The Plot Thickens

So, in the last few days of rehearsing and developing the play "Murder in the Courthouse" many perspectives have been uncovered concerning the death of Marsh Foster by a bullet from the gun of either his longtime opponent/colleague James McCown -- or McCown's son William H. (Billy)...
These two men had both been editors of newspapers in Warrensburg and had also held clerkships with the municipal, county and circuit courts.

Anyway, Rebekah Bowen, field archivist for the Missouri State Archives , helped us by unearthing a court document that was referred to in a Liberty Tribune of March 1861. A change of venue had moved the trial to Independence. and the facts had changed considerably.(Thanks Rebekah!)

There is also a fragment of a letter which reports the incident that was in the belongings of "Grandpa Foster" It has no date, no to nor from... only pages 4,5,6,& 7, alas, but it is the only eyewitness account of the incident.

the local files are missing and the Jackson County document only outlines the "crime" as manslaughter 2nd Degree. James McCown seems to be completely out of the picture.

In any case, the Friends of the Johnson County Historical Society will present our best approximation of these political clashes which perhaps have never ended. To stay in the union or to secede, that was the question in Warrensburg, that fateful night February 18, 1861.
Thanks to Anne Mallinson who has developed the script and the 20 or so actors who will bring it to life--- 3 performances this weekend! Friday at 7, Saturday at 2, and Sunday at 2.

Best to all, please share with friends!