History corner

“Simon, are you still mad? Clay turned to Jack Chipman and said, “I see he is.”

The following is from the Grant County News, March 27, 1914 and was found in the “History of Grant County.”

“About 9 a.m. last Tuesday, (March 24, 1914) morning, Simon M. Billiter shot and fatally wounded William E. Clay, County Attorney of Grant County, at the Depot south of town (Williamstown).”

From the “History of Grant County,” edited by John B. Conrad: Two shots from a 38 caliber revolver penetrated Clay’s breast, a bullet piercing each lung. Clay staggered across the depot platform, sat down and crumpled into a heap. He was picked up and taken to the Johnson House Hotel. As the story went, on Sunday preceding the affair, Clay called Billiter on the telephone and advised him that Billiter’s laborers, who were camped on his property south of town, were selling whiskey in violation of local laws. and he (Clay) had reason to believe that Billiter had knowledge of the illegal act. He further stated that he intended to have a warrant issued for the arrest of Billiter. Billiter told Clay that he knew nothing of the act and would assist him in any way to stop the sale of liquor, not only in his camp, but anywhere in the county, and defied Clay to issue a warrant. Later that evening, Clay and Billiter met at Billiter’s office on the third floor of the Oddfellows building, to talk the matter over. They could not come to an agreement, so they departed, later meeting on the corner at the Johnson House Hotel, where the quarrel resumed. A crowd soon gathered and friends kept the two men from fighting.

On Tuesday morning, both Clay and Billiter were going to Cincinnati on the same train. They met at the depot, and it is said that Clay walked up to Billiter and asked, “Simon, are you still mad?” Receiving no reply, he turned to Jack Chipman and said “I see he is.” At this time, a few angry words were exchanged. Both men were standing with their hands in their pockets, for it was a cold morning. Clay started to take his hand out of his Pocket. Billiter drew his pistol and fired two shots into the body of Clay. Clay made a statement before he died, that he had no weapon and had no intention of doing Billiter harm. Billiter stated that he thought Clay was drawing a pistol when he started to take his hands from his pockets. Neither of them was ever known to have had trouble with each other, and had been the best of friends.”

A Warrant was quickly issued for the arrest of Billiter and charges were soon filed. However, Billiter’s bond was quickly paid and was released. In the end, Billiter was charged with Manslaughter, but the Jury came to the conclusion that he was not guilty.

Billiter left his mark in many places in Williamstown through his life here. He built the Williamstown Stockyards, then a tobacco warehouse. He was a major stockholder in the building of the Hotel Donald, he built a portion of U.S. Highway 25 when it came through Williamstown in the early 1920s. He poured most of the concrete sidewalks in Williamstown, and his company laid most of the double tracks through Grant County for the Southern Railway. He constructed the dam for the old railroad lake, known as Lake Obispo. He was also one of the contractors who dug the old Williamstown Reservoir, plus many other projects throughout northern Kentucky. Mr. Billiter later left Williamstown and moved to Covington, Kentucky, and became a prominent businessman in that community. He was chairman of the Williamstown Board of Trustees, among other roles.

Submitted by Colton Simpson, president Grant County Historical Society. For more information, email: jcoltonsimpson@gmail.com