BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 1900 TOM TOLLIVER KILLED Shot Down At Washington In a Row Over a Crap Game Washington, Ind., Oct. 5. – Thomas Tolliver, a widely known gambler, was shot and killed in front of a saloon on Main street, tonight at 9 o'clock. He died 15 minutes later. The street fair is going on and thousands of people were on the streets. Two shots were fired, and people were so excited that they became panic stricken. The second shot struck Joe Slawson, a B. & O. employee, who was an innocent bystander, and he received a wound that may prove fatal. No one knows positively who fired the shots. John Massey, a Princeton, Ind., gambler, is in jail as a suspect. He says he knows nothing of the shooting. The row started over a crap game in which loaded dice were used. The Indianapolis Journal says: "Advices received by the local police late last night stated that Thomas Gleason had done the shooting, and asked the officers to keep a sharp watch for him, as it is thought he will come through this city on his way to St. Louis. Mathey, who is under arrest at Washington, says he lived here, but his identity has not been sufficiently established to put entire credence in his statement." Tom Tolliver was born two and a half miles southeast of Mitchell. He came of a good family but was always a bad and dangerous man, and for many years was one of Bent Jones' lieutenants in the commission of many deeds of outlawry in Lawrence and Orange counties. He was about 50 years of age and was a single man. ********* Tolliver's Slayers Escape Jack Massey, the partner of Tom Gleason, who shot and killed Tom Tolliver at Washington Friday night, was given a preliminary hearing before Squire Streeter Saturday afternoon. Hew as charged with murder, the affidavit having been preferred by Walter B. Meridith, one of Tolliver's gambling partners. He was found not guilty and was released, but was placed under $100 bond to appear as a witness before the Grand Jury. He put up the $100 and left town immediately. The chances are that he will never return. He got off light. There is no trace of Tom Gleason, who did the shooting. Saturday morning about daylight he walked into Cannelburg and paid B. J. Carrico two dollars to drive him to Loogootee. He told Carrico, who did not know him and had not heard of the killing, that he intended to go to St. Louis on the morning train, but no tickets were sold at Loogootee that morning for St. Louis. It is not known how he left Loogootee. Joe Slawson, who was accidentally shot during the Tolliver-Gleason shooting Friday night, is resting easy today, but his physician, Dr. Winton, says the critical period of his trouble will not arrive for about a week or ten days. Dr. Winton thinks the ball that penetrated Slawson's shoulders and lung is a 44 caliber. His chances for recovery are not considered good. *********** MITCHELL NEWS Tom Toliver's body was brought to this place Sunday from Washington and buried at the Burton grave yard. His sister, Mrs. Lee Jones and other relatives attended the funeral. Also a number of friends from Seymour and Washington. ************** Tom Tolliver, who was killed at Washington Friday night, left a wife, formerly Miss Nellie Ferguson, of Washington, and two children. He was married six years ago, and his wife is related to Mrs. Jack Fitzgibbons, of this city. Tolliver had a crap game in a saloon, which two other gamblers tried to beat with loaded dice. They were compelled to disgorge and roughly handled, and one of them afterwards shot Tom for revenge. ******* Dr. Tolliver, of Elnora, was in this city last Monday, on his way home from Mitchell, where he attended the funeral of his brother, Thomas Tolliver, Sunday. NOTE: Thomas Toliver: 1856 – 5 Oct 1900. 44 years. Burial at Burton Cemetery, Marion Twp.