"Folks from Drake Eye Springs and Tubal and Millers Crossing
had come for miles. You couldn't find one empty bench in the
whole meeting house that night; in fact, a good many had to
stand. That was the only church in these parts then.
"The shooting was right after the program. There was the
usual confusion as everyone began going up front to claim their
gifts. Folks said afterwards that some of the Williams men and
grown boys had been drinking pretty heavy. The one they called
Jake was talking uncommonly loud. He was, by the way, a great
uncle to Ward Lawson.
"So, when Jake Williams kept making such a nuisance of
himself, Old Mister Gus Parker-he was sitting across the aisle
from him-hollered out, 'Jake Williams, you get quiet! We can't
hear 'em readin' out the names!'
"Jake hollered back, 'Here's you a Christmas present, you old
Parker coot!' And he grabbed out his pistol and shot the old
gentleman dead, right there in the church!"
"No!"
"Mrs. Parker started screaming, Jake run out the door, and
somebody blowed out the lights! Then every man in the house took
to the woods.
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