St. Clair County
Remnants Of The Past

Lowry City Independent
13 June 1902

A Fatal Shooting
W. T. Moore Shot and Killed T. J. Prosise on the Streets Last Sunday

A most deplorable tragedy was enacted on the main business street of our usually quiet little city last Sunday morning about 10:30 when W.T. Moore, a furniture dealer shot and mortally wounded T. J. Prosise, a notary public and pension claim agent.
The shooting grew out of bad feeling that had existed between the two men for a couple of years, caused by Moore teasing Prosise, in a spirit of fun about the latter’s love affairs. The street in the immediate vicinity was almost deserted at the time and those who were near enough to note the beginning of the trouble were too badly frightened to give a very clear account of it. As a consequence different stories are told as who was the aggressor, but as nearly as we can find out from those who saw the affair there was a struggle during which both men had their revolvers out. Moore had, however, succeeded in getting hold of Prosise with his left hand and with his right fired five shots, four of which took effect in Prosise, who sank to the ground mortally wounded. A stray bullet also hit Miss Roxy Crews, who chanced to be crossing the street some distance away, inflicting a painful, but not serious wound to the breast.
After the shooting, which occurred in front of the furniture store, Moore walked north to the Corner of Gordon and Pittman's store where he met Marshall McGinnis to whom he handed the gun. The marshal then locked him up in the calaboose and Sheriff Nance was sent for, who took him to Osceola on the evening train.
As soon as a cot could be secured Prosise was removed to his home and Drs. Shelton and Wright summoned, but they could do nothing except to alleviate his suffering some what. He was supposed to be dying at noon but he lingered on and apparently rested easier during the afternoon, and in the evening Drs. Wright and Grey probed for the bullets. They succeeded in removing the one lodged in the breast but the others they could not find. As before stated, four shots took effect in Prosise. One entered above and to the outside of the chest but this one was removed. Another entered apparently from behind on the left side about six inches above the hip, passing toward the front of the body. Another struck the upper left hand corner of the forehead and after grazing the skull passed out just back of the left ear. Another one entered about the middle of the back and entered the brain. It was at first thought that the one that struck the back of the head had glanced off and passed down as no puncture of the skull could be found with the probe, and as the wounds were dressed and then the man seemed to rest somewhat easier that he might have a chance to recover. This was a feeling at sundown, but the faint hope was blasted and he passed away about 2 o'clock Monday morning, having spoken no word since the shooting occurred.
All day Sunday after Prosise had been removed to his home, the people gathered in crowds in front of the house discussing the said occurrence and expressing the greatest interest in the condition of the patient. Visitors were coming and going continually from the sick room and a general feeling of
gloom prevailed.
A post mortem examination was held on Monday forenoon by Drs. Wright, Sheldon, Gray and Harris, but we did not learn the results and no inquest was held.
The funeral took place in the afternoon and was in charge of the Masonic Lodge of which the deceased was a member. After the few simple ceremonies were over and the family had taken leave of their loved one, the body was conveyed to the Park Grove Cemetery, three and three-fourths miles northeast of town, where interment took place. The following children were present at the funeral: Robert, from near Mt. Zion; James, from near Coal, Henry County; Thomas, from Ash Grove; Edward, from Ft. Scott, Kansas. Besides these one daughter and two granddaughters lived with him and one daughter lived in Ash Grove but was not able to come.
Thomas J Prosise was about 65 years old and a widower, with a family of 6 grown children. He settled in this vicinity in the 70's, having come here from Tennessee. He was an active and enthusiastic member of the Masonic Lodge and the G.A.R. post and stood well in the community. He was also Town Clerk and carried on a general notarial and Pension claim business.
Winifred T Moore , who did the shooting, is about 40 years old and the head of a family of seven children ranging in age from one to sixteen years. Himself and wife conduct a furniture store and he is also a graduate of two colleges of embalming and was engaged in the undertaking business. He came here about four years ago from Middlebrook, Montgomery County, Mo., where his folks still reside. He was well thought of here and has many friends here.
This is one of the instances in which the very unpleasant necessity devolves upon the newspaper to report the details of the local happenings, to give the news, however disagreeable it may be, and we have
endeavored to give a fair and impartial account.
Winifred T. Moore’s trial was held in St. Clair County’s Circuit Court. He was acquitted on a plea of self defense.