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The
Appeal of July 24th says:
It
becomes our painful duty this week to chronicle the
lamentable circumstances connected with the shooting of W.
0. Creason, one of the most deplorable and shocking affairs
that has ever startled our community. Mr. Creason resided on
Long Branch, some fifteen miles south-west of this place. He
hired a couple of young men last spring, to work for him,
during the working season. When the harvest approached, they
informed Creason that they desired to leave as they could
get better wages by the day in the harvest field than they
were getting by the month. Creason protested against their
leaving him before their time was up; but they left, he
owing one of them--Joseph Kribs--a part of a month's wages,
which he refused to pay unless Kribs would work his time
out. There were some words between them when Kribs left. On
last Monday evening, having armed himself with a revolver,
Kribs returned to Creason's, called him out to the fence and
told him he wanted him to settle, when Creason answered, he
had not complied with his contract and that he had no
settlement to make with him, whereupon Kribs flew into a
passion, and commenced cursing Creason, who ordered him off
his premises. Creason got over the fence as he ordered Kribs
to leave, who was sitting upon his horse outside of the
yard. Kribs fired upon him as he got upon the ground, the
ball entering the right side, just under the right
side and penetrating his breast, killing him instantly.
After the shooting Kribs left in a gallop. Wes. Johnson and
Henry Johnson, two of the neighbors, came down and informed
the sheriff of the terrible affair. Sheriff Pitts procured a
writ immediately from Esq. Armstrong of this place, and in
company with James Curtright and 'Thalus Hocker, repaired to
the scene of the tragedy, and thence to the home of the
young man in Audrain county where, having procured the
assistance of several others, he surrounded the house and
captured him about daylight on Tuesday morning. The Sheriff
returned with the prisoner to Paris, and lodged him in jail.
Kribs is a young man about twenty-two years, well made and
muscular.
William
0. Creason was one of the most promising and highly esteemed
young men in the county. He was about 32 years of age. He
was a soldier in the First Missouri Confederate Brigade, had
fought upon many hard contested battle fields, and lost an
arm at Corinth on the 4th day of October, 1863, while
charging the breastworks. Coming back from the army without
a dollar, he settled with his aged father and mother in this
county, where, he has been raising stock, and at the time of
his death, was prominent amnong, the large stockmen, being a
member of the firm of McCann & Creason. Kribs was tried
and sent to the penitentiary for 20 years, but after he had
served about half his time was pardoned by Gov. Crittenden. |
