Extracted from The Butler Herald (Butler, GA)
Thursday, May 2, 1918

W. W. Coxwell Killed in Wilkinson County

Shot from Ambush. -- Coroner's Jury Returned Verdict Against Ira Pierce. -- Remains Brought Here.

News of the untimely death of Mr. William W. Coxwell, which occurred near Irwinton, in Wilkinson county, Sunday night between 11 and 12 o'clock, was received at Reynolds, his former home Monday morning about 10 o'clock and was the occasion of much sadness and sorrow to his relatives and many friends throughout the county.

From the best information obtainable it seems that the shooting of Mr. Coxwell was the result of a quarrel he had during the earlier hours of Sunday night with one of his neighbors and closest friends, a man by the name of Ira Pierce, and with whom Mr. Coxwell had been associating throughout Sunday. At the time the dispute arose between the two men they were at the home of a Mr. Jesters who succeeded in preventing a difficulty between the men at the time. However Pierce is reported to have left Coxwell at the Jesters home and went immediately to his own home where he secured a shot gun and secluded himself along the roadside where Coxwell was expected to pass in route home, and as he approached fired the fatal shot which disemboweled Mr. Coxwell. Money and other valuables were missing from Mr. Coxwell's pockets when the body was discovered.

Following coroner's jury investigation a warrant was issued against Mr. Pierce charging him with the murder of Mr. Coxwell. Officers are in search of Pierce but no arrest had been made yesterday.

Mr. Coxwell was about 45 years old. He had no family, his wife and only son having recently died, the death of the latter occuring at Camp Gordon a few months ago.

His remains were brought to Butler arriving here Tuesday afternoon and carried to Bethel cemetery where interment was made by the side of his wife and son following an impressive funeral service conducted by Rev. J. T. Adams.