph Observer St. Joseph, Missouri · Saturday, December 02, 1911

Rewards amounting to $1600 have been by the state, Harrison County, and individuals for the arrest of the murderers of Mrs. Ed Shirley, near Gilman City, Harrison County, September 17th. There have been a numbe of arrests but each suspect has been able to clear himself from suspicion.

Old Reliable is Reliable

Bethany Republican-Clipper Thu, Oct 05, 1911 ·Page 1

The Post Master at Brimson, Mo., in ordering extra copies of The Republican containing the report of the murder of Mrs. Ed Shirley, says : "Please send me a few copies of the Republican containing account of the murder of Mrs. Ed Shirley as it is the only paper we have seen with a correct statement of the awful crime, and we want to send it to our daughter, who lives in California, as she was well acquainted with the murdered woman." "P.S. enclosed pay cash to pay for same."

$1,600.00 REWARD

Bethany Clipper Bethany Mo Fri Nov 24 1911 page 1

For the arrest and conviction of the murderer or murderers of Mrs. Ed. Shirley, September 17, 1911, at Fox Creek township, Harrison County, Missouri.

Proclamation

State of Missouri, Executive Department, ss.

Whereas, on the 17th day of September, 1911, in the county of Harrison, state of Missouri, Mrs. Ed. Shirley was murdered by some unknown party, who afterward fled from justice and is now a fugitive and cannot be arrested by ordinary process of law;

Now, therefore, by virtue of authority vested in me by law, I hereby offer a reward of two hundred ($200.00) dolalrs for the arrest and delivery of said unknown party, to the sheriff of said county of Harrison, at the jail thereof, and for his conviction of the crime aforesaid. This reward to stand good for one year from the date hereof.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of the state of Missouri. Done at the City of Jefferson, this third day of Octover, A.D., Nineteen Hundred and Eleven. By the Governor:

HERBERT S. HADLEY.

CORNELIUS ROACH, Secretary of State.

In addition to the above reward of $200.00 by the Governor, the county court of Harrison county offers a reward of $400.00 and the citizens of Harrison county offer a reward of $1,000.00, making a total reward of $1,600.00.

JAMES B. MANIFOLD,

Sheriff of Harrison County, Mo,

Bethany, Mo.

FALL ON ICE FATAL TO 10 YEAR OLD BOY LAST WEEK

The Post-Telegraph Princeton Mo Wed Jan 27 1937 page 6

Emory Shirley, 10 year of son of Mr. and Mrs. Ermond Shirley, whose home is in the Cat Creek neighborhood, 10 miles northeast of Gilman City, died Sunday at a hospital as a result of a fall on the ice. The lad was injured by slipping and falling heavily on the ice early last week. At the time there was no thought that the accident might prove serious. He received a second fall Sunday when he was thrown from a sled. The second fall aggravated the condition caused by the first, which was received while running and sliding on his shoe soles, his head coming in contact with the ice with such force as to render him nearly unconscious.

When he fell from the sled he returned home, saying to his parents that he "felt sick." A doctor was summoned from Gilman, but the condition of the roads delayed his arrival until late at night. The boy grew worse and it was decided to take him to Trenton, where he passed away that night. -Ridgeway Journal.

HANN BRIDGE

Bethany Republican-Clipper Bethany Mo Wed May 26 1937 page 6

The Thimble club met with Mrs. Ed. Shirley Tuesday. Twenty-two were present.

Springer Chapel News Items

Bethany Republican-Clipper Bethany Mo. Thu Sep 26 1907 page 7

Springer Chapel, Sept. 24 - Ed. Shirley attended a sale north of Mt. Moriah Saturday.

George Shepherd and family, William Shirley and wife, Ed. Shirley and family and W.O. Stevens spent Sunday at the John Utterback home.

Bethany Republican-Clipper Bethany Mo. Wed Jan 27 1937 page 7

Melbourne was most greatly shocked last Monday morning on receiving word that little Emery Shirley, son of Mrms. Ed Shirley had passed away Sunday night. His death was caused by a fall on the ice. Little Emery was a most lovable child. He had often visited relatives and friends here and will be greatly missed.

Miss Blanche Shirley who has spent the last few months in Colorado, came home Tuesday to attend the funeral of her little brother, Emery Shirley.

DROPS DEAD IN FIELD

Harrison County Times Bethany Mo. Thu June 24 1937 page 1

J.E. (Ed) Shirley, Near Melbourne, Died Suddenly of Brain Hemorrhage Last Monday

J.E. (Ed) Shirley, 64, farmer in Fox Creek township, fell dead Monday afternoon as he plowed corn in a field near his home, seven miles north of Melbourne. His death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.

He was plowing in the field, a few rows from the road and apparently died suddenly. No one saw him fall. About 6:30 Jack Little, a neighbor, was walking on the road and discovered the body. He told the family and Coroner Joe E. Wheeler at Bethany was notified.

Wheeler drove immediately to the home and examined the body, left lying in the field, a half-mile from the house. He set the time of death at about 5:00 o'clock.

Shirley had been under the care of a physician for two years, his wife said, but lately had been feeling better. He ate a large dinner Monday noon. He is survived by his widow and by several step-children and children by a former marriage.

Services were held yesterday afternoon at the Cat Creek church and burial in the Cat Creek cemetery.

A son, Emery, died from a brain concussion last winter resulting from an accident while sliding.

NEWS FROM SPRINGER CHAPEL

Bethany Republican-Clipper Bethany Mo. Thu April 11 1907 page 7

April 10- Ed. Shirley was a Gilman City visitor Saturday.

Mrs. Ed. Shirley and children spent Saturday with her sister, Mrs. George Shepherd.

The Jamesport Gazette Jamesport MO Fri Sep 22 1911 page 1

-On last Sunday morning Ed Shirley, residing seven miles North of Melbourne, went with his two young sons to a relative's, leaving Mrs. Shirley and a two and a half years old daughter at home. About two o'clock the husband and sons returned. They found the outside doors locked and every window fastened excepting one. One of the boys climbed through this window and unlocked a door. Upstairs is a chamber where Mrs. Shirley had evidently gone for a nap. The door of this room was locked. When it was forced open, there were evidence of a fierce struggle, and on the bed was the body of Mrs. Shirley with her neck broken. Save for some blue marks on her wrist where her assailant had grasped her, there were no other signs on her person of the struggle. Spots of blood on Mrs. Shirley's clothing and on the window out which the murderer had climbed showed that the murderer did not escape uninjured. The little daughter, too small to understand the tragedy, said, "Big fat man come and fight mamma and mamma fight him." It is believed that the guilty person resides in the neighborhood. No arrests have been made. Mrs. Shirley was about thirty years of age and of irreproachable character.

Melbourne News

Bethany Republican-Clipper Wed Jan 16 1935 page 3

Miss Blanch Shirley visited in the Clay Shirley home a part of last week.

FATAL ACCIDENT

Harrison County Times Bethany Missouri Thu Jan 21 1937 page 4

Emery Edmond Shirley Died Sunday of Head Injuries Received While Coasting on Sled.

Emery Edmond Shirley, nine-year-old son of Mrms. Ed. Shirley of nine miles south of Mt. Moriah, died at 12 o'clock Sunday night from injuries sustained while coasting on the slick ice and was ill Saturday but was up again Sunday. He fell again Sunday evening while sliding over ice on his shoes, thought it is not believed this fall was the cause of his death. He became very ill soon afterwards and died a few hours later.

Physicians believe a blood clot had formed on the boys's brain, after the sledding accident. This would not cause death until the clot became large enough to press heavily on the brain and stop circulation of the blood.

Funeral services for the lad and burial were held yesterday afternoon at the Cat Creek community church and cemetery near the Shirley home.

Jasper Edmond Shirley

Harrison County Times Bethany Mo Thu June 23 1938 page 4

In remembrance of Jasper Edmond Shirley, who passed away one year ago, June 21, 1937.

O, here we wait alone all day And wish for you to call;

O, how I long to see your face, When evening shadows fall.

You will never be forgotten Though on earth you live no more;

For in memory you are with us As you always were before.

You bade no one a last farewell, You said goodbye to none.

Your dear old heart had ceased to beat Before we knew you were gone.

Your cheerful smile and kindly ways, We pleasantly recall.

You had kind words for everyone, And died, yet, loved by all.

Sadly missed by wife Mrs. J.E. Shirley and children.

The Mystery Not Solved

The Ridgeway Journal Ridgeway Mo Thu Nov 2 1911 page 1

The mystery of the supposed brutal murder of Mrs. J.E. Shirley near Melbourne, Sunday, September 17th, is still in the dark as much as ever. The grand jury at the recent session went into the mystery thoroughly, but failed to find any evidence justifying the indictment of any person for her death. Many witnesses were examined and every possible effort made to discover the supposed perpetrator of the crime but without success. Several hundred dollars was offered by the court and by interested parties for any enlightenment that would lead to the arrest of any guilty party, if such there were, but everything that the law could do has been done and everything pertaining to the solving of the mystery is as much in the dark as ever.

$400 REWARD OFFERED.

Bethany Republican-Clipper Bethany Mo. Thu Sep 28 1911 page 1

The County Court in special session Monday morning, made an order offering a reward of $400 for the apprehension and conviction of the murderer of Mrs. Amanda Shirley, who was murdered in her home in Fox Creek township Sunday, Sept 17, 1911.

POSTS $400 REWARD

The Post-Telegraph Princeton Mo Wed Oct 4 1911 page 1

Harrison County Court Offers Big Sum for Arrest and Conviction of Unknown Slayer of Mrs. Edward Shirley.

The judges of the county court of Harrison county in special session on Monday of last week made an order of record offering a reward of $400 for the arrest and conviction of the slayer of Mrs. Amanda Shirley, who was murdered at her home in Fox Creek township in that county, Sunday, September 17th.

It is believed that in a few days Governor Hadley will post an additional reward of $300 on the part of the state and tere is growing talk that a popular subscription paper calculated to raise a still larger sum is to be circulated among the citizens of the county.

Wanamaker Calls Special Grand Jury

Judge Geo. W. Wanamaker, while spending a few days at his home between court dates at Princeton and Trenton, made an order while in Bethany convening of a special grand jury to investigate the murder of Mrs. Shirley. Thus far there is no clue to the murder mystery and no one has been officially charged with the crime.

NO INDICTMENTS FOR THE SHIRLEY MURDER

The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune Chillicothe Mo Mon Oct 30 1911 page 3

Trenton Times

The special grand jury empanelled by Judge Wanamaker two weeks ago to investigate the murder of Mrs. Amanda Shirley was discharged by the court at Bethany last Saturday. The Harrison county inquisitors returned thirteen true bills, a majority of these indictments being against defendants charged with violating the local option law. They failed to find any evidence warranting the return of an indictment against any person for the murder of Mrs. Shirley. The searching investigation made by the grand jury and the fruitless results of the examination of a long line of witnesses strengthened the belief that this crime is to remain shrouded in mystery and the slayer go unpunished.

Has Suspicion as to Slayer?

The Post-Telegraph Princeton Mo. Wed Oct 11 1911 page 4

The Telegraph editor has not been permitted to read the evidence introduced before the coroner's jury which investigated the death of Mrs. Amanda Shirley, near Mt. Moriah on Sunday afternoon, September 18th-consequently we have no suspicion as to the identity of the slayer. That the editor of the Bethany Democrat has some suspicion of the murder is evidenced by the following rather remarkable editorial appearing in the Democrat last Thursday.

What is circumstantial evidence? We confess, here in Harrison county that it does not consist in filling the description of a little girl in being "big and fat", in being found in close proximity, according to personal confession, on the eve of the murder; starting home with a team and wife and getting out and coming back by winding and circuitous route close by the assaulted home, in going to assist in digging a dead woman's grave and getting "sick" at the task and starting away (some alleged, as the talk drifted on the possibility of getting bloodhounds, of starting to meet a train and aimlessly wandering and blundering around and missing it; of a reputed difficulty between a murdered woman and the suspected criminal's wife; of a vague, indefinite story about an agreement to return and cut corn in the vicinity of the crime; about being ten miles away from home and alone about the time of the murder; of any of the attendant and suspicious indications of a rather mysterious trip.

Will some one please write down on a piece of paper and mail to this office a description of "circumstantial evidence", accompanied by a map and chart, with the thing marked, so we can see what it is like. We want to save it and keep it for future use, in case some other home may be invaded and some other brave woman compelled to pay the sacrafice of her life as the high tribute of protecting honor and home.

Two Arrests Made In Murder Case

The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune Sat, Sep 23, 1911 ·Page 2

"Buck" Davidson and Hubert Whitt of Melbourne Charged With Assaulting and Killing Mrs. Ed. Shirley at her home on a farm north of Melbourne Sunday afternoon, says The Trenton Times. The men were taken to Bethany to jail Wednesday afternoon and it is said Davidson has confessed to the crime of assaulting and murdering the woman. It is reported three more men are suspected of being implicated in the crime and their arrest is expected soon.

The two men arrested are both residents of the locality where the murder was committed. Whitt is a young man about 21 years of age and a cousin of Mrs. Shirley, and made his home there when not employed as a farm hand. Davidson has a wife and several children and it is said does not bear a good reputation.

Both men were seen in the neighborhood of the Shirley farm Sunday afternoon. Davidson was seen at the Metcalf School near by and said he was going to cut corn and was seen going toward the Shirley home.

Mrs. Shirley was murdered during the absence of her husband and three little sons. The youngest child a three year old girl was at home and says her mother fought a man and a man fought her. Mrs. Shirley was a fairly large, strong woman and made a desperate struggle. Blood stains are all over the upstairs bedroom where her body was found by her husband and a physician says the blood is not that of the murdered woman, showing that her assailant did not escape without some injury. Hubert Whitt one of the men arrested is a small built fellow and Davidson is an average size man.

The whole country about Melbourne is excited about the tragedy. Bloodhounds were sent for Tuesday but by that time it was too late for them to get a trail and the owner of the dogs refused to take them to the scene of the crime.