Adam,

The incident you refer to happened right here in Hannibal in 1845.  Mark
Twain's
father, then the Justice of the Peace, heard testimony about the shooting of
Sam
Smarr (Boggs) by the merchant William Owsley.( Sherburn)

To find more details concerning the events I would refer you to _Sam Clemens
of
Hannibal_ by Dixon Wecter, 1952.  The book is out of print but might be
available in some University Libraries.  If all else fails, write back, I
may be
able to come up with a used copy for you.

Frank North
Hannibal,Mo.