Camerer - Ezra C
EC Cammerer
Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Nov 10, 1916
A Tragedy Touching Waveland - the one topic of conversation is the tragic death of a former resident, EC Cammerer who lost his life in an affray near Thomastown, Miss, on Friday of last week. The following account is from the Vicksburg, Miss. Herald printed as the editor remarks, "for what it is worth." He says that a further investigation will be made. Friday morning EC Cammerer was killed by WM Somers. The killing took place in Madison Parish and caused quite a sensation there. There were afloat several ugly rumors in regard to the affair but the coroner's jury which held an inquest shortly after the killing rendered a verdict to the effect that the homicide was a justifiable one. The killing occurred on the old Murdock plantation. Several of the residents of Madison parish state that the man who was killed was really furnishing the money for the running of the plantation, but the statement which will be found below is to the contrary. A man interested in behalf of Mr. Somers, but who refuses to allow his name to be published, yesterday afternoon gave the following version of the affair to a representative of The Herald. "Wm Somers was mamanger of the Banner plantation. The killing took place about 10:50 yesterday morning. Cammerer was a former partner in the plantation business and objected to Somers being on the place at all and ordered him to vacate. Somers answered that he was hired by the owner and intended to stay, that he was not bothering him or anyone else but was attending strictly to business. After making this statement Cammerer went around the plantation house and Somers went in the house. Then Cammerer got a horse and went west on the road to find the horse's owner. Having found the owner he started back with him carrying his shot gun in his hand and his automatic pistol in his side coat pocket. The gun was loaded with six buckshot shells containing each three and a half drams of smokeless powder. As they neared the turn in the road which leads to the dwelling, Somers was riding towards them going out on his round as manager. When he saw Cammerer approaching him he rode out in the cotton field to give him plenty of room to get by. When Cammeerer was even with him, he cursed Somers and said to him: "You go back to the house and get ready to be gone from here. " In answer to which Somers said: "I will not go back with you." At that Cammerer levelled his shot gun, which was already cocked. In the meantime, after the threats, Somers had armed himself with a Winchester rifle in fear of an attack. This rifle was of very heavy calibre. Somers then raised his gun and fired. Somers had stepped off his horse when he saw Cammerer coming. Was way down in the cotton field. Cammerer dropped to the ground dead. The bullet went clean through him. Somers went to the house and sat down. I went and had a coroner's jury to investigate the matter and they returned a verdict of justifiable homicide. Cammerer was a man of aobut 60 years of age. He was originally from Hume, Ill." Mr. Cammerer came here from Hume, Ill about six years ago. After farming for 3 years he engaged in the grocery business in Waveland having formerly been engaged in busines in Hume. In May 1915, he sold to Denk Bros. and bought an interest in the Mississippi plantation where he met his death in connetion with Frank Milligan, formerly of this place. The place was heavily encumbered and it is understood that Cammerer had lost his entire investment. At the time of his death, Mrs. Cammerer was visiting her sister in Missouri City, Iowa. Funeral services were held in Newman, Ill where his mother and sister live, on Wednesday. Much sympathy is expressed for Mrs. Cammerer. Her maiden name was Poole and she grew up near Bluff Mills. - kbz