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Calvin Alexander “Cal” Williams

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Calvin Alexander “Cal” Williams

Birth
Palace, Pulaski County, Missouri, USA
Death
15 Oct 1913 (aged 40)
Evening Shade, Texas County, Missouri, USA
Burial
Palace, Pulaski County, Missouri, USA
Memorial ID
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Calvin Alexander Williams was shot and killed by his cousin Scott Musgrave. There are several accounts of the incident, including newspaper articles, court documents and eyewitness accounts. The following is an account from Calvin's daughter Fay (Williams) Adkison as told in a 1982 letter to Don Vincent, famous genealogist of Pulaski County, Missouri. Fay was born in 1906 - so she would have been 7 years old at the time of the incident. "I am the daughter of Calvin Alexander Williams (youngest son of Thomas Williams ... Calvin Williams' first wife was Mary (Louisa) Woolsey (Shockley). His second wife, Cora Ellen Williams was my mother. Calvin was born in 1873 and got killed October 13, 1913. I was there. Your information (in Vincent's last column) is reversed. Calvin was the "Constable" (not called sheriff at that time) and was treasurer of the Palace Union Church. They were putting a roof on the Church. Scott was called an outlaw. When Calvin called his (Scott's) attention to a tale he (Scott) had told that (Calvin) had spent church money, Scott whipped out his gun and shot my dad, then took to the woods. No one in that day dared try to bring him to justice. He had tagged thirteen more men, brothers and neighbors to kill."

The newspaper account is completely different, describing how Musgrave was sitting against a tree whittling when Williams came up to him and took hold of him. The two men scuffled and Musgrave cut Williams in the arm and side. Williams pulled his revolver but before he could shoot, Musgraves had pulled his revolver and fired, the bullet striking Williams just over the heart, causing instant death.

Musgrave surrendered and was later acquitted of the charges.
Calvin Alexander Williams was shot and killed by his cousin Scott Musgrave. There are several accounts of the incident, including newspaper articles, court documents and eyewitness accounts. The following is an account from Calvin's daughter Fay (Williams) Adkison as told in a 1982 letter to Don Vincent, famous genealogist of Pulaski County, Missouri. Fay was born in 1906 - so she would have been 7 years old at the time of the incident. "I am the daughter of Calvin Alexander Williams (youngest son of Thomas Williams ... Calvin Williams' first wife was Mary (Louisa) Woolsey (Shockley). His second wife, Cora Ellen Williams was my mother. Calvin was born in 1873 and got killed October 13, 1913. I was there. Your information (in Vincent's last column) is reversed. Calvin was the "Constable" (not called sheriff at that time) and was treasurer of the Palace Union Church. They were putting a roof on the Church. Scott was called an outlaw. When Calvin called his (Scott's) attention to a tale he (Scott) had told that (Calvin) had spent church money, Scott whipped out his gun and shot my dad, then took to the woods. No one in that day dared try to bring him to justice. He had tagged thirteen more men, brothers and neighbors to kill."

The newspaper account is completely different, describing how Musgrave was sitting against a tree whittling when Williams came up to him and took hold of him. The two men scuffled and Musgrave cut Williams in the arm and side. Williams pulled his revolver but before he could shoot, Musgraves had pulled his revolver and fired, the bullet striking Williams just over the heart, causing instant death.

Musgrave surrendered and was later acquitted of the charges.

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