STEARS, William H. (Red)
Btears (also spelled Steres), was.a black barber who was born in
Monroe, Mich.;.in 1837. .He moved to the Montana Perritory and,
after working for a white barber named Frederick Shaffer, he decided
to go into business for himself and purchased the neces EO BEAN iy
from Shaffer. As he still owed Shaffer for the equipment, he went
along with a plan proposed by Shaffer to rob Franz Warl, an elderly
and pippadodia wealthy coal burner. Stears enlisted a young white
drifteh xs Wwilliam Wright Wheatley, to assist him, and on the morn-
ing of April 30, 1875, they met Shaffer a short distance from Warl's
cabin, Stears and Wheatley approached the cabin while Shaffer re-
mained hidden and when Warl appeared, Stears asked him for directions
As the old man turned to give them, Wheatley struck him over the head
from behind with a pick handle and rendered him unconscious, Stears,
using a slingshot weighted with lead, then joined Wheatley in beating
Warl to death, After their victim was dead, Shaffer appeared and:
they searched the cabin for Warl's supposed wealth, but found only
$20, .Shaffer made his escape y but Stears and i Sone were cae
apprehended. Stears confessed and gave all of the tails of phe
crime. 8 oth he and Wheatley were convicted and sent enced to hang
and Wheatley was executed in August. Stears was granted a new.
STHARS, William H, (Red)
Btears (also spelled Steres), was a black barber who was born in
Monroe, Mich.;.in 1837. .He moved to the Montana Berritory and,
after working for a white barber named Frederick Shaffer, he decided
to go into business for himself and purchased the necessary equipment
from Shaffer. As he still owed Shaffer for the equipment, he went
along with a plan proposed by Shaffer to rob Franz Warl, an elderly
and supposedly wealthy coal burner... Stears enlisted a young white
drifteh ka Wirilliam Wright Wheatley, to assist him, and on the morn-
ing of April 30, 1875, they met Shaffer a short distance from Warl's
cabin, Stears and Wheatley approached the cabin while Shaffer re-
mained hidden and when Warl appeared, Stears asked him for directions
As the old man turned to give them, Wheatley struck him over the head
from behind with a pick handle and rendered him unconscious. Stears,
using a slingshot weighted with lead, then joined Wheatley in beating
Warl to death, After their victim was dead, Shaffer appeared and
they searched the cabin for Warl's supposed wealth, but found only
$20, .Shaffer made his escape, but Stears and Wheatley were both
apprehended. Stears confessed and gave all of the de pala, of fhe
crime, 3B oth he and Wheatley were convicted and sentenced to hang
and Wheatley was executed in August. Stears was granted a new
STEARS, William H, (Red)
Stears (also spelled Steres), was a black barber who was born an
Monroe, Mich.,.in 1837. .He moved to the Montana Zerritory
after working for a white barber named Frederick Shaffer, he Se
to go into business for himself and purchased the necessary equipment
Rete etal case satese ton the jomment,, be went
along with a plan proposed by Shaffer to rob Frang Werl, an olderly
and Riis iste ao (Aas “ces ork Peesde young white
drifter sen Wid da Wedgie Wisetley, fo eseact bia, and on tho worn-
ing of April 30, 1875, fi ist
cabin, Stears and Wheatley approached the cabin while Shaffer re-
nadned hidden and when Warl appeared, Stears asked him for directions,
se head
As the
fron behind! with 8 pick handle an! rendered his unconsctous.
a slingshot weighted with lead, thon joined Wheatley in
Warl to death. After their victim was dead, Shaffer appeared and
Bey Searched the eabin for War's supposed wealth, but fount only
pprehended,
“ime oth he and Whea’ were ci ia
and Wheatley was executed in August, “Stears was granted a new
$20. mu
ars oc 2 1 gave a}
tley wer
trial and when informed of this, he begged to hanged then as he
feared that he might be lynched by Warl's friends.
to dea th, He was hanged in Helena on Oct, 28, 1875.
WHEATLEY, William Wright
Tha-s--d.d- not
occur and wake he was ee de for the second time and Sentenced
_See also:
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TOT CATA OT AAD DOIN rt a Ore a ae Ly Bon
Tito baie SENSI RI SY eT) LO TD ATIC Owe oS) 7 i]
ee ia saint ist W eke es Te ae 3rd ee Aug Bes 1875 >
+ OS en
if)
| and when informed of this, he bees ed to hanged then as he
+ he might be lynched by Warl's friends. This did not
y ey
convicted for the second time and sentenced
tha
_occur and “ke he was nd tir
to dea th, He was hanged in Helena on Oct, 28, Bo oe
See al WHEATLEY, Willian Wright
Ay Des of, Sabha tite Ut ia 2 Ly dnd
ILO ff ANI, Lip TD
+ week, Auge, 1875 and 3rd week, Aug., 1875
9-16-1875 and 10-28-1875
anged then <
the second
Oct. 2
che 28,
this,
lynched t
Aeaieo
mvi.c
{Montana tHE
