| Notes |
- RE: William Tilghmar Jr. and Ed Prather -- An account of the shooting of Ed
Prather may be found in Miller and Snell's "GREAT GUNFIGHTER OF THE KANSAS
COWTOWNS, 1867-1886, pages 431-433
In this book it states that William "Bill" Tilghmar Jr. was age 34 and
Ed Prather was 30 at the time of the shooting.
Sometime in 1889 , after the shooting, William Tilghmar Jr. moved to
Guthrie, Indian Territory (now Guthrie, Okla.)
The story of the Shooting of Ed Prather was written by Zoe Tilghmar, wife of
William Tilghmar when she wrote the Biography of her husband.
William Tilghmar 1854 - 1924.
---------------------------------------------
Ed Prather, a Sheriff of Dodge City at one time, was known for his
short temper. He was involved in many shootings.
Ripley's Believe It Or Not has recreated a shooting scene of Ed Prather
in wax setting at a card table while a man that he shot lay in the
floor bleeding ...... It states that Ed Prather said "he can lay there
until I finish this hand". (Ripley's Believe It or Not, Pheonix, AZ.)
----------------------
"The Farmer City Western Farmer"
5 July, 1888
On the evening of 3rd of July, 1888, Ed Prather obtained some beer that had
been provided for the celebration (4th of July), and after imbibin freely, was
ready for the 4th. Early in the morning he started in for a "full" day.
Some of the citizens went to Prather and asked, in a very peaceable and
courteous manner for the sake of the town and the ladies, to stop their
drinking and to have a peaceable day. Prather took offense and went
to another town to celebrate (Leoty, KS.). While there, his anger became
more intense and he resolved to round up this town.
At 7p.m. he returned to Farmer City whith blood on his face and hands.
He showed murder in his eyes. He began going through town threatening
and insulting Tilghman, the deputy sheriff. He then began breaking down doors
wanting to be waited on. He began shooting dangerously all through town.
In conversation with Tilghman he became very abusive and threatened to put and
end to him right there.
Prather then placed his hand on his gun. Tilghman drew his gun and warned
Prather 3 times to take his hand off his gun. Tilhman would have disarmed
him if her was close enough, but Prather sought a better position and
Tilghman pulled the trigger and Prather was a dead man.
When sober, Prather was a kind and generous man, but when drunk or
excited he was considered a very dangerous man. Prather was an expert
with a colt .45 and to pull it on a man meant death.
He was killed by Deputy Sheriff Tilghman, a friend of Prather, who had
helped Prather many times.
Note: Farmer City no longer exist but the town of Loeti still stands
on the western side of Kansas.
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Another Account of the Shooting of Prather:
Ed Prather, Tavern Owner, Farmer City, KS.
Ed Prather was shot and killed by Marshal and Friend:
Farmer City was the scene of a murder yesterday afternoon about 7 p.m.
During the night of the 3rd. of July, Ed Prather and County Commissioner
T.H. Trovillo were creating considerable disturbance by shooting
promiscuously, which they kept up the entire night.
Soon after breakfast they resumed their shooting and carousing, and at
the request of the ladies of Farmer City, William M. Tilghman, Deputy
Sheriff, went to Prather and Trovillo and asked them to be more civil and
conduct themselves in a more gentlemanly manner.
The disturbing parties took offense at this request and went to Leoty, KS.
to celebrate the 4th.
After spending the morning and part of the evening drinking, Prather
returned to Farmer City leaving Trovillo lying near the section house too
drunk to navagate. Prather made threats on the life of Tilghman which a
friend of Tilghaman informed him of later.
About 7 p.m. Tilghamn went to the joint kept by Prather and began drinking,
and when he came to pay for the beer a quarrel ensued about the change
returned. In the course of the conversation, Prather said he had it in for
himm and put his hand on his gun. Tilghman instantly drew his gun and told
Prather to take his hand off his gun, whcih Prather refused to do.
Tilghman, knowing that he had a desperate character to deal with, shot him in
the left breast, the ball going clean through and out his back. This did
not cause Prather to fall; he remained standing at the bar looking
straight at Tilghman and still had his hand on his gun. Tilghman again asked
him to take his hand off the pistol, but Prather still refused, and then
Tilghman shot him in the brain, which killed him on the spot.
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