M. Lloyd Cheuvront Shot

Taken from The History of Shelby County, Missouri 1911

Submitted by Nikki Manuel

On Friday evening about 9 o'clock of July 22, 1897, three cracks of a pistol in the eastern part of the city, Walnut Street in Shelbina, announced to the people of that vicinity the murder of a citizen of good character, inoffensive and peaceable, Mr. Cheuvront, by Tol Smock.  The ladies of the Christian Church were holding an ice cream supper in the City Park.  Mr. Cheuvront, who was very deaf, left his wife at the park while he went out for a walk.  It seems Mrs. Tol Smock who was fair of face, in company with Miss Nellie Hopper, of Clarence vicinity, who was attending a teacher's institute and boarding with Mrs. Smock, had started home just ahead of Mr. Cheuvront and rushed into her home on the south side, near the east of Walnut, and her husband how Mr. Cheuvront has followed them home.  Mr. Smock grabbed his pistol, rushed out and encountered Mr. Cheuvront just in front of his home, knocked him down and shot him three times, the fatal shot taking effect in his bowels.  Mr. Cheuvront lingered till seven the following morning, during which time he told his wife, two sons and friends about him, how it occurred and made plans for his families (sic) future, remaining conscious to the end.  Mr. Smock took change of venue and his case was tried in Macon County, December 1897.  J. H. Whitecotton, Paris Mo., was leading attorney for the defense and prosecuting attorney Cleek had valuable assistance.  A good many witnesses were sworn on both sides.  The state sought to prove that Mr. Cheuvront was a man of unquestionable Christian and moral character.  The jury hung after a hard fight on both sides, four standing solidly and determinedly for conviction.  The trial was taken up again at the Macon Circuit Court and all the witnesses re-examined, and the defendant found guilty of manslaughter and punishment fixed at six months in jail and a fine of $100.  The Macon Times-Democrat said this among other things concerning the verdict:  "The verdict is a outrage upon this community and it is just such mockery as this that disgusts the people with juries and courts and causes them to take the law into their own hands and mete out justice."