Town Marshal James Busby was shot and killed as he attempted to apprehend two men who had blown the safe inside the Paton Post Office minutes earlier.

Marshal Busby and several armed citizens chased the suspects into a nearby school house. As they ran through the door, one of the suspects turned and shot Marshal Busby as he entered the door behind them. In a gun battle which followed, the citizens killed one suspect and severely wounded the other.

The wounded suspect was charged with first degree murder. On November 4, 1911, he was found guilty of manslaughter after his attorney convinced the jury that his accomplice shot Marshal Busby.