St.
Clair County
Remnants Of The Past
Voice of the People
Osceola, Missouri
Tuesday, 3 February 1880
$100 Reward.
The county court of St. Clair County, Missouri, will give one hundred
dollars to the person or persons who will apprehend and deliver the
body of one, Chesley Pierce, to the Sheriff of St. Clair county. Said
Chesley Pierce is charged with murdering one, William Bohon, on the
night of the 29th day of January, 1880, three miles east of Osceola,
St. Clair County, Missouri. Said Chesley Pierce is almost 18 years old,
about five feet six inches high, heavy built, weight almost 160 lbs.,
dark complexion, smooth face, black hair rather long thick and straight,
black eyes, downcast look, and avoids looking you in the eyes. Has awkward
ways and manners, drinks when he can get the whiskey and when under
the influence of liquor very noisy and boasts of his manhood and fighting
propensities. Rather quiet when sober and when employed to labor worked
well. Was located in Benton Co., Missouri. Usually wore faded cotton
clothes, striped cotton shirt, black slouch hat and usually wears shoes.
He has a sister in Benton County, Missouri, living at Fairfield, and
has also relations in Kansas.
By order of the County Court of St. Clair County, Missouri.
February 2nd, 1880.
STABBED TO DEATH.
Another Crime Added to the Dark History of St. Clair County.
Fatal Cutting Affray at the Dillon School House, Three Miles East of Osceola, in which Wm. Bohon Loses His Life.
The Cold Steel Plunged Again and Again Into the Quivering Body of the Dying Victim.
His Life Blood Gushes Forth Staining the Ground and School Room with Human Gore.
Last Friday morning the community was startled by the
intelligence that a stabbing affray had occurred at the Dillon school
house, and that William Bohon, who has always been regarded as a very
quiet and inoffensive young man, was seriously if not fatally wounded
by a knife in the hands of Chesley Pierce, a young man of very questionable
antecedents, who came here about a year ago, and whose repented obliquities
from moral rectitude have given him the reputation of a bad, bold and
desperate character.
The present fatal affair was but the culmination of a state of bad feelings
that has existed in the neighborhood for some time in the past, however,
we were unable to learn that Bohon and Pierce had ever been involved
in any trouble. The fight occurred at the Dillon school house, as before
mentioned, about three miles east of Osceola, at the conclusion of the
exercises of a literary society, which had called together a large number
of the citizens of the neighborhood. Last Friday, in company with Dr.
Whaley, who was immediately called to attend the wounded man, we visited
the residence of the widow Bohon and endeavored as far as possible to
elicit the true facts in the case. On arriving, Dr. Whaley proceeded
to immediately to dress the wounds of the sufferer, and in hiding the
bed clothes, a horrid, ghastly sight met our eyes. The bed that had
been saturated with the tide of life was crimson and gory, while the
body of the victim was covered with dark coagulated blood. The wounds,
as we observed them, were five in number. One of the most ghastly, nad
perhaps fatal wounds, some three inches in length, was inflicted in
the left side between the sixth and seven ribs and run parallel with
them. This wound penetrated to the cavity of the chest, as unmistakably
evidenced by the free passage of the air through the wound at every
expansion and contraction of the lungs. Another wound, above and at
the right of the sternum or breast bone also penetrated to the cavity
of the chest. From a deep wound immediately under his left arm which
had evidently severed some large veins, the blood had gushed forth in
torrents, and threatened for a time to bleed the wounded man to death
before it could be staunched or checked. Two other wounds were inflicted
on the right side. After the Doctor had dressed his wounds, he informed
the patient that reporters of the Voice and Sun were present and would
like to talk with him if it was not too painful for him to converse.
He assented his willingness to the matter, and in answer to the question
as to what was the cause of the quarrel, he replied that some of the
boys came in and told him that they were quarreling with his little
brother, and that he went out and told them that he could whip anybody
that would impose on a small boy like he was, and that Chesley Pierce
immediately took it up. Said he could not tell which struck first, he
or Pierce, and stated further that he thought Parks took a hand in the
stabbing. It seemed to cost him considerable pain to talk and he was
not questioned further. From others we learn that Bohon went out of
the school house and remarked that he could whip anyone that would impose
on his little brother, Pierce responded by saying, "you can't do
it, Bill." A quarrel immediately ensued and Bohon advanced on Pierce
when the latter said, "Bill, I tell you to stand back, stand back
or I'll hurt you", Bohon stopped and stepped back and was about
turning away when Pierce called him a damned low down Son-of-bitch.
This was more than Bohon cared to endure and a fight immediately ensued
which resulted as before stated. Parks, who has been arrested as peril
ceps criminis [partner in crime] in the affair, came rushing from the
house, during the fight and encouraged Pierce by such remarks as, "Go
for him Chesley, stick it to him, if you can't whip him I can."
Immediately after the fight Bohon was carried into the school house
where he remained until the next morning when he was carried to his
home, about a quarter of a mile distant, on a stretcher. Some hopes
were entertained at first for his recovery but he constantly grew worse
and died yesterday morning at three o'clock. Parks was arrested for
complicity in the affair, and his preliminary examination before Justice
McHenny was had last Saturday, and he was bound in a bond of $1,000
for his appearance at Circuit Court. The following is the evidence of
the most important witnesses as elicited in the preliminary trial of
Parks, which goes to prove his complicity in the affair:
Bud Perrin - Parks came running out and told Pierce to stand to him,
and told him that if he could not whip him that he could, and when they
were fighting, he told Pierce to stick it to him. When Bohon picked
up the stick of wood, Parks run up and made a motion, but don't know
whether he struck him or not. Parks had a knife in his hand and struck
at Bohon with the hand that held the knife.
John Taylor - Parks told Chesley to go for him. Stick it to him. Saw
Parks reach down to pick up something. He picked up a stick, but whether
he used it or not I can not say. Parks and Pierce went off together.
Bud Perrin was between me and Mr. Parks. Pierce and Bohon both seemed
to strike at the same time. Didn't hear Bohon say anything, and Pierce
called him a damned son-of-a-bitch and the fight commenced.
Will Bogard - Parks came out of the school house and told Chesley Pierce
that if he was not enough man for him that he was. Parks was about four
feet from them, Parks told Pierce to stab him.
Pierce remarked after the affray that he had stabbed Bohon and that
he would do it again if he had the opportunity. He immediately fled
the country and has not been arrested up to the present time.
Since writing the above, a post mortem examination of the corpse was
made of Drs. T.H. and N.P. Wright and that the first wound we have described
had penetrated into the cavity of the chest making a slight incision
in the lung about one inch in length which has produced internal hemorrhage
which resulted in death.
Voice of The People
Osceola, Missouri
10 February 1880
Chesley Pierce, the murderer of Wm. Bohon, and for whose apprehension,
a reward of one hundred dollars was offered by the county court, was
arrested in Dallas county by marshal Scividge of this place, and was
lodged in jail to await trial.
Osceola Sun
11 March 1880
W.J. Stone has been secured to assist the prosecution of Parks and
Pierce for killing Bohon.
