USA > Missouri > Livingston County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 87
USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 87
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The Democratic ticket was headed by Hancock and English for President and Vice-President, Thos. T. Crittenden for Governor, Chas. H. Mansur for Congress, E. J. Broaddus for Circuit Judge and F. M. Davis for Representative. D. P. Dyer and L. A. Brown were
47
824
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
respectively the Republican and Greenback Gubernatorial candidates, and John W. Donovan the fusion candidate for Representative. Fol- lowing was the vote by townships for President, Governor, Congress- man, Circuit Judge and Representative : -
PRESIDENT.
GOVERNOR.
CON- GRESS.
CIRCUIT JUDGE.
REP.
TOWNSHIPS.
Hancock,
Garfield.
Wearer.
Crittenden.
Dyer.
Brown.
Mansur.
Burrows.
Broaddus.
Daris.
F. M. Davis.
J.W. Donovan.
Grand River .
132
56
116
13]
55
117
132
172
120
182
134
170
Fairview
66
142
99
66
142
99
63
239
72
225
67
223
Blue Mound
69
135
49
69
135
49
70
182
78
171
70
183
Monroe
63
57
82
62
54
87
59
141
61
131
64
136
Wheeling
74
46
68
74
44
69
76
111
81
100
79
90
Rich Hill .
118
48
49
119
48
49
122
85
115
95
121
95
Chillicothe
540
402
313
538
40G
311
563
679
G18
618
582
661
Greene
57
128
37
58
125
39
54
16G
22
199
60
162
Mooresville
146
31
66
146
31
66
146
95
149
89
151
91
Medicine
73
15
60
74
15
59
72
10
76
68
68
74
Cream Ridge
133
65
56
132
65
57
133
114
135
110
139
112
Sampsel
142
20
112
141
20
112
142
123
140
124
245
124
Jackson
246
21
161
246
20
163
246
177
245
179
252
171
Total
1859 1165 1268
1856 1161 1277 1878 2354 1912 2291
1932 2292
The aggregate vote for county officers and State Senator is given below. Democratic candidates are named first, and the antecedents of the Greenback candidates are indicated by abbreviated affixes :-
' State Senator - Joel H. Shelby ( of Mercer ), 1,845 ; W. A. Jacobs, Rep., 2,204 ; J. K. Clark, 23.
Sheriff - Saml. L. Harris, 2,120; Isaac Leeper, Gr .- Rep., 2,131. Recorder-C. W. Asper, 1,960 ; J. M. Hale, Gr .- Dem., 2,270.
Collector - E. L. Taylor, 2,024; A. A. Sportsman, Gr .- Dem., 2,206.
Treasurer-J. W. Wallace, 2,012; J. W. Green, Gr .- Rep., 2,241.
Prosecuting Attorney - B. B. Smith, 2,010; T. H. Kemp, Gr .- Dem., 2,136.
Assessor -O. F. Butler, 1,988 ; R. A. Spears, Gr .- Dem., 2,220.
Surveyor - Peter Markey, 1,946; J. Y. Powell, Gr .- Rep., 2,273.
Public Administrator- D. P. Williams, 1,921 ; James May, Gr .- Dem., 2,321.
Chas. Stewart and Joseph Patton were elected county judges, and John Garr, coroner. At this election the system of township organi-
825
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
zation was adopted in the county by a large majority - for, 2,608 ; against, 939. On restraining swine from running at large the vote was - for, 2,086 ; against, 1,563.
In the district the Congressional race was a close one. Hon. C. H. Mansur, the Democratic candidate, made what is termed in political parlance a hard fight, but was defeated by the small majority of 65. The vote in the district stood : --
Counties.
Randolph
Mansur. 2,936
1,662
1,185
Chariton
2,945
2,077
734
Linn
2,040
2,12€
24
Sullivan .
1,737
1,775
163
Mercer
999
1,055
914
Grundy
1,096
1,975
939
Livingston
1,878
2,354
574
Daviess .
1,997
2,064
36
Harrison
1,564
2,195
750
Total
17,219
17,284
1,481
Burrows.
Op. Maj. for Prest.
It will be noted that while the majority of the opposition party on the vote for President in the district was 1,481, yet Burrows' majority over Mansur was but 65. The former lacked 800 votes of receiving the full opposition strength in his own county, Mercer, while Mansur ran a few votes ahead of his ticket in Livingston. The race on the whole, therefore, was very creditable to Mr. Mansur, and it is claimed (not by himself, however, ) that had the Democratic State Central Committee done its duty he would have been elected.
There was general complaint among Missouri Democrats this year of the inefficiency of their central committee (whose chairman it is perhaps needless to say was not Hon. John O'Day ) and its conduct of the campaign, whereby four Congressional districts were lost and three Greenbackers - Burrows in this, Rice in the Boonville, and Hazeltine in the Springfield district - and one Republican - Van Horn, of Kansas City - were elected in the room of such stanch Democratic partisans as Mansur, John F. Philips and James B. Waddell.
The total vote in the State was: Hancock, 208,609; Garfield, 153,567 ; Weaver, 35,045. Hancock's plurality, 55,042; majority, 20,000. Crittenden received 1,000 fewer votes than Hancock.
1882.
In the political campaign in this county, and also in the State, in 1882, there were three tickets in the field - Democratic, Republican
826
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
and Greenback. The Congressional districts had been rearranged in the interest of the Democrats, and Livingston was now in a district. solidly Democratic. The result in this county was a victory for the Democracy, the following being the vote : --
Supreme Judge - Dem., Thos. A. Sherwood, 1,706 ; Rep., David Wagner, 926; Gr., T. M. Rice, 1,204.
Congress -- A. M. Alexander, Dem., 1,708 ; D. B. Dorsey, Rep., 916; Wm. M. Quayle, Gr., 1,201.
Representative - L. T. Collier, Dem., 1,580; Henry Bushnell, Rep., 1,137; B. B. Peck, Gr., 1,082.
Circuit Clerk - Wm. P. Monroe, Dem., 2,170; P. J. Dixon, Gr., 1,480.
Recorder - Nat. Cooper, Dem., 1,016 ; John M. Hale, Gr., 1,819.
County Clerk - T. B. Brookshier, Dem., 1,510; John DeSha, Rep., 1,155; Wm. C. Wood, 1,143.
Sheriff- Saml. L. Harris, Dem., 1,971 ; J. H. H. Kinkead, Rep., 651; W. M. Hudgins, Gr., 1,190.
Prosecuting Attorney -Jas. G. Wynne, Dem., 1,431 ; L. A. Chap- man, Rep., 889 ; Frank Henry, Gr., 1,076; T. H. Kemp, Ind. Gr., 396.
Presiding Justice-R. B. Williams, Dem., 1,673; S. F. Boyce, Rep., 817: Chas. Stewart, Gr., 1,308.
County Judges-Eastern Dist .- Wm. J. Littrell, Dem., 1,076; Henry L. Bancroft, Rep., 879. Western District - A. A. Stone, Dem .. 731 : O. Vadnais, Rep., 295 ; T. E. Jenkins, Gr., 545.
Probate Judge - Henry Cowgill, Dem., 1,966 ; John L. Johnson, Gr., 1,691.
Treasurer -Thos. MeNally, Dem., 2,126; J. W. Green, Gr., 1,530.
Coroner -- Ed. D. Taylor, Dem., 1,941; John Garr, Gr., 1,593.
Swine - Restraining, 1,929; against, 1,377. At a special election August 22, 1881, the vote on restraining swine was: For, 1,285; against, 1,474.
1884.
In the Presidential canvass of 1884 the Republicans and Green- backers in Missouri united in fusion electoral and State against the Democrats, and the same policy was adopted in this county. The Gubernatorial candidates were John S. Marmaduke, Democrat; Nich- olas Ford (Greenbacker ) Fusion, and John A. Brooks, Prohibitionist. Congressional candidates were John B. Hale, of Carroll, Democrat, and Wm. N. Norville, of Livingston, Fusion. The Democratic national candidates were Cleveland and Hendricks ; the Republican, Blaine and Logan ; the Greenback, Butler and West, and the Pro-
827
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
hibition, St. John and Daniel. Following was the vote in Living- ston : -
PRESIDENT
GOVERNOR
CONG.
SEN.
REP'VE
SIIER.
PROS. A.
TOWNSHIPS.
Cleveland, D.
Blaine and Butler.
St. John, Pro.
Marmaduke, D.
Ford, Fusion.
Brooks, Pro.
John B. Hate, D.
W. N. Norville F.
W. A. Jacobs, F.
J. B. Freeman, D.
John F. Jackson, D.
J. W. Donovan, F.
Samuel L. Harris, D.
J. M. Hale, F.
J. G. Wynne, D.
J. E. Wait, F.
Chillicothe .
601
558
4
568
719
14
617
688
686 149
528 126
621
671
719
576
683
598
Grand River
146
151
?
144
151
1
150
147
107
95
113
105
109
123
97
124
93
Medicine
59
74
0
56
77
0
60
74
60
50
48
83
72
62
67
64
Cream Ridge
140
122
3
137
125
3
143
123
111
136
135
127
148
117
144
119
Rich Hill
148
87
0
148
88
0
150
86
77
119
137
91
158
74
152
82
Fairview
66
266 18
56
266
31
67
279
271
73
69
274
97
247
69
277
Blue Mound
87
191
0
71
200
1
87
191
197
42
88
188
100
177
90
187
Greene
66
179
2
60
186
0
68
179
183
93
67
179
74
173
73
173
Monroe
59
143
0
52
146
1
60
142
134
66
59
143
68
135
58
143
Mooresville
152
89
1
152
87
0
155
86
155
81
156
87
165
76
161
82
Sampsel .
152
84
0
153
83
0
152
84
85
142
152
84
148
90
151
Jackson .
251
139
0
246
142
1
251
135
137
240
257
132
272
118
260
130
Total
2030 2229 31 1935 2396 55 2071 2321
2340 1779 2040 2325 2292 2072 2212 2146
The total vote in the State was: For the Cleveland electors, 235,988 ; for the Fusion electors, 202,929 ; for the St. John electors, 2,153. For Governor - Marmaduke, 218,885; Ford, 207,939 ; Brooks, 10,426. Cleveland's majority over all, 30,906; Marma- duke's majority over all, 520. In this Congressional district the vote stood : -
Counties.
Hale.
Norville.
H.'s Maj.
N.'s Maj.
Sullivan
.
1,774
1,884
110
Grundy
1,214
2,144
Livingston
2,071
2,321
Linn
.
2,144
2,250
......
.
3,046
2,526
520
....
Chariton
3,284
2,066
1,218
....
Randolph
3,181
1,778
1,403
....
Mouroe .
3,490
780
2,710
....
Total
. 20,204
15,749
5,851
1,396
1
92
126
1
111
Wheeling
. .
103
116
157
159
130
180
113
-
. .
.....
930
.
250
......
106
Carroll .
.
Hale's net majority, 4,455.
·
146
828
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Other county officers were chosen by the following vote : -
County Judges - E. District - Wm. J. Littrell, D., 1,183 ; Thos. F. Scott. F., 1,347. W. District - Arch. Thompson, D., 917 ; Jos. Patton, F., 941.
Treasurer - Thos. McAnally, D., 2,285; Wm. T. Davis, F., 2,092.
Coroner - Jas. N. Byrd, D., 2,040 ; David Gordon, F., 2,334.
Surveyor - Alex. Robinson, D., 2,082; H. M. Ambrose, F.,
2,257.
Public Administrator - Flavian Bonderer, D., 2,047; J. N. Boyd, F., 2,274.
Restraining Stock - Yes, 1,825 ; No, 1,842.
Repealing Township Organization - For, 1,261 ; Against, 2,254.
Error of 100 votes in Chillicothe, precinct No. 2, which should be added to Fusion electors, making their vote 688. Clerks, in pre- cinct No. 2, reported 347 instead of 447.
.
CHAPTER X.
MISCELLANEOUS CRIMINAL AND TRAGIC INCIDENTS.
Murder of James Gordon - Miscellaneous Cases of Homicide, Including D. Morrison,
Festus Joyce, Geo. Cross, "Nigger Sam," Thos. M. Boyles, Thos. K. Conn and Thos, Florence - The Case of Wmn. Curtis, - Killing of Henry Gamble - Newton J. Eads-Green Shepherd -The Attempted Robbery of the People's Bank and Death of Smith Rambo - Miscellaneous Tragedies and Casualties - Suicides - Killed by the Railroads.
MURDER OF JAMES GORDON BY HENRY MARTIN.
An incident of note in the history of the county prior to the Civil War was the killing of James Gordon by Henry Martin, on the 6th of April, 1858. Both were farmers and the heads of families and both were of near middle age. Martin was a poor man and lived 10 miles northeast of Chillicothe. Gordon was a farmer in easy cir- cumstances and resided only a few miles northeast of town. There was a bad feeling between the two, and this was the cause of the tragedy.
At the time of the tragedy circuit court was in session and both men were in town. They met and quarreled. In the evening Mr. Gordon and his hired man, named Musselman, started for home, both on horseback, Musselman carrying a plow. Soon afterwards Martin and one or two companions also left for home, on horseback, riding rapidly. It was charged that they were in pursuit of Gordon. About one mile north of town they came up with Gordon anl Musselman and the quarrel was renewed.
Presently Martin jumped from his horse and drawing a pistol fired and shot Gordon from his saddle, killing him outright. Martin and his friends alleged that just prior to the shooting Gordon had ridden up and drawing a knife said to Martin, with an oath, " I'll cut your heart out." The dead man was found with a half open knife clasped in his hand. Martin hastened home. The alarm was given and the sheriff with a considerable posse went out and arrested him at his house, meeting with no resistance, and brought him to Chillicothe.
One of the sheriff's posse was Chas. H. Mansur, then a young lawyer without much experience or business. On the road from Mar- tin's house to town the prisoner retained Mansur as his counsel. The
(829)
830
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
preliminary examination before a Chillicothe magistrate resulted in committing Martin to jail to await the action of the grand jury. The jail at Chillicothe being insecure he was sent to Linneus for safe keeping.
A few days thereafter, matters having been arranged with the five brothers of the prisoner, Mr. Mansur went to Linneus, sued out a writ of habeas corpus before Judge Florence, of the Linn county court, and on account of some informality in the commitment pro- ceedings the prisoner was discharged. Martin had friends on the ground, who as soon as he was released, and before he could be rear- rested, furnished him with a good horse and saddle, some money, and a razor with which to shave off his long heavy beard. Under their directions he went east on the Bloomington road a short distance, then turned northeast and finally reached Minnesota, where he halted and made a new home. In a year or more his wife and family joined him. He was never apprehended.
There was great indignation throughout the county at Martin's escape. A party in Linneus followed and tried to overtake him, and had they done so it would have gone hard with him. In Chillicothe not only the accused, but his counsel was greatly denounced, the lat- ter for his shrewd efforts in behalf of his client, which efforts it was considered were unjustifiable under the circumstances. This was the first murder case in which Mr. Mansur was employed. In the habeas corpus proceedings Col. Mansur was assisted by Hon. Jacob Smith, of Linneus.
HOMICIDES.
During the war there were two cases of homicide in Chillicothe. September 6, 1864, D. Morrison was killed at the military hospital by Frank Bradford and others. Morrison was shot through the shoulder and hand and in other portions of the body.
August 2, 1863, T. J. Garr shot and killed Festus Joyce on the southeast corner of the square. The killing was altogether justifiable. Joyce, who was a large stalwart Irishman, was intoxicated and made a violent and unprovoked attack on Garr. The body of Joyce was buried in the old Catholic cemetery, south of the railroad track. Garr was never arrested.
Jacob Crouch shot George Cross, September 4, 1865, in Bull & Cooper's dramshop, in Chillicothe.
January 27, 1866, a negro named Sam was shot and killed by Wm. Jourdan, a mile and a half east of Spring Hill. Sam had served in the Federal army ; Jourdan had been a Confederate soldier. The two
831
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
were riding in a sleigh homeward from Chillicothe, and both were under the influence of liquor. Each was relating his military experi- ence, and Jourdan referred to the fact that his brother James had been killed while in the Confederate service. The negro then spoke up and said, " Yes, Bill, and I killed him. I am the very man. He was wounded and leaning against a tree when I came along and bored a hole through him and he dropped dead." This reply of the negro's, made in a half boastful, half insolent manner, greatly enraged Jourdan, and drawing his revolver he shot Sam through the breast and he died in the sleigh. The body was taken out at and buried from Thos. Hoy's ; at the time of his death Sam was in the employ of Wm. Hill. The negro's story was wholly untrue ; it is not probable that he was ever under fire. His drunken boast, however, cost him his life. Jourdan left the country and was never arrested.
Thos. M. Bayles was shot and killed by Constable Wm. H. Dud- ley, in Chillicothe, December 24, 1867. Bayles was a young man and was under arrest for stealing clothing. The constable was taking him to jail when he attempted to escape. Refusing to halt when ordered, the constable shot him down.
September 23, 1872, Thos. Fox, a policeman, shot and killed Thos. K. Conn, in Hale's saloon, Chillicothe. Conn was a well-to-do business man, the projector of the additions to the town bearing his name, and was well known. He was, however a man of violent tem- per, and between him and Fox there was a feud existing. On the occasion of his death Conn was in the saloon and had been drinking to some extent. Fox was present and Conn made a savage attack upon him, striking him on the head with a heavy whisky bottle, inflicting severe cuts and bruises. The two men clinched and during the struggle Fox shot his antagonist. Notwithstanding all the facts indi- cated that Fox had acted in self-defense, he was indicted and tried. Conn's widow saw to it that he was vigorously prosecuted, but on his trial, in June, 1873, he was acquitted.
On the 14th of August, 1875, George F. Bell killed Thomas Flor- ence, in the southern part of Fairview township, near the Carroll line. For some time Bell had suspected an illicit intimacy between his wife and Florence, and had warned the latter to keep off his premises. Bell went to Chillicothe and purchased a pistol. Secreting himself near his house on his return, he soon saw Florence, who came to the house, believing, no doubt, that Bell was absent. Florence was at the well when Bell came upon him with his revolver, and at once fled, Bell in pursuit firing rapidly. At last Bell got in a dead shot and
832
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Florence fell. In October Bell was indicted in this county, but on being arraigned he took a change of venue, and his case was sent to Carroll county, where he was tried and acquitted.
THE CASE OF WMI. CURTIS.
On the night of July 27, 1878, Charles Powell, a young man living in Chillicothe, was stabbed and mortally wounded in a house of bad reputation kept by a Mrs. Aull, in the southeastern part of town. At the time four other young men were in the house, two of whom were Wm. Curtis, and a man named Stoner. At first Powell stated that Stoner did the stabbing, but soon charged Curtis with the deed, and there being certain corroborating evidence, the latter was arrested, and in September following was indicted for murder in the first degree, Powell having died from his wounds.
In February, 1879, Curtis was tried at Chillicothe, and the jury dis- agreed. Although the fact of the disagreement is indisputable, and everywhere admitted, yet, through the neglect of the clerk to record it in due form, it nowhere appears among the records of our circuit court. The only further entry in the records of the cause after the jury had retired was made March 11, when the case was continued. As a matter of fact, the case was continued after the jury disagreed, but the records do not show it. For anything they show the jury was never discharged. At the May term, 1879, Curtis was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to ten years in the peni- tentiary. He appealed to the Supreme Court, and that tribunal reversed the decision and granted him a new trial. (See 70 Mo., p. 594.)
In the meantime a new circuit judge had been elected, and the newly elected judge, having been the former prosecuting attorney, declared himself incapacitated to try the case, and ordered the elec- tion of a special judge. Jonas J. Clark was selected as such special judge. A change of venue was taken, and in June, 1881, the case came before Judge Clark at Kingston, Caldwell county. When the case was called Curtis' attorney moved for the prisoner's discharge, on the ground that the record did not show but that the first jury was still trying the case, or else had acquitted the prisoner, and that his life and liberty were being placed in jeopardy the second time, in viola- tion of the State and Federal constitutions. Judge Clark sustained the motion and the prisoner was discharged. The judge was widely criticised for his opinion, but it would seem to be grounded in law and precedent.
833
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The case attracted a great deal of attention at the time of its final disposition, and the decision was the subject of much comment among the lawyers. It can hardly be understood that a mere bawdy-house brawl should have attained such distinction. Of course, Curtis was not discharged on the real merits of the case; the question of his guilt is not settled, and under the circumstances never will be.
KILLING OF HENRY GAMBLE.
September 10, 1876, John A. Wingo shot and killed Henry Gam- ble, at Mr. Caldwell's house, near Spring Hill. Both men were drunk at the time. That day they were hunting together and were friendly, and there had been no previous quarrel between them. Returning from the hunt in a drunken condition they repaired to Caldwell's house. Wingo went in the house and lay down on a lounge. Gamble and Caldwell were outside, both seated, and began talking together about Wingo, in a maudlin way. Wingo overheard the conversation and started up, swearing that nobody should talk about him in that way. Going out of doors he accosted Gamble who, without rising, fired at Wingo, wounding him in the legs. Wingo then shot and killed Gam- ble. It was a matter of some controversy as to who shot first, but it was finally concluded that Gamble did.
Wingo was arrested and indicted for murder in the second degree, and twice tried. Upon his first trial, January 25, 1877, he was con- victed and sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years ; on appeal the Supreme Court reversed the judgment and remanded the case for a new trial. (See 66 Mo. Reports, p. 181. ) On the second trial, May 29, 1878, Wingo was again convieted and sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years ; but Judge Broaddus, before whom the case was tried, granted a new trial. The case was then continued from time to time until Prosecuting Attorney J. M. Davis entered a nolle prosequi and the prisoner was dischaged.
NEWTON J. EADS.
On the evening of October 6, 1877, Jesse Offield shot and killed his cousin, Newton J. Eads, in Jackson township, west of Spring Hill. The two were grandsons of James Hicks, Sr. Offield had at one time been in charge of Mr. Hicks' farm, but had been removed and his place filled by Newton Eads ; the latter was unmarried. An ill feeling had grown up between the two cousins. Offield's mules had trespassed on Hicks' premises, and Eads had turned them out.
The same evening Eads and a young relative started to attend a party
834
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
in the neighborhood. Their route lay in the direction of Offield's house. Offield was lying in wait with a gun, and when Eads and his companion came near called out : " Who turned my mules out?" Eads answered, " I did." Offield rejoined, "I'll give you turning mules out," and fired. Eads fell, and exclaimed, " Jesse, you have killed me." Offield, who had come up near the prostrate man, said, " I don't care if I have," and passed on. He afterwards declared that Eads had made a motion as if to draw a revolver, but no weapon was found on Eads' person. The latter made his way back to his grandfather's and died the next day.
Offield secreted himself for several days, but was arrested and in- dicted. In May, 1878, he was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to 15 years' confinement in the peniten- tiary. Judge Broaddus set aside the verdict and granted another trial. The latter came off in February, 1879, and all the evidence went to prove a guilt of murder in the first degree ; but the judge's instructions compelled the jury to acquit the prisoner, and he was re- leased, the jury believing him guilty in the first degree, but a convic- tion to that extent being impossible under the circumstances.
GREEN SHEPHERD.
On Christmas, 1883, Lewis Waller stabbed Green Shepherd in an altercation at a dance of colored persons in Chillicothe. Both men were negroes. The wound caused Shepherd's death, and April 19, 1884, Waller was convicted of murder in the second degree and sen- teneed to 99 years' confinement in the penitentiary. The verdict has been recently affirmed by the Supreme Court.
THE ATTEMPTED ROBBERY OF THE PEOPLE'S BANK.
At about 11 o'clock on the night of the 21st of June, 1873, four men went to the house of Maj. Sidney McWilliams, President of the People's Bank of Chillicothe, who lived a little way outside the cor- poration lines, and attempted to get possession of his person, in order to get the keys of the bank and rob it. The Major was forewarned and fore-armed. He had a number of friends in his house. A brisk fire was opened between the robbers and the inmates of the dwelling. The ringleader of the robbers, Smith Rambo, a farmer residing in this county, was killed on the spot, and his followers tled but were afterwards arrested.
The particulars of this incident will be best understood by the fol- lowing statement : A few days before the attempted robbery, a young
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
man named J. W. Brunk, who had been in the employ of Rambo and had lived in his neighborhood, came to Maj. McWilliams' house and told him that Rambo and certain others, who were named, had formed a conspiracy to rob the bank, and that the time fixed upon to do so was the next evening. Brunk said that he himself was included by Rambo in the party that was to engage in the robbery, and he gave all the particulars of the plan. He said that Rambo was to come up to the house of an acquaintance near town, apparently on a social visit, as he was to bring his wife with him. This was for the pur- pose of proving an alibi after the deed was done. At a certain hour in the night he was to come up to town, meet his confederates, ac- complish the robbery, and return to his friend's house in good time before morning.
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