Listmembers, this post came from an Arkansas rootsweb list. It occurred to me it might be of interest to someone on WEST-L. Fran [email protected] Subject: [ARKANSAS] Van Buren Press (Crawford County) January 5, 1889 January 5, 1889 BROTHERS IN LAW FIGHT A DUEL Parties from Craighead County bring particulars of a shocking tragedy near Marked Tree. Some time ago the wife of William West, who is a desperate character left him and returned to the home of her mother, Mrs. Mary Dairey, and announce her intention of getting a divorce. West called to see his wife, but she would not receive him, and his mother in law, Mrs. Dairey, went out on the porch, carrying the year-old child of the couple. West began to upbraid her, saying she had caused the trouble between his wife and himself. Stephen Dairey, aged about 40 years, was attracted to the porch by the dispute, and ordered West to leave the premises. West responded by drawing a six-shooter and firing twice, one ball passing through Mrs. Dairey's hand and the other striking Stephen Dairey in the face. Dairey got a repeating rifle and returning to the porch, leveled it at West who faced him with his revolver poised in the air. The men fired twice in rapid succession. West was shot through the heart adn died in a few minutes. Dairy was struck in the right eye, the ball ranging upward to the brain.He lived several hours. Mrs. Dairey's wound is not fatal.

This is a very interesting post to me, as my brick wall are my West's in Van Buren, Crawford Co., AR. I would be interested in talking to anyone who might know what family this is. Thank you for the lead. Judy [email protected]