THE TIME HE SHOT GEORGE N. GENTRY

He had told before about how Gentry was really the boss of the county, even when not in the sheriff’s office, he ran things. He was an older man, Mr. Williams had looked up to him, and done yeoman’s service under his orders. One time in the saloon he said Gentry had called him a ... ... ... .. ...., and he hauled off and shot him. That he intended to kill him and it nearly hit the juggler vein. He said, "I am just not made to take a cussing."

It is not know whether this unpleasantness was a result of Mr. Williams’ defection from mob rule, or whether the incident was one cause of his change - like the conversion of St. Paul almost. He was now in trouble and he retained Judge Green B. Goodson and Judge James A. Eidson as his attorneys if and when he might be indicted.

Friends prevailed on him to leave the country. He said Gentry and he himself by this time had a following, had friends, and there could have been trouble. So he left and went down to Falls County for a time. He got to thinking it over and said to himself that wasn’t the thing to do. So he came back to Hamilton, tied his horse at Gentry’s gatepost, and went to his room. That he took Gentry by the hand. And when he looked up from his bed and smiled, he knew everything was all right. Neither of them ever mentioned the incident again.

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