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.