Person:Willie Shaw (1)

Willie Shaw's headstone at Clapp Cemetery in Houston County (Photo courtesy of Guy Davis)

The Family legend contends that Willie's son Virgil was "Lazy" and didn't want to do the work on the farm, so one hot summer night, while he and his father lay out on the porch, Willie shot him.

During the ensuing trial, Willie protested his innocence, saying that he had heard a noise and suspected a burglar was near the house and fired in the direction of the noise, only to accidentally shoot his son.

He claimed that he threw the gun, then, down the well at the end of the property. The well was dredged, but no sign of the weapon could be found.

During the trial, Willie was found innocent and released.

The following year, Lizzie became more and more aware of the true nature of Willie's crime. Willie then developed an even more devious plan. He lured Lizzie down the path the the chicken coups, claiming that a chickenhawk was in the coups. Willie grabbed his rifle and they walked to the coups. Seeing no chickenhawk in the coup, they returned to the house, Willie following Lizzie. Somewhere along the line, Willie's shotgun discharged, killing Lizzie outright.

Again a jury acquitted Willie of the crime, calling it accidental.

While that may be the story that was passed down, there is no evidence to support this tall tale. Virgil's death certificate says the cause of Virgil's death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Additionally, Willie C. was never on trial for Virgil's death. Lizzie's death, on the other hand, was said to be an accident when Willie C. sat the gun on a table on the porch, and it went off. Lizzie's death was investigated and a grand jury found it to have been an accident.

Joseph Stephens at one time, much later visited Willie's elder son, John, and saw the gun displayed prominently on the mantlepiece.

The Shaw family feared Willie, and his proximity to the Stephens land was a source of great anxiety. But the family knew that Willie would someday die by his own hand. Oma Shaw, a cousin of Willie's, once said that instead of Cuttin' Willie (during that time, they often said the word "cousin" like "cuttin"), he should be called "Shootin' Willie."

Willie died in 1947 a victim of suicide.

Listed in the 1900 Trinity County, Texas Census as Willie C. Shaw, born Nov. 1885, age 14, born TX, father born MS, mother born TX. With parents and siblings.

Listed in the 1910 Houston County, Texas Census, Precinct 4, Sheet #17A, dwelling and family #285 as Willie Shaw, age 24, married once for 1 year. Born TX, parents born TX. With wife and 1 son.

Listed in the 1920 Houston County, Texas Census, Precinct 4, Sheet #6B, enumerated January 19, 1920, dwelling#114, family #115 as Willie C. Shaw, age 34, owns mortgaged land, can read and write. Born TX, parents born TX. With wife, 3 children, sister-in-law, and her 2 children.

Listed in the 1930 Houston County, Texas Census, Precinct 4, Sheet #8A, enumerated April 18, 1930, dwelling and family #163 as Willie C. Shaw, renting on a farm, age 45, widowed, can read and write, born TX, parents born TX. Not a veteran. With 3 children.

Willie's Tombstone reads: "We trust our loss will be his gain and that with Christ he's gone to reign"

New clipping of Lizzie's death