IN MEMORY OF MARSHAL GEORGE GREER

April, 1904:  A terrible tragedy took place in Bloomfield at nine on Sunday Evening, the primary cause of which was whiskey.  Jim Jones was drunk on the streets asking for Ezera Boyles to whip him. He came upon him at the Indian Restaurant and tried but was bested by Boyles.  The disturbance brought City Marshal, George Greer, and Henry Bolin, night watchman, who took Jones to the calaboose.  He was released later on bond and promised to go home. 

He resisted that, however, and his brother, Aud, who got his release and refused to go.  The Marshal threatened to arrest him and got him to leave though he said the Marshal did him wrong. 

Jones went to Ike Glenn’s home (598 S. Prairie) pretending to go duck hunting and got his shotgun.  Then he went to the livery stable (SW corner of Prairie and Center Streets) and hid in a covered hack to shoot Greer as came around the Crosse and McDavid building going home. 

Greer and Bolin and three men were standing on the sidewalk on the east side of the building about 60 feet from the hack.  The gun was cocked and in trying to get into the hack it shot through the roof, attracting attention.  Greer tried to arrest him and he refused and the Marshal and deputy shot at him and Jones ran home. 

Reloading, Greer and Bolin went to his home and were met by Wash Jones and his wife, parents, who begged the Marshal not to shoot Jim as he had no shells.  Greer assured him he wouldn’t shoot Jim and called for him to come out and he refused.  Greer forced the door and as he entered was shot in the right breast.  Greer shot his pistol and missed and Bolin called and asked if he was shot and Greer said, “He has killed me”  and dropped dead a few steps from the house. 

Bolin went to the door and Jim’s gun was leveled at him but he knocked the muzzle up and the shot went over his head.  He then shot Jones in the right arm and tried to fire again but received a blow and shove from behind by Wash Jones.  He then covered Wash with the pistol who threw up his arms and went away from the gun Jim had thrown on the floor.  Bolin then arrested Jim.  As Jim passed Greer’s body he became a demon and wanted to stomp his face as he cursed. 

Greer was buried in Walker Cemetery.  He leaves his wife and two small children and four older children by a former wife.   Plans are underway to replace his broken stone, picture above.