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From: Sandi Evilsizer Koscak <>
Subject: [MORAY-CGA] Obit-Thomas Jefferson Evilsizer
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 12:24:48 -0600


Posted on: Ray Co. Mo Obituaries
Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Mo/RayObits/10079

Surname: Miller, Graham, Rogers, Malone, Hatfield
-------------------------

>From the Richmond, Mo Conservator - Thursday July 23, 1891 A Mysterious
Death A postal card from Judge W D Fortune at Tinney's Grove informs us
that the dead body of Elizabeth Evilsizer, widow of the late (Thomas) Jeff
Evilsizer who was murdered some years since, was found at her residence
on Sunday. Remains were in an advanced state of decomposition showing the
death had occurred some time ago. No particulars were obtainable and nothing
could be learned to throw light upon the matter. Was it a murder or had
death come from natural causes which are not yet answered. The deceased
lived on Mud Creek.
>From the Richmond, Mo Conservator - Thursday August 31, 1891 A Grave Charge
Mrs. Elizabeth Graham arrested for the murder of Mrs. Evilsizer. On Sunday,
July 10, the dead body of Mrs. Elizabeth (Miller) Evilsizer, a widow who
lived alone on her farm about five miles west of Tinney's Grove, was found
in her home in a badly decomposed condition. Her throat was cut from ear
to ear, and the body was in such a bad condition that it had to be rolled
in a quilt and placed in the coffin, without being washed. That she had
been murdered there could be no doubt, but the author of the awful crime
was unknown. The nephew of the dead woman, S H Miller was in Oklahoma at
the time of her death, and was subsequently notified. He arrived in this
County a few days after her burial and at once began a search for the assassin
of his kinswoman. Last Saturday, he swore out a warrant against Mrs. Sarah
Graham, a neighbor of Mrs. Evilsizer, charging her with the crime of murder
in the first degree. Sheriff Perdue went up last Saturday and served the
warrant and brought the prisoner to this city. On Sunday he took her to
Carrollton and lodged her in jail. We do not know what the evidence is
against Mrs. Graham, but have heard in a circumstantial way that it is
very strong. On Wednesday evening before the body of Mrs. Evilsizer was
found, Mrs. Graham was seen going toward the Evilsizer farm, and late the
same night she was overtaken by a farmer on a wagon and taken to Braymer,
where she spent the night at a hotel. Her clothes were wet and bedraggled
as though she had been trying to wash them or had walked through the grass
and weeds. When Mrs. Evilsizer's house was searched after the finding of
her body, the table was found set with three plates as though she was expecting
company. In the kitchen, the coffee pot and other cooking vessels were
found on the stove and thirteen slices of meat were laying on the table
and other things went to show she was preparing a meal other than for herself.
It is said that the two women were not on the best of terms, and that the
trouble between them dates back to the time when they were neighbors in
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Graham has retained as her attorney, Mssrs Garner and
Scott and J W Shotwell
The Chief- Cowgill, MO- July 24, 1891 During the later part of last week,
passers by saw no one going about the house, which was shut up closely.
On Sunday morning, George Rogers, Billy Malone, Isaac Hatfield and others
went to the house to investigate and upon entering the west room were horrified
to find the decaying corpse of Mrs. E who had evidently been dead several
days. The body lay on the floor, knees being drawn up, one arm extended
and the other across the breast. The face was black and swollen beyond
recognition, and the odor arising from the remains, together with their
putrid condition made it impossible to de tech any violence. The outer
doors were closed and not locked and the windows of the room were darkened
by papers pinned up on the inside and the outer blinds being closed. Nothing
about the house seemed disturbed, $10 in money being found upstairs besides
several thousand dollars worth of notes and mortgages.

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