Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--A LIVELY PISTOL DUEL--Marshal Williams and Clarence Feland Engage in Duel with Six Supposed Yeggmen--No One Injured.--What is believed by everyone to have been an attempt at robbing one or possibly both of Higbee's banks was made about 1 o'clock Friday night of last week, but which was frustrated by Marshal Williams, who happened to be up a little later than usual that night. A burglar having entered the home of David Thomas in the south part of town about 11 o'clock and taken a shot at Mr. Thomas (an account of which will be found elsewhere) Mr. Williams, called Clarence Feland, who sometimes acts as deputy, to help him comb the town in search of the culprit. A thorough search of the south part of town was of no avail, so they came up town something after 12, Mr. Williams searching the alley between Railroad and Randolph street, while Mr. Feland came up the latter. They met at Cleeton's drug store and walked to Murphy's corner where they stood and talked for a few minutes. Mr. and Mrs. David Williams on their way home from a party in the north part of town, coming along, they told them of the happening at the Thomas home and asked if they had passed or seen any strangers, but they had seen no one. Mrs. Williams became very nervous and remarked to the officers in a half serious, half joking way, that one of them would have to accompany them home. After talking a few moments longer Mr. Williams told Mr. Feland that he had as well go on home, as things seemed to be pretty quiet, and that he supposed any further search for the burglar would be useless, and that he would take a turn around the Katy depot before going home. He stood on the corner for perhaps five minutes after the others had left and then started up the street. As he passed the west side of Rankin's store he noticed six men cross from the West Side Hotel to the Katy depot, but thinking they were local men on their way home in the west part of town, he gave them no further thought. Reaching the hotel, he crossed the street to the depot, flashing his light on the front and rear platforms and in the waiting room, where he heard voices to the south. He could make out dimly the forms of six men to the west of the box car just south of the depot used as a car and tool house. He followed, and when in about twenty feet of the bunch flashed his light on the leader who was stooped over as if looking for something to force the lock on the tool house. It was the first intimation, evidently, the bunch had that anyone was in a mile of them. The leader, reaching for a gun, and commanding Mr. Williams, "stand back! stand back!" in a voice that convinced the latter that he had run up against the real article, that the men were dangerous characters and that it was kill or be killed, he promptly opened fire, firing his third shot as the leader fired his first. All the others, some of whom had gotten on the south side of the car, opened fire on Mr. Williams, at the same time, firing in all about 25 or 30 shots. The leader telling his men, "Come on boys, let's get him," and at the same time starting towards Mr. Williams, who now had but three loads left, the latter began backing away in the direction of the hotel, firing as he backed. Believing that he would be killed by the gang unless he could kill the leader, he straightened his arm full length for his last shot, and taking deliberate aim, but losing no time, he fired his last shot point blank at the leader. It was the last shot exchanged between them, for the leader staggered and threw up his hands. Fearing they would rush him, Mr. Williams hastily made his way to the rear of the hotel where he reloaded his revolver with three extra cartridges he had in his pocket, and seeing that he was not followed, and knowing that the men would make their escape, he came on to the city hall for more ammunition as well as a shotgun, waking, on his way, W. H. Wheeler, John Lynch, Wisdom Burton, John Walton and E. Dulaney, each of whom responded and helped in the search for the robbers. Elerd Baker, assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank, turned out on hearing the firing and also assisted in the hunt. Mr. Williams is not sure but what one of his first three shots took effect, as one of the men replied, when the leader asked them to come on help him get Williams, that something was wrong with one of the number and called the man's given name, but which Mr. Williams does not recall. In the meantime, Mr. Feland, who had not reached home, heard the shooting and rushed back down town and as he reached the Murphy corner saw six men walking south on the Katy track, and as they reached the road crossing, taking them, as had Mr. Williams, for Higbee men, hallooed to them, "What's all the rack about, boys?" when one of them replied, "We'll damned soon show you," and blazed away at him, firing four shots as they walked. By the time Mr. Feland could unlimber his artillery the men were passing behind Murphy's big oil tanks and he could get but two shots at them. He wisely refrained from going after them, but made his way to the depot, fearing that at every step he would find Mr. Williams a corpse. Not finding him he came back down town, meeting Mr. Williams and the others on the street. All incoming and outgoing trains were searched, but not a trace of the robbers could be found. It was found later that the cable leading to the central office, which contained 48 wires, had been completely cut in two. Mrs. Alice Stone, who has charge of the office, states that she heard them at work, as well as stop work when some one passed (Mr. and Mrs. Williams, beyond a doubt) and again tackle the job after they had passed. As the light was on in the office, she was afraid to go to the switchboard and give the alarm, and states that the shooting began not over five minutes after she heard the cable fall, which would go to prove that the men Mr. Williams saw crossing the street had just completed the work. It is presumed the men intended robbing one of the banks, as their visit was on the night before pay day, and some think they were perhaps the same bunch that cut the same cable on the night of the 9th, also on the night before pay day. Some are inclined to think perhaps the gang had some assistance from home talent, but that is mere guess work. If they were all strangers, and were one and the same gang, it is quite evident they were posted as to pay day dates. Will Harlow, who works the graveyard trick as operator at the Alton depot, says he is satisfied the men were more or less acquainted with Mr. Williams' beat, as four of them were at the depot about 1 o'clock. Three of them, Mr. Harlow states, remained on the outside in front of the office window and door, while the fourth came into the waiting room. Mr. Harlow states that he knew as soon as he set eyes on the man as he passed the little window south of the ticket window that something unusual was up and that he was in for perhaps a holdup, and so sure was he that such was the case, he left his chair and started for the ticket window as if to wait on the man, then shot into the little office room on the north. Seeing that Harlow as alarmed and perhaps thinking he might open up on them from the darkened office or had slipped out to give the alarm, the gang made a hasty get away. He is now firmly convinced that they were looking for Mr. Williams to put him out of the way, and the latter is of the same opinion, as are others. Messrs. Williams and Feland are to be commended for their bravery and congratulated on their escaping all injury. Those who turned out to help are also to be highly commended. Not every man in town would have responded, although you could have found a full regiment next day who could tell you just what should have been done, and how, had they been doing it, they would have captured the band single handed and alone, and if necessary, eaten them blood raw. The officers wish to convey their sincere thanks through the NEWS to all who aided in the search. Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--Miss Ruth Robb has resigned her place as teacher in the Higbee public school in order to accompany her sister, Miss Ester, to Arizona, who is compelled to change climate for the benefit of her health, and will leave for the West next week. She is succeeded in the school by Miss Lottie Dougherty of Clark. Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--A. C. BURTON DEAD--Another Good Citizen and Just Man Called Home--Ambrose C. Burton, one of the community's most prominent citizens, as well as one of its best beloved and venerated ones, passed peacefully into the Great Beyond at his country home just southeast of town at 12:15 a.m., Monday, January 26, 1920, following an illness dating from last July. He had been complaining more or less before that time, and as he grew worse, he was taken to Kansas City where he took treatment at a hospital for several weeks. As his malady was diagnosed as cancer and the physicians pronounced his case hopeless, he was brought home, and until some few weeks ago was able to be up and about. Knowing that knowledge of the nature of his trouble would add to his worry and hence shorten his days and cause him to give up the struggle, thinking up until he took to his bed that he would recover, his family kept the knowledge from him, and when at last he had to be told the blunt truth, it had no terrors for him, but was received in the spirit, "Thy will, not mine, Lord, be done." yet for a few days he could not but believe that after all he might recover, although he realized that he had passed man's allotted span of three score years and ten. He took a sudden turn for the worse the latter part of last week and grew gradually weaker until death came as a happy release from his bodily suffering and his spirit returned home to God. Mr. Burton came of one of the county's oldest and best families--one whose name was recognized far and wide as standing for character and honor, Christian living and for the better and nobler things of life. He was the son of the late Judge May M. Burton, one of the finest men the county ever knew, and was born on September 23, 1846, on the farm on which he had spent all of his long and useful years. On October 24, 1867, he was married to Miss Frances A. Baker, who preceded him to the grave some fifteen years or more ago. They were the parents of five children--Mrs. John T. Perkins, of Waverly, Tenn., Mrs. N. N. Dysart of Roanoke, and Leslie Burton, who made his home on the farm. The two other children, Annie and Olive have been dead many years. In 1902 Mr. Burton was married to Miss Annie Banning of Yates, who also survives. A nephew, who mourned his passing as sincerely as did any of his own children, was Frank Baker, whose mother died when he was four weeks old, at which time Mr. Burton took him to his home and reared him as his own, treating him in every respect as if he were his own. He united with the Christian church in 1872 and his daily life since that day had been that of a devout and consecrated Christian. It was our good fortune to have known and to have had dealings with Mr. Burton for thirty-three years. We never knew a more square, honest or conscientious man than he. He was as gentle as a woman with a heart as tender as a little child's, yet, when it came to standing up for what he believed was right, he was oak and rock, and no power could swerve him. We presume, like all the rest of us, he had his faults, but we can say in all truthfulness that in all of our knowledge of him we never could find one, nor have we ever known a person who did. And another thing about him that all of us might emulate to our good as well as that of the world: We never heard him speak ill of anyone, it being one of the rules of his life to hold his peace when nothing good was to be said. Funeral services were conducted at the home Wednesday afternoon by Rev. E. M. Richmond, assisted by Rev. E. Y. Keiter, the large house as well as half the lawn being filled with relatives and friends, each of whom felt a personal loss. The body was laid tenderly to rest in the Burton Cemetery just across the road from the farm that had been his home for seventy years beside those of his parents and other kindred and loved ones who had gone on before. In his death, not only his family, but the community and state have suffered an irreparable loss. To the bereaved widow and children the NEWS tenders its warmest sympathy. Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--W. F. WILLIAMS DEAD--W. F. Williams, better known as "Tobe'" one of Howard county's best known farmers and citizens, residing near Burton, died at Christian hospital in Kansas city on the 24th from bladder trouble, from which he had suffered for fifteen years. His suffering finally becoming so great that he could bear it no longer, he was taken to Kansas City two weeks ago, having made up his mind that an operation, which he had always been advised might likely prove fatal, was the only thing that would give him even temporary relief from pain, but it was found, owing to the fact that cancer had developed, that an operation would only shorten his days. Funeral services were conducted at Old Log Chapel Sunday by Rev. W. T. Henson of Moberly, and interment made in the cemetery there. Mr. Williams was born in Howard county on December 18, 1861, in the vicinity where he had resided practically all of his life. he was an honorable and upright man in all his dealings and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He had been a member of the Christian church for many years, and when his health would permit took an active interest in all church work. He was one of the prime leaders in the movement that resulted in the erection a year or so ago of the new church building at Old Log Chapel. Mr. Williams is survived by his widow and four children--on son and three daughters--Eugene Williams, Mrs. Andrew Ewing, Hallam, Nebr.; Mrs. Lester McCullen and Mrs. Frank Bayse. He also leaves two grandchildren. Six brothers and four sisters also survive, viz: Gus, Joel, Henry, Lewis, Orville and Joseph Williams: Mrs. Mandy Frazier, Mrs. Ann Dougherty and Mrs. A. E. Robb. The NEWS joins other friends in condolence to the bereaved family. Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--FINE HORSE SHOT--E. E. Newman reports the shooting of the best work horse on the farm just northeast of town the first of the week by some unknown party. The horse was shot in the hip with a revolver or high power rifle of large caliber, the ball penetrating far beyond the reach of any probe. Mr. Newman called in a veterinary as soon as he found that the animal, valued at $200, had been shot, but he could do nothing much and stated that the animal would be dead in a few days. Mr. Newman this week posts the farm against any and all trespassing and promises to make it exceedingly warm for any and all parties caught on the premises without permission. Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--JUDGE ALEX W. WALLER WRITING A HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY--Judge Alex W. Waller is writing a History of Randolph County. He has a vast store of interesting information and valuable material on the subject of local history, and his work when completed will be of great value to the present and future generations of Randolph County. Judge Waller has been a witness of events that have transpired within the borders of this county for one half a century and his many years of experience as a lawyer, a judge and a citizen eminently qualifies him for the important task of writing a faithful and impartial history or Randolph County and its people. The history of Randolph County from the time of the red man and the first hardy pioneers involves a wondrous story well worthy of preserving, and such a work is commendable. Judge Waller's History of the County will be arranged in narrative form in a series of chapters, embracing the settlement, civic, religious, social, industrial and commercial development of the county as accomplished by the people working as a whole. Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--JOSEPH DULANEY DEAD--Joseph Dulaney, one of the county's oldest and most highly respected citizens, died at his home five miles east of Moberly on the 24th. He was 93 years old, and is survived by four daughters and three sons. He had been a member of the Masonic order for 61 years, holding his membership with the lodge at Middle Grove, and helped organize the lodge at Moberly. Friday, 30 Jan 1920, Vol 33, No 41--JUDGE WILLIAMS BACK HOME--Judge J. M. Williams, who has been taking treatment in a hospital in Indianapolis, Ind., reached Moberly Sunday and is now in the family home at 700 West Rollins street. It is with regret that the statement is made that he is in a critical condition. While he is receiving every attention, fears are entertained that he will not be able to long survive the ravages of the disease which is slowly sapping his strength and endurance--Moberly Monitor. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.